Short answer: A proper AC installation is more than setting a unit in the yard. It includes sizing, removing the old equipment, testing the lines, charging the system and checking performance. Call us and we will walk you through your options before any work starts.
Is this the right page for you?
This page is for DeSoto homeowners who need a new AC unit installed and want to know what the job should include. It may fit you if:
- Your old AC has failed and a new one needs to go in.
- You are getting a new system and want to know what a good installation looks like.
- You want to know what to ask before any work starts.
This page is about the installation itself. If you are still deciding whether to replace, start with our repair or replace checklist.
What a proper installation includes
Here is what a proper central AC installation includes, step by step.
- Assessment and design. The system is sized with a load calculation (Manual J), the equipment is matched (Manual S), and the ducts are designed or checked (Manual D).
- Removal. Refrigerant is recovered, then the old equipment is disconnected and taken out.
- Placement. The outdoor unit sits on a level pad and is anchored. The indoor coil or air handler is placed with room for service.
- Line sets. Copper lines are run, insulated and brazed with a nitrogen purge.
- Pressure test and evacuation. The lines are pressure tested, then evacuated to remove air and moisture.
- Charging. Refrigerant is weighed in to the maker's specifications and fine-tuned.
- Condensate and safety. Drains, traps and float switches or pans are set up.
- Electrical. Wiring, correctly sized breakers, a code-compliant disconnect and the low-voltage controls.
- Startup and commissioning. Performance and airflow are checked.
Each step has a reason. The evacuation step, for example, exists to remove air and moisture from the lines before refrigerant goes in.
What to ask before work starts
- How is the system sized? Is a load calculation done?
- Is the match certified? Ask for the AHRI reference number.
- Who handles the old refrigerant?
- Will the work be inspected? The City of DeSoto says permits are required for mechanical work its codes cover, and mechanical work must be inspected. Ask any company whether your job needs a permit.
- What does the warranty cover?
- What is their TDLR license number? Texas licenses air conditioning contractors through TDLR, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
What the job looks like when you call us
- Call us and tell us about your home. Tell us what you have now and what happened to it.
- We confirm the details and book a time.
- We look at your system.
- We walk you through your options before any work starts. You decide before we begin.
- We replace it and test the new system before we leave.
Rules that apply to a new AC
Efficiency. A new split-system AC under 45,000 BTU/h must meet at least 14.3 SEER2 if it is installed on or after January 1, 2023. At 45,000 BTU/h or more, the minimum is 13.8 SEER2. See high-efficiency AC replacement.
Refrigerant. New residential AC equipment can no longer ship with R-410A. Most makers now use R-454B.
If you are replacing an AC and furnace together, see AC and furnace replacement. If your home has a single outdoor cabinet that cools and heats, see package unit replacement.
Questions
What does a proper AC installation include?
A proper installation includes sizing the system with a load calculation, removing the old equipment, setting the new units, running and testing the refrigerant lines, charging the system, setting up the condensate drain, wiring it, and testing performance and airflow at startup.
What is a load calculation?
A load calculation, often called Manual J, works out how much cooling your home needs so the system is sized correctly. Ask any company whether one is done.
Who handles the old refrigerant?
Refrigerant is recovered before the old equipment comes out. Recovered refrigerant is handled by an EPA Section 608 certified technician. Ask any company who handles it.
What should I ask an installer before work starts?
Ask how the system is sized, whether the match is certified by AHRI, who handles the old refrigerant, whether the work will be inspected, and what the warranty covers.
Ready to talk about your installation?
Call us, tell us what you need, and we will walk you through your options.