Having a new air conditioner installed in your Dallas, GA home isn’t as simple as you might think. Many homeowners expect these projects to be as easy as pulling their old units out and sliding the new ones into position. Unfortunately, this oversimplification is a major reason why many consumers attempt to tackle this job on their own. To ensure peak levels of performance and efficiency, we streamline our work to perfectly suit the nuances and needs of each home. AC installs are complex, multi-pronged projects designed to ensure superior outcomes. To help you get ready, we explain everything the process entails.
AC Sizing
Professional air conditioner installation always starts with accurate AC sizing. Installing cooling equipment that’s too large or too small for its intended service area is a recipe for disaster. An oversize air conditioner will rapidly cycle, turning itself off and on repeatedly. The resulting short-duration cooling cycles will prevent your new AC from creating a comfortable living environment. Short cycling also limits air conditioners’ ability to regulate indoor humidity and filter the indoor air.
Undersized air conditioners are just as problematic. If the AC you install is too small for your home, it will run non-stop. More importantly, its power will be insufficient to cool your home. Whether too large or too small, improperly sized ACs have shorter lifespans, multiple repair issues throughout their lifetimes, and higher-than-average operational costs.
We use the Manual J load calculation to ensure accurate AC sizing. This is a highly complex calculation that’s performed with special software. It accounts for the amount of usable area within the building, ceiling heights, insulation amounts, and more. Using the Manual J load calculation to determine the right AC size for your home is far more effective than using online charts that make recommendations for air conditioner BTUs based solely on square footage.
After we’ve determined the correct AC size, we’ll go over several high-performing models at your targeted price point. We’ll help you choose an option with the functions and features you need by explaining the benefits, drawbacks, maintenance requirements, and expected lifespan of each model.
Extracting Old AC Refrigerant
One obvious step in AC installation is the removal of old equipment. However, for older air conditioners, there are special concerns about how their refrigerant is handled. Before taking your old AC unit out, its refrigerant must be extracted. As per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this refrigerant cannot be lawfully vented into the atmosphere. We use a refrigerant recovery machine that extracts this solution and stores it in a special recovery tank. This is the only safe and legal way to get the job done.
Removing and Disposing of Your Old Air Conditioner
After all of the refrigerant has been removed from your old air conditioner, its electrical wiring will be disconnected. A flexible electrical conduit known as a “whip” is what carries electricity to your AC from the disconnect box. To ensure safe and reliable performance, we’ll replace this component. If no disconnect box was used before, we’ll put one in so that your new AC unit is completely up to code.
Our team will also remove your indoor air handler, your outdoor condenser unit, and your old concrete pad. All of your old cooling equipment will be loaded onto our truck for proper disposal.
Modifying the Indoor Storage Area
On the actual day of your AC installation, your home might be slightly refined to suit your new air conditioner. Although most air conditioners are expected to last between just 15 and 20 years, some homeowners have had the same cooling equipment for decades. Unsurprisingly, a lot has changed in residential AC design over the last 30 years, including the physical dimensions of modern AC models. New air conditioners are between 20% and 50% larger than those 30-year-old units. The larger size allows for the addition of a larger cooling coil, greater efficiency, and increased cooling power.
You might be able to house the new unit in the same storage area you used for the old one with some refinements to the space. These alterations ensure we can install the unit efficiently and that the results are in accordance with all applicable building codes. Occasionally, we might need to relocate the new unit’s indoor air handler to meet state or local regulations or due to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Adjusting the space and making sure the new AC is up to code can help prevent many other issues and will make it easier on you if you decide to sell your home in the future.
Once the storage area is prepared, our team will place the new air handler and prepare to connect it to the outdoor condenser via refrigerant lines and wiring. We’ll also connect it to the HVAC ducts so it can move conditioned air throughout your home.
Preparing the Concrete Pad for the Outdoor AC Condenser
The central AC releases hot air to the outdoor condenser unit. The outdoor unit is home to the compressor, the condenser coil, and other critical components, which means that its position must be chosen carefully. AC condensers require at least two feet of clearance on all sides. Because excessive solar heat gains can overheat AC condensers and trigger malfunctions, the outdoor unit should also have suitable shade from the building, trees, or awnings.
AC condensers must be on stable, level surfaces. The concrete pad that supported your old unit may still be in good shape, but it must also be strong enough to support the weight and size of the new AC unit to keep it running smoothly. This means that you might need to install a new concrete or composite pad.
HVAC Air Duct Refinements
Like air conditioners and heaters, HVAC ductwork has a finite lifespan. Your air ducts should be replaced every 10 to 15 years. High-quality, high-performing air ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling equipment, limit HVAC system stress, and protect your indoor air quality (IAQ). Although the lifespan of air ducts is slightly shorter than that of air conditioners and heaters, it’s generally best to schedule duct replacement at the same time as AC or heater installation. This way, air duct designs can be streamlined to perfectly suit new models. If your air ducts are relatively new, these features may only need slight refinements to accommodate your new cooling equipment
Thermostat Installation and Calibration
AC replacement is also a great time to upgrade your thermostat. We offer smart and programmable thermostats that can help you lower your carbon footprint and your home energy bill with minimal effort. No matter which option you choose, we’ll walk you through the process of establishing settings, adjusting them, and taking advantage of other features and functions.
We finish our work by turning the air conditioners on and testing them. Our technician might make a few minor adjustments to optimize performance, and we’ll give you a detailed overview of your new unit’s ongoing maintenance needs.
Since 1985, we’ve been proudly serving residents of Dallas, GA and the surrounding communities. We offer heating, cooling, and indoor air quality services. We also provide heat pumps, water heaters, dehumidifiers, and preventative maintenance plans. To schedule service, contact Precision Heating & Air now.
