At Arctic Air of Northern Florida, we regularly handle sales and installation of central air conditioners and heat pumps for both residential and commercial projects.
The two types of installations differ mainly in the equipment itself:
- Residential air conditioners are smaller, and use smaller ducting. The plumbing and pipework is also smaller.
- Commercial air conditioner installations can be in similar settings to residential (with condenser units on the ground), but others can be rooftop or side-of-building installations. Another common commercial application is packaging all the equipment within one cabinet.
Aside from these equipment differences, an experienced and licensed retailer and installer will follow a careful set of procedures to make sure your equipment is properly installed and set up so that it is safe, efficient, and will provide comfort to your home or business for years to come. Here’s what you can expect:
Matchmaker: The Right Equipment for Your Application
Over-buying can cause as many problems as under-buying. An A/C unit needs to be powerful enough to cool your home or business without having to run constantly (which an underpowered unit can do, costing lots of extra money in energy usage that quickly uses up what was “saved” by buying a smaller unit). However, while a slightly “oversized” unit can run efficiently, bigger isn’t always better. Buying a much larger unit than necessary doesn’t make it more efficient or effective, and is definitely not worth the extra upfront costs. A pro can help determine your needs based on such factors as square footage, type of construction, climate, and proximity to other buildings.
Nothing Wasted: Forming a Tight Seal
Even the most efficient air conditioning equipment is only as good as the path the air takes into the building. No shortcuts here: proper installation requires correctly sealed ductwork so that as much of the cooled air as possible makes it indoors to do its job. Lost air through leaky ductwork costs you twice: the energy wasted cooling air that escapes, and the energy spent to cool more air to replace it.
Speed: Obeying the Limit
A qualified installer will optimize the speed of airflow coming from the air conditioner into the interior space. Too little airflow will make it impossible to properly cool the residence or office space. Too much can cause wear on the system. However, it’s not just a matter of turning up a dial until the room feels comfortable. Achieving the right airflow requires the knowledge to choose the right equipment, ductwork, warm air returns, and more, in addition to dialing in the right settings.
Keeping It Cool: Handling Refrigerant
Refrigerant is the what makes the “comfortable” happen. But it’s a challenge to handle. It’s regulated by the government, caustic, challenging to clean up, and the approved chemicals have radically changed in recent years. Plus, just like with ductwork, refrigerant piping must be properly installed and sealed to prevent leaks. Only in this case, a leak doesn’t just waste energy, but can result in damage to your equipment and the environment. A licensed professional must handle the project and get it right.
Give us a call, and we can help you get ready for a new comfortable central air conditioner installation!
