It is recommended to install a split system before the painters level and paint the walls. In a large apartment or house, you may need several indoor units and one external, which is connected to the fan coil by routes of pipes and wires. These communications are connected in one bundle and shut up simultaneously. After a fresh repair, you will again have to hammer plaster, brick or concrete in order to hide the air conditioning path along the ceiling or walls. These are additional costs, dirt in the room and inconvenience. In addition, electric wires have already been installed in the walls and there is a risk of damage if you do not use special equipment that is looking for wiring.
Where to start installation
The more professionally installed the system, the longer its life. If there is no self-confidence, it is better to call specialists. They do the installation in the following order:
- mark the strobes in the walls at an angle for communications;
- gouging holes and laying pipes;
- conduct a drainage pipe at an angle to the sewer;
- electricians conduct an electric cable in the wall to a separate shield;
- punch a hole for the output of pipes to the outside - to the outdoor unit.
This is the most difficult, but practical option - only the decorative plastic panel of the indoor unit will be visible. All pipes go into it from behind, they are not visible and the aesthetic appearance of the room is preserved. The drainage is also hidden, water does not drip on the head of passers-by.
Laying the track for the air conditioner using the gating method is more expensive - this must be borne in mind if the budget is limited.
Laying tracks for an air conditioner - which way to choose
The most difficult part of the installation process is preparing the walls and laying copper pipes. Here you need to follow the rules so that after a while you do not have to reinstall the system again. It is easier to mount a decorative box and hide all the pipes under it. There are advantages here: in case of malfunctions, it is easier to check a track that is not embedded in the walls. For independent work, you should consider both options and choose the appropriate one.
Before starting work, you should know:
- it will be impossible to move the air conditioner even 2 cm, so you need to determine the installation location immediately;
- It is recommended to choose a place for the outdoor unit in such a way that it has constant access without the services of industrial climbers - for maintenance and self-cleaning
- if the house is old and the wiring has not changed for a long time, there is a danger of fire, so before installing the air conditioner, electricians must replace all electrical communications in the apartment so that they can withstand the load.
Before starting the installation of the route, you need to calculate the length of the freon line and select the optimal location for the indoor unit.
Line calculations and layout
Each air conditioner model has its own limit values along the length of the line. In household wall split systems, the maximum length of the air conditioner runs from 15 to 20 meters. If you exceed the permissible values, you can not count on the declared performance.
Some tips on calculating:
- The height distance between the outdoor and indoor units is indicated in the installation instructions. This is from 7 to 12 meters for conventional air conditioners.
- The drainage system can work by the gravitational method - at an angle, or have its own pump that pushes condensate into the sewer.
- At least 10 cm of free space for air circulation should remain under the ceiling above the indoor unit.If the repair in the room is in draft stage, you need to calculate how much space will remain and what type of ceiling will be in the room. Draw a rectangle according to the size of the indoor unit on the wall and coordinate with the repairmen who will do the finishing work.
- In one room, it is desirable to put one device for cooling. If you put one powerful air conditioner in two rooms, one will always be warmer.
- It is important to consider the location of furniture during the installation of equipment, because the air flow should not be directed at people to prevent colds.
- In the bedroom, do not place the device above the bed so that the sounds of the working equipment do not interfere with sleep.
After taking into account all the nuances, you can proceed to the installation of air conditioning.
Strobing Stage
Marking the strobes under the air conditioner is done in several ways. It depends on the drainage system:
- If all pipes - freon and drainage - go side by side, a recess is made at an angle of 3 degrees so that condensate does not stagnate.
- If the drainage is located separately, the slope of the strobes is needed only for the drainage hose. The freon highway is laid without a bias. Can be held on the ceiling or on the walls.
- If it is not possible to drain the drainage fluid in a gravitational manner, it is necessary to provide for the installation of a pump with which water will be removed from the system.
When marking the recess, sharp turns cannot be made, since it will be impossible to bend the pipes for such a turn. Sharp angles must be avoided, otherwise it will be a hall of a copper tube and freon will not circulate freely.
Deepening is done over a width of 60 mm and a height of 40 mm. For a drainage tube 20 mm deep and wide. Work is carried out by a chipper. An ordinary grinder and a chisel are not suitable, as they can destroy the wall. In a prefabricated house, this can disrupt the bearing performance of the walls.
Original models have eyeliner on the left side. In Chinese air conditioners, pipe entrances to the right are sometimes found.
Pipe rolling and stowage
Before installation, the pipes are rolled in a straight line. At this moment, it is important not to step by accident, because copper - the material is soft and easily crumpled. Heaters are put on both pipes, the diameter of which depends on the power of the equipment.
A corrugation is put on the interconnect cable, and all parts are assembled and rewound with adhesive tape. Near the indoor unit, leave a supply of 50 cm pipe. Near the outdoor unit 1 - 1.5 meters.
Next, the track is laid in a shtroba and fastened with a mounting tape and dowels. It is important that the beam does not protrude beyond the walls - this will create problems with plaster.
Crimping the track
Pressure testing is necessary for safety reasons. If the workers damage the track, then the pressed system makes a loud sound. At this stage, you can restore the track without breaking the equipment. A pressure gauge can also be installed.
Air conditioning cleaning
Moisture should not get into the copper pipes, as this violates the chemical parameters of freon, in which caustic compounds are formed. Liquid can damage the parts of the air conditioner from the inside, and it will quickly fail. For cleaning, special equipment is used that removes moist air, after which the ends of the pipes are tightly closed with plugs.
Closing the strobes
After completing all the work, you can cover the strobes with a building mixture. If communications were laid on the ceiling, you can continue to repair and close the ceiling with plasterboard. After coating, it is advisable to photograph the location of the highway with the distance from the walls, from the floor, so that in case of damage to disassemble the wall minimally.
When the final repair is completed, it remains to call the masters, or to independently install the external and internal equipment, then connect it and check the correct operation.
In reputable companies, the price of work includes garbage collection after laying the highway. For this, installers have vacuum cleaners with special dust bags. At the same time, you can conclude a service contract for your system so as not to clean the external unit, risking your life. Construction mountaineering services are very expensive, and full cleaning should be done once a year at least if the air conditioner is in a place clean from dust and poplar fluff.
Possible problems and creases along the air conditioner
Problems when installing equipment most often occur due to the fault of the owners of the premises, who, not knowing the nuances, require performing actions not recommended by the manufacturer:
- They are asked to place the indoor unit above the heating battery. The air conditioner will run for wear and the compressor will quickly break, the replacement of which costs half of all equipment.
- Install furniture in the path of the air masses. Cold air will return to the air conditioner faster, the sensor will turn off the system, and the room will be hot.
- When installing an external unit on a balcony or loggia, it is stipulated that they will not glass for air access. If in the future the balcony is still glazed, the compressor will overheat and will have to change parts for new ones.
Installer problems:
- Collisions and bending of copper pipes with a diameter of less than 10 cm. They create problems with both circulation and pumping of freon, which increases the load on the compressor.
- Poor fixture of an external device. It threatens a collapse of equipment and injuries - the vibration of the unit suggests that you need to fix it better.
- Wrong wall for mounting external equipment. Mounting is carried out only on supporting structures.
To carry out such work independently, you need a specialist consultation or a detailed study of the instructions, the availability of tools and special devices, without which it is impossible to complete the installation efficiently.
