How to lay the route of the air conditioner: rules of laying and installation of communications

Adequate insulation and heating are essential components of a year-round comfortable home. However, to keep a cool interior during the summer or in warmer climates, an air conditioner becomes necessary. But selecting the correct air conditioner is not the only step in the installation process. It also necessitates thoughtful preparation and deliberation over how to set up the required channels of communication.

Determining the path for the communication lines is an essential step, regardless of whether you’re retrofitting an old air conditioner or installing a new one. These lines consist of drainage pipes, refrigerant tubing, and electrical wiring. Arranging the path guarantees effective functioning, reduces the possibility of harm, and improves the overall appearance of your house.

It’s imperative that you become familiar with the regulations and guidelines governing the routing of the air conditioner’s communication lines before beginning the installation process. The purpose of these regulations is to guarantee efficiency, safety, and adherence to building codes. You can avoid costly errors and have a smooth installation process by being aware of these regulations.

The positioning of the indoor and outdoor units is a key factor to take into account when planning the communications path for air conditioners. The indoor unit needs to be placed carefully to guarantee proper airflow and cool air distribution throughout the space. Indoor units are usually mounted on walls or ceilings. In order to promote heat exchange, the outdoor unit should also be positioned in an area with good ventilation and minimal obstructions.

What you need for self-installation

You are undoubtedly aware of the price that a professional air conditioner installation will cost. They respond that the equipment is very costly and that its amortization accounts for a sizeable portion of the cost when asked why such prices are charged for work that only takes three hours to complete. That may be the case, but the majority of this gear might already be present in the home. The vacuum pump is an exception, but many brigades operate without one because the defective one is useless and the normal one is very expensive.

It’s crucial to align the units horizontally when installing. This calls for a high degree of construction.

Equipment

Thus, the following tools are required if you want to install the air conditioner by hand:

• Perforator to make a hole in the outer wall, in which to lay the communications that connect the indoor and outdoor units.
• Drill for installation of fasteners with a set of drills of different diameters.
• A pipe cutter for cutting copper pipes and a rimmer for removing burrs (you can do with a file/natfile and sandpaper).
• Expander for copper pipes.

Materials

Two split-system units will require the following consumables for installation and connection:

Cable for power supply and for connecting the units. The brand and parameters of the cable depend on the manufacturer and are usually indicated in the passport in the installation instructions. Usually it is a 4-core cable with a cross-section of 2 mm2 or 2.5 mm2. The length of the cable is equal to the length of the route with a small reserve. Copper thick-walled seamless pipes (not plumbing pipes, but special pipes for refrigeration and air conditioning systems). Pipes will be required in two diameters – larger and smaller. Specific figures will be specified in the manual, the length of each section is equal to the length of the route plus 20-30 cm to spare Once again, please note that copper pipes are not water pipes, but for the refrigeration industry. They have a different copper – softer, which will be well flattened and will be able to provide the required tightness Transport and store copper tubes should be with plugged edges – to avoid dust getting there

This is a crucial matter. Technical rubber pipes require special thick-walled, seamless copper pipes made of soft copper insulation. available in black or dark gray.

The color does not affect the quality, it is supplied in two meter sections. Required length – equal to the length of the route. It is necessary to insulate under both diameters of pipes – larger and smaller. Drainage tube. Specialists advise to put a special corrugated hose with a plastic spiral inside it. When installing it independently, it is often replaced by a polypropylene pipe. The length of the drainage pipe is the length of the route plus 80 cm. Two L-shaped brackets for mounting the outdoor unit. Their size should correspond to the dimensions of the unit, and their bearing capacity should exceed its weight 4-5 times. This reserve is necessary to compensate for wind and snow loads. It is desirable to buy them in firms selling components for air conditioners. Conventional brackets may not be reliable. Brackets for air conditioners should withstand a large load – 3-4 times the weight of the outdoor unit Bolts, anchors, dowels. The type, size and quantity depend on the type of brackets and mounting plate for the indoor unit and the type of wall on which the air conditioner is mounted. Plastic box 60*80 cm – to cover the laid communications.

Bulkhead drainage pumps

Large storage tanks equipped with level sensors are features of the filling pumps. The drainage tray is positioned beneath this container. Condensate drains from the sump and enters this storage tank in this manner.

These pumps consist of a single unit that houses the control unit, storage tank, and drain pump.

They are utilized in refrigeration systems, clusters of air conditioners, and high capacity air conditioners.

Air conditioner storage drainage pumps have a capacity of 80–1500 l/h.

A height differential of three to six meters is allowed.

Preparatory work

Using a perforator, choose a gutter on the wall. The future main line should be easily hidden by choosing the appropriate depth.

The drainage tubing enters the unit on both the left and right sides, while the copper tubing typically enters the unit from the left side. Your air conditioner’s model and manufacturer will determine this.

Slope-based drainage system installation is required. There should be no slope in the direction of the air conditioner or horizontal sections. It is advised to lay the first 20 to 30 centimeters at the steepest angle that is practical. The purpose of doing this is to prepare for lowering the indoor unit in the future. The slope should then be one centimeter for every meter of pipe.

Once the wall’s channels have been prepared as needed, the trunk line’s street exit hole needs to be drilled. Drilling bigger holes on the street side will be the best course of action.

In the realm of home comfort, ensuring effective heating and insulation stands as a cornerstone for maintaining a cozy living environment. Whether it"s battling the winter chill or keeping cool in the summer heat, a well-insulated and efficiently heated home makes all the difference. When it comes to installing an air conditioner, laying out the route for its communication lines is crucial. This involves a series of steps and considerations to ensure optimal performance and longevity of the system. From planning the route to adhering to safety regulations, careful attention must be paid to every detail. By following the rules of laying and installing these communication lines, homeowners can enjoy the benefits of a seamlessly integrated air conditioning system, providing comfort and convenience throughout the seasons.

Length of the air conditioner route

There are numerous factors that must be taken into account and managed when installing an air conditioner. The length of the air conditioner route—that is, the distance the freon tubes must travel from the external unit to the internal unit—is one of these factors.

The installation and operation manual provides further information on the allowable route length for each type of air conditioner. However, the optimal operating conditions for residential cooling systems can generally be achieved with an air conditioner route that is three to five meters long.

Even if the air conditioners are arranged one behind the other, the air conditioner route should never be shorter than three meters.

It is acceptable if the main line is longer than ten to fifteen meters, but it is important to remember that in this scenario, the power required for split-system operation will decrease as the air conditioner’s route lengthens.

In this situation, the split system will need to be refilled in accordance with the instructions, and it is preferable to think about installing semi-industrial models of air conditioning systems.

Installers should never shorten or cut this main line in any way, even if the external and internal blocks of the conditioner are close to one another and their distance is less than the length of the freon pipes. The tubes need to be fixed close to the cooling system’s external block and twisted neatly.

For example, if the wall thickness is the only factor separating the conditioner’s blocks, the extra three meters of route coils into a ring behind the outer block.

Regarding the maximum allowable route length, the manufacturer states that it can be as long as 15 meters for the majority of models and as long as 20 or even 25 meters for some models. Apart from the distance, it’s important to keep in mind that turns in the path, particularly those that occur at sharp angles, can also impact how well the air conditioner works. It is therefore highly recommended that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

How to increase the length of the route

There are instances where the distance between the indoor and outdoor units is 30 to 40 meters. This is particularly true for newly constructed homes, where specific floor balconies are provided for the installation of external units. Yes, each apartment on the floor has its own balcony. It is easily possible to travel 40 meters from the furthest apartment. You can be as critical of the design as you like here, but sadly, there is no turning back.

For the air conditioner to function along this length of the route, it is required to increase the diameter of the thicker gas pipe by one size, or an increase of one size in gas pipe diameter.е.:

• instead of 3/8 we put 1/2;
• instead of 1/2 we put 5/8.

A crucial detail: you can only do this on horizontal sections. For those that are vertical, each diameter needs to match what the instructions say. An example using a 2.5 kW air conditioner can be found here (09).

The diameter of gas pipes has been raised to 1/2 on horizontal sections.

It is highly recommended that only highly qualified specialists install air conditioners, and that the installation team be closely monitored to prevent potential problems during the installation process and with the cooling system’s subsequent operation.

For optimum performance and effective cooling, your air conditioner’s route must be laid out correctly. You can make sure your air conditioning system runs efficiently by adhering to a few important rules and guidelines.

First, think about where the indoor and outdoor units should be placed. The indoor unit should be placed in the middle of the house, ideally away from heat sources and direct sunlight. This aids in distributing cool air throughout the room in an even manner. The outdoor unit needs to be positioned away from anything that can restrict airflow and in a well-ventilated area.

As much as possible, bends and turns should be avoided when routing the electrical wiring and refrigerant pipes. Sharp bends can reduce the amount of refrigerant flowing through them and put more strain on the compressor, which can result in inefficiencies and even breakdowns. Instead, choose gradual, rounded curves.

To reduce energy usage and stop heat loss, make sure the electrical wiring and refrigerant pipes are adequately insulated. Insulation shields the wiring from the elements, including moisture and ultraviolet light, and aids in maintaining the refrigerant’s temperature.

The separation between the indoor and outdoor units is another crucial factor. Ideally, to minimize energy loss and guarantee peak performance, this distance should be kept to a minimum. For information on the recommended maximum distance between the units, refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Lastly, whenever possible, have your air conditioning system installed by a qualified HVAC technician. An expert installer will possess the requisite knowledge and experience to guarantee that the air conditioner’s route is appropriately designed and that all parts are installed securely and safely.

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