While air conditioning maintenance and even some small repair jobs could be done as part of a quick DIY project, to install an air conditioner can be somewhat more complicated as well as challenging. The problem isn’t necessarily in the installation of one unit in a single room. Smaller and simpler systems are typically quite easy to install. The challenge appears, however, when you think about installing an entire HVAC system or the AC part of a centralized heating and cooling system.
Why AC Installation Doesn’t Work as a DIY Job
Some AC units operate based on a simple premise that is similar to how a refrigerator works. However, there are many more fine details involved with cooling a large room than they are in turning on and operating a basic ice box.
First of all, the main challenge of installing an AC is that you need to know how powerful the unit will be and how that power can be distributed to cool off a room of a specific size. If you have a centralized AC for the entire house, then the calculations get even more complicated, since you have to figure out how the power has to be distributed evenly to each room based on its size, insulation level and proximity to the coldest areas of the home.
If that wasn’t enough, you’ll find that repair and air conditioning installation Denver specialists will also point out that additional elements that could become factors in deciding how the unit should be install will also include:
- The size and placement of your windows and doors, as well as their ability to insulate your room from exterior heat;
- The type and amount of insulation installed in key areas of your home (such as the roof and attic versus the floor and walls);
- Whether or not any amount of heat will actually be produced in a room that has to be cooled – which is applicable to kitchens and bathrooms;
- Whether the home is shaded by trees or other buildings, and whether the climate involves quick temperature changes that have to be managed by the cooling system accordingly.
As you can see, there are plenty of variables here, and if you ask most experts, they will tell you that any one of these unknowns can mess up your plan when you’re trying to install an AC unit as a DIY job. As a result, all of them can be counted as disadvantages, when you actually try to get the installation job done.
Calling in the Professionals
In most instances, installing an AC unit can be done as long as you have a fairly well-insulated area, and you can get proper guidance on whether or not the unit you buy is sufficient and necessary for the size of the area you want to cool.
Even so, you’ll find that it’s usually much better to at least get guidance from a professional, before you actually get to work. HVAC specialists know all about installing AC units and entire centralized heating and cooling units. They can provide you with proper and practical information that will assist you in the installation process, and in many cases, they can also lend a hand or take care of the entire job much faster.