It’s common for people to wonder if they should do their own air conditioning installation or hire professionals. A few things to consider when contemplating doing your own air conditioning installation; air quality, safety, duration of the job, warranty coverage, and cost. Air conditioning systems can be dangerous. If you’re not sure about installing your air conditioning system yourself, it’s best to hire professionals to do the job.
Removal and disposal of old equipment
Your old air conditioning unit has several parts that need proper disposal, including refrigerant. Professional technicians are trained and EPA certified by law to handle this safely. Removing the old air conditioning unit is in fact the longest and most arduous part of the air conditioning installation process.
Hiring an expert HVAC company is the best solution to getting rid of that old unit. The technicians who work with these companies have training in removing and disposing of the old air conditioning units.
Professional quality installation is a must
The installation is the most important part of purchasing an air conditioner, not the brand. A lot of people make the mistake of comparing a new HVAC system to a new car. The problem with this is it is a false equivalence. It would be like buying a car and having to put it together at your home. You’ll definitely have some quality issues with that car.
If you have an older central AC system, it’s important to find out what needs to be done to retrofit the new unit. There are many considerations when it comes to this, sizing, fitment, compatibility just to name a few. There are many areas of concern when it comes to the maintenance and accessibility of your central AC system.
Hiring a professional HVAC company will help you take care of these concerns. Your HVAC contractor will be trained to handle all aspects of installing, maintaining, and servicing your central AC system.
Warranty Issues
One of the main concerns with performing your own central air conditioning installation is a warranty. There are no air conditioning manufacturers that will honor the factory warranty unless it was installed by a licensed professional.
Manufactures actually frown on selling equipment to non-licensed individuals. This is because of liability reasons. They don’t want the responsibility of someone getting hurt, property damage to occur, or get blamed for a non-working unit that is not working because of improper installation.
DIY is not ok for HVAC Installations
If you’re considering doing the air conditioning installation yourself, you should make sure that you know what you’re doing and that the job is completed safely. You don’t want to hurt yourself or others while trying to install or repair something that’s not meant to be cut down or damaged. For example, you do not want to cut off the power to the unit or cut away a wire in an attempt to fix a problem that could easily be fixed.
Proper Install Procedures
HVAC companies usually only hire professional installers for their air conditioning installations because it’s too risky and expensive to try to cut corners on the installation. They have the right tools and experience to complete the job properly, so there’s no need to try and cut corners when it comes to the ductwork either.
In fact, hiring a professional HVAC contractor will mean less time spent on the actual installation of the air conditioner. The HVAC contractor will use expensive specialty tools to do the bulk of the work so that you won’t have to worry about finishing anything by yourself.
If you Insist on DIY HVAC Installation
One important thing to remember during a DIY air conditioning installation is that you need to have someone with you who knows what they’re doing. ( preferably a certified and licensed professional)
If you’re not certain that you’ll be able to handle the project, then it’s best to just hire a professional. Even if you want to do the installation by yourself, you should still hire a professional if you have any doubts at all about your abilities.
These professionals have the knowledge and skills to get the job done right. In addition, they will also be able to provide you with additional help whenever you need it. This way, you can focus on other parts of your home while your HVAC system is getting installed.
Cost effective and time efficient with a pro
The air conditioning installation process is much faster than you might think. Most people who do not have HVAC skills have a hard time completing this task because of the complicated nature of the process.
A licensed AC professional will have all the specialty tools and all the needed materials needed to get through the job without hiccup. He has contacts at the supply house and crane companies that he speaks to just about every day. Most homeowners or do it yourselves would have a difficult time (not impossible) putting all these things together for a single air conditioner installation.
In contrast to a pro installer who installs 5-10 heating and cooling systems per week, every week. Not to mention he has probably been doing this for many years.
Pros and Cons of doing your own Air conditioning Install
The new air conditioner installation process doesn’t have to be difficult if you know what you’re doing. There are many things that you can do to make the whole process go more smoothly. If you have some experience in the HVAC field you may be able to complete the installation process without hiring anyone at all. If not, you should definitely get in touch with local HVAC contractors to see how they can help you with this project.
Now after reading this article you can determine how difficult the air conditioning installation process will be for you. It’s simply a matter of what you know, what you’re comfortable with, what obstacles you are willing to deal with, what your risk tolerance is, and finally time vs money. Whichever way you decide to go, good luck and stay safe!