Do-it-yourself air conditioner installation: rules, tools and installation steps

Recommendation points

• Tools and materials for mounting a wall-mounted split system
• Determining the installation location of the indoor unit
• Determining the place for mounting the outdoor unit
• Stages of installation of a two-block system

To ensure the smooth operation of the air conditioner, it is very important to correctly install it. We want to tell you about the procedure and methods for installing wall-mounted climate systems with our own hands and talk about the tools necessary for this..

Can I install the wall split system myself? You can, however, you need to stock up on the necessary tools, understand the general rules and carefully study the installation instructions that are attached to the technical documentation of the air conditioner.

Tools and materials for mounting a wall-mounted split system

It is impractical to purchase a tool for one installation, since you will need not only general construction and locksmith equipment, but also special equipment. It is good if it is already available on the farm or you can borrow it, rent it.

Professional set of split system installers

So, an approximate list of what you may need when installing an air conditioner.

Building tools:

• puncher;
• drills, augers (Ø 45–65 mm, at least 0.5 m long) and drills (for metal and concrete);
• screwdriver;
• construction level;
• roulette.

Technological tools:

• example – for deburring a copper tube before flaring;
• device for expanding copper pipes;
• pipe bender;
• pipe cutter;
• vacuum gauge – measurements during evacuation of the refrigerant line;
• vacuum pump – for evacuating the refrigerant line;
• if the route is long and refrigerant recharging is required, you need hoses for control and charging, a filling cylinder.

Locksmith tools:

• screwdrivers: Phillips and slotted;
• a hammer;
• hex wrench;
• adjustable wrench;
• torque wrench;
• pliers;
• knife.

Materials required for installation: screws, dowels, heat-insulating and electrical insulating tape, protective decorative boxes for electrical wiring and refrigerant lines.

If the work will be carried out at height, safety equipment and experience of working at height will be required.

Remember insurance

Determining the installation location of the indoor unit

The placement of the internal evaporating unit should be such as to create the most comfortable microclimate for people, excluding directed flows of cold air into the head of a sleeping child or on the owner’s favorite chair.

Indoor unit placement and airflow direction

In addition, there are rules for the placement of climatic equipment that must be followed. Make sure the location is correct before attaching the mounting plate to the wall.

Fundamental rules:

1. Ventilation holes in walls must not be blocked.
2. The difference in height between the outdoor and indoor unit cannot be more than 5 m.
3. It is better to mount the indoor unit on a load-bearing wall. A thin interior partition may not support the weight of the structure.
4. Ensure easy access to the filter.
5. It is advisable to place the evaporating unit at a height of at least 2.3 m above the floor level.
6. Do not install the wall system too close to the ceiling. For various models, this distance is at least 7-25 cm.
7. Install next to an electrical outlet. If it is necessary to lengthen the cord, do not build up the cable, but replace it with a wire of the required length. When installing powerful air conditioners (more than 4.5 kW), the wiring must include a residual current device.
8. It is advisable that direct sunlight does not fall on the indoor unit. Do not place it under fluorescent lamps either – this will damage the plastic of the case.
9. When installing in a kitchen, make sure the distance to the microwave is at least 1 m.
10. Units are not installed in laundries, bathrooms.

Determining the place for mounting the outdoor unit

The outdoor compressor unit must be installed on strong, sturdy brackets that can support its weight. Do not take too thin metal. Outdoor units are often mounted between window openings or under a window sill.

When choosing a location for the unit, make sure that in the event of repairs, specialists will have access to it. The installation location should not be selected near the gas pipe where leakage is possible. The unit should be protected from rain and midday sun by a canopy and well ventilated. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain the manufacturer’s recommended distances from the block to other surfaces..

If the air conditioner is installed on the ground floor, it makes sense to consider an anti-vandal box for placing the outdoor unit.

Stages of installation of a two-block system

For the system to work without problems, you need to correctly complete all the stages of installation.

1. Begin the installation with a marking for the mounting panel of the indoor unit of the split system. To the designated conditional rectangle – the landing site of the indoor unit, you need to attach a mounting plate or mounting panel, align them with a level and mark the drilling sites. After that, drill holes with a depth of at least 32 mm with a Ø 8 mm drill, hammer in dowels, attach the mounting panel to the wall, check the correct installation with a level again and fix the metal base with self-tapping screws with a press washer.

2. Based on the connection diagram, find the place where the freon comes out and mark the place for drilling the channel to the outdoor unit with a slight slope towards the street for the unhindered outlet of condensate. At the point of drilling with a knife, remove the wallpaper circle at the place of the future channel. This will create a neat hole when drilling. Secure the garbage bag with masking tape under the future hole. So there will be much less debris and dust in the room, especially if you do not have an industrial vacuum cleaner..

The length of the drill is taken depending on the thickness of the walls, the diameter of the drill (~ 45 mm) must correspond to the section for the passage of communications. Drill a hole and insert flexible tube to protect walls and pipes.

3. Next, take care of the safety belts: the work goes to the outer wall. You need to fix the brackets to install the outdoor unit. To do this, mark the fasteners and drill holes for bolts with a length of at least 100 mm with a dowel for a drill Ø 12 mm. Attach the brackets to the mounting location and secure them with bolts.

After installing the outdoor unit on the brackets, fix it with bolts Ø 8-10 mm with a nut and washer.

4. Measure the length of the freon line. To do this, we apply a tape measure to the indoor unit and pass it through the formed communication channel to the connection point on the external unit, leaving a margin of at least 10 cm.Cut a copper tube of the required length with a pipe cutter, process it from burrs with a reamer, install a flare nut and fold it at the very edge.

The edges of the pipes must be sealed with electrical tape until the very connection..

5. After snapping off the front cover of the indoor unit of the air conditioner, unscrew the plug for connecting the cable connecting the indoor and outdoor units. After feeding the cable through the mounting hole, connect the wires to the individual terminals according to the diagram shown next to the terminal box (or in the air conditioner passport). Collect everything in reverse order.

Attention! Dust and dirt must not get inside: this can provoke a short circuit and fire.

6. Connect the drain hose of the air conditioner with a metal-plastic pipe Ø 16 mm, which will act as a drain, with a mounting tape. Very carefully, so as not to damage the copper pipes, connect them to the indoor unit of the air conditioner using an adjustable and torque wrench, screwing the conical nut until it clicks. Before using the wrenches, make sure the nut can be tightened unhindered by hand. Slip the rubber tubing over the copper tube.

Wrap the line using vinyl insulation.

Pass the merged line through the hole in the wall. Try not to bend the tubes too much or too often. A drainage pipe is laid under the connecting line in such a way that there is no stagnation of condensate or reverse flow – the direction is “only down”. Install the indoor unit on the wall mounting panel. Make sure that the unit is firmly and securely seated on the mount and is perfectly horizontal.

Connect the trunk and electric cable to the outdoor unit of the air conditioner in the same way..

7. Using a vacuum pump, fill the freon line within 15 minutes. To do this, connect the service pump to the vacuum pump with a flexible hose using a four-way valve, from which you need to remove the cover.

When the set vacuum values ​​are reached, turn off the vacuum pump, open the valve by 1/4 for 10 s and check the line for leaks using a soap solution at the joints. Disconnect the vacuum pump hose from the system.

If the length of the line exceeds 7 m, you will have to refill the circuit with freon.

Attention! Make sure all elements are connected securely, otherwise fluid leakage may occur!

8. Isolate all communications outside with vinyl tape, securing with plastic ties. Using a hex wrench, open the service valves on the outdoor unit of the air conditioner and run freon into the line. Install the cover of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner by fixing it with screws. Align the drain tube with a downward slope and secure it to the bracket with plastic clips.

Attention! In reversible models, the drain pipe is inserted into the outdoor unit through the hole in the bottom panel, and then connected to the condensate drain line.

Seal the hole in the wall, fix and close all communications indoors and outdoors with a decorative box and plug the air conditioner into a power outlet. Check how the remote works, listen to the noise. If everything is ok, you have installed your air conditioner.