Air conditioning systems with heat pump cool in summer and heat in winter, hence their popularity. Do you think that the installation will be very complicated? We tell you how to install an air conditioner and what rules must be followed.

Installation of an air conditioner: what you need to know

Is the installation of an air conditioner complicated, can I do it myself, can it be illegal to put the unit on the facade?

If you are concerned about the installation, first of all, you should know that air conditioners contain fluorinated gases in their circuits, so their installation should always be done by a professional installer, accredited to do it safely. So forget about installing the air on your own.

Air conditioning equipment with and without installation

Depending on the type of air conditioner, installation may be more or less complicated.

Portable models are the simplest because they do not need to be installed by a professional: you only need to plug them into the mains and take the tube out through a hole that faces outside (usually a window, along with an adapter to seal it as well as possible). The disadvantage of these units is that they have a much lower performance, they are also less efficient and noisy.

Wall split models have an outdoor unit that exchanges energy with the ambient air, and an indoor unit, which is responsible for distributing the cold (or hot) air throughout the room. They are more efficient and silent, but their installation must be done by a professional. Single split systems (one outdoor unit for one indoor unit) are the most common, but there are also multi-split systems (one outdoor unit and up to 5 indoor units).

For cassettes, floor-ceiling consoles and columns, the same criteria can be applied as for wall splits, which consist of an outdoor unit and an indoor unit. In cassettes, as in wall splits, several indoor units can be configured with one outdoor unit in the multi-cassette mode.

The ducted air conditioning is the most complicated to install because it requires installing a network of pipes through the false ceiling to bring the air to different rooms of the house. If there is no pre-installation in the house, it is necessary to make a work. If you already have the pre-installation, you have to add the machine with an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, which is usually housed in the false ceiling.

How much it costs the installation of an air conditioning equipment

Here you have to take into account the cost of air conditioning equipment, plus the cost of installation, when you choose your air conditioning equipment you have to take into account several factors, the type of equipment, depending on the characteristics of your home or premises, better adapt a type of product or another.

For a house you usually use wall splits, it is not mandatory, in fact you can choose the equipment you want, but the most common are the splits, and ducts, if as we mentioned above you have the pre-installation done or false ceilings to do it.

Another important factor is the power of the equipment, here does not serve the rule of more is better, if you buy a more powerful equipment than you need, not only will be more expensive, but also, also spend more energy, which will result in a higher light consumption, plus you will have a team with a wasted power, because you can never use its full potential, if for example you put a high-powered equipment in a small room.

Air conditioning equipment, you have all brands and prices, you do not have to buy the most expensive machine to have a good team, often the price increase is given by more technologically advanced equipment, equipped with features that may not need. If you need advice do not hesitate to contact us, we will be happy to advise you which equipment best suits your needs and your budget.

For the cost of the installation you have to take into account several factors.

• Number of units to install, as well as their type, size and brand.
• Complexity of the installation. The distance to the outdoor unit determines if you need a lot of wiring or many meters of piping. It also influences whether it is difficult to access the location where the units are to be placed.
• Improvements in the electrical circuit if they are necessary, for not having adequate outlets or sufficient contracted power.

What services are included in the installation of air conditioning equipment.

• Unpacking and installation of the air conditioning equipment,
• Warranty of the installation services for two years
• Displacement of a specialized technician to the customer’s home.
• Wall fasteners including a set of brackets and suitable silentblocks.
• Linear piping.
• Inner channel.
• Drainage pipe.
• Electric cable.
• Functional test and explanations of the basic functions of the equipment.
• Removal of the old installed equipment and its deposit in the Clean Point.

Where to install my air conditioning equipment

To install a split system, you need to think about where to put the indoor unit and where the outdoor unit will go. The installer can advise you on the optimal location to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Sometimes, there are not many options, because space is limited and there will be factors that you cannot change.

Where to put the indoor unit

There are many types of indoor units, making it easy to adapt them to both your décor and climate control needs. They can be wall or floor mounted and of the concealed duct type.

The indoor unit is usually conditioned by the outdoor unit: make sure that the pipes connecting them are less than 3 or 4 meters long so as not to increase the installation cost.
For best cooling performance, it is recommended to place the indoor unit on top of a clear wall, preferably one that does not receive direct sunlight and is away from heat sources.

In terms of aesthetics, there are white, black, silver or colored units; clean lines or curved surfaces depending on taste and decorative style.

And where do I place the outdoor unit?

It is best that the outdoor unit is protected, although its design is designed to withstand outdoor and inclement weather.

There should be at least 30 cm free around the air conditioner at the top and sides and at least 2.15 m from the ground.

It should also be at least 1 meter away from the antenna, electrical connection cables used for television, radio, wi-fi or telephones because these devices can interfere with the operation of your air conditioner.

The installer should check with a metal detector that there are no pipes or wires in the area that could be damaged by drilling.

The outdoor units are usually similar in design: the main difference is their size, usually the more powerful ones are larger.

What regulations should I follow regarding the installation of an air conditioning equipment

When installing the air conditioner, we must take into account three types of rules, which relate to the community of owners, the municipality, the handling of the device for its content in fluorinated gases.

The community of owners

If you are going to put the outdoor unit on the facade or rooftop or other outdoor area, you will have to take into account your community of neighbors.

There are two possible cases:

1. If the installation is already regulated in the statutes of your community, you have to abide by what it says: some statutes authorize to put them, but only in certain places, such as rooftops.
2. If the statutes do not specify it, you need the unanimous agreement of the neighbors. In the case that other owners have already installed it, it will be difficult for them to oppose it, but it is better to consult at least with the president. If you were the pioneer in installing the air conditioning, you should get that approval before starting the installation.

The city council

La instalación debe cumplir los requisitos del ayuntamiento de acuerdo a su Ordenanza municipal, que suelen tratar dos puntos: mantener la estética del edificio, respetando la uniformidad de las fachadas (estaría prohibido instalarlo en edificios protegidos) y que no genere mucho ruido, no superando cierto valor de contaminación acústica (límite de 55 dB)

The installer

In February 2017, RD 115/2017 was approved, which regulates the sale and handling of equipment containing fluorinated gases and not hermetically sealed, as is the case of current air conditioning systems (heat pumps). They can only be installed by a professional with a certificate for the handling of this type of gases and working in an authorized installation company. In addition, as a buyer, you also have obligations and, if you fail to comply with them, you may be fined.