When you think of air conditioning for your home what is the first thing that comes to your mind? – Mostly window air conditioner, right? Even though the window air conditioner is a versatile cooling solution, it will have its own limitations. If your home does not have windows that are compatible with window air conditioner, you may have to look for other options. A decade ago, window air conditioners were everywhere. They were the first and mostly the only choices for homes around. However, with the popularity of split air conditioners growing and the fact that many other variants of the split model available today, there is one for every household. They are also gaining popularity in small commercial buildings.
Split air conditioning
So what is different in a split air conditioning system? Split-system units divide the hot and cold side of the air conditioning system into two. They are discreet. The cold section of the split air conditioner consists of an expansion coil and a cold coil. This is placed into a furnace or another type of air handler. The air handler blows air through the coil. The air is then routed around the room. The hot section is normally the outdoor unit. The hot section is also called the condensing unit is placed on top of a window shade or on a side-wall by using brackets. Refrigerant piping connects both the hot and cold side.
Outdoor unit specialty
The outdoor unit consists of a long, spiral coil. The coil consists of a fan used to blow air through the coil and a weather-resistant compressor. The outdoor unit will also consist of control logic. This is a simple design, and over the years there have been many tweaks to this design. Since most of the noise will come from the outdoor unit, there will be minimal noise within the house. Apart from the division between indoor and outdoor unit, the relatively larger compressor and coils that provides a higher capacity, split air conditioners are not any different from window air conditioners.
Depending on the capacity of split air conditioners, the condensing unit (outdoor unit) will be placed on rooftops. This is especially seen in large malls and offices. Smaller outdoor units with lower capacities, meant to cool a room or two are also seen on roofs and window shades.
Here is what goes into the installation of a split air conditioner:
Install the indoor unit
- Locate an unobstructed location on the interior wall of the room.
- Secure the mounting plate on the wall. Measure the markings of the mounting plate and then secure the mounting plate on the wall.
- Drill a hole that is fit enough to pass the refrigerant piping through the wall. This can be above the mounting plate on the wall.
- Check the electrical connections.
- Connect the pipes. Here you will need to run the pipe from the indoor unit, through the hole in the wall. This will be eventually connected to the outdoor unit. Follow manufacturer’s instructions.
- Set the indoor unit by pressing it against the mounting plate.
Install the outdoor condenser unit
- Locate an unobstructed location on the exterior of your home. The area should not be too dusty as well. You will need to ensure that the outdoor unit has 12” space on all sides. This will ensure proper functionality of the unit. You must ensure that the area where the outdoor unit will be fixed will be free from radio or television antenna.
- Connect the electrical wires by removing the outdoor unit’s cover. Follow manufacturer’s instructions to do this. Fasten the cable clamps and replace the cover.
- Secure the other end of the refrigerant piping. If there are any spaces between the piping and the hole, you must seal them, for optimal indoor cooling.
For more details, you can search through the reliable online portals, to get ideas about split system air-conditioning.
