A few weeks ago I got myself this nice A/C system (used). It is a two unit setup, with an outside compressor, and an inside fan/cooler. Initially I wanted to get some help setting this system up, but that turned out to be difficult or expensive. So I decided to try it myself.
I just want to make sure that I am not doing anything wrong and maybe loose all the freon or do other harm to the system. So from the way I see it. I should hook up the inside unit to the outside unit with the 2 copper pipes that came with the system. That seems easy enough. the question is just, what would I do next. I looked at the compressor, and there is a larger hose connector and a smaller one. I assume one is freon-out, and is freon-in. There are also some screws in those connectors, with those I would guess I can release the freon. I hope that there is enough freon in the reservoir left, otherwise I might need to call one of the expensive guys.
But back to my question, do I just open the two screws within those hook up things and turn on the A/C and that is it? What about the air inside the hoses and inside unit? How do I get that out of the cooling curcuit? Any ideas or experiences?
If I were you, I’d pay someone to install it. Having someone install an a/c unit is not oppressively expensive, especially when you consider how much the units costs.
About cost of having someone install the unit properly? No. I’ve had a couple of units installed in my place. Only cost a a couple thou to have them put in right.
That someone ought to consider having an a/c unit installed by someone who knows how to do it, rather than DIY? Not joking there either. The outdoor compressor/ indoor fan combo units have a lot of plumbing and seem to me to be more complex than the simple stick in the window units (which BTW also have some tricks to their installation as well).
If it were me, I’d get someone to install it for me.
Well, I am considering getting someone. I think the system needs to be evacuated and I would like to have someone check if the plumbing is air-tight. I asked some local guys, but they wanted to have NT$ 8,000, and I only paid 20K for the system, so that is almost half. What I did today was putting the 2 pipes in place, hooking them up. I think that was the most labor intensive part, now someone just needs start up the system properly, and maybe test the pipes. I hope I can talk them down somewhat.
Just curious, any conclusion to this story Ratlung?
I have an airconditioner system which has two inside units connected to one outside unit. One of the inside units cools very well and the other one doesn’t cool much at all. I’m going to have it looked at, but I can’t understand why one would work and the other one wouldn’t. Could a freon problem affect only one of the units? The unit that doesn’t work blows air pretty well, but it seems like it is almost on the “vent” setting, even though it’s not, since the air is not that cool.
You definitely need to get someone over to refill the freon, minimum refill for freon will be probably around 2K NT$ … I guess some professional help would be a good choice …
[quote=“scomargo”]Just curious, any conclusion to this story Ratlung?
I have an airconditioner system which has two inside units connected to one outside unit. One of the inside units cools very well and the other one doesn’t cool much at all. I’m going to have it looked at, but I can’t understand why one would work and the other one wouldn’t. Could a freon problem affect only one of the units? The unit that doesn’t work blows air pretty well, but it seems like it is almost on the “vent” setting, even though it’s not, since the air is not that cool.
Any advice is appreciated.[/quote]
Well, what I did was calling some professional over to my place. He had some tank with freon and needed to refill the system. Also first he had to vaccuum the circuit as well. There was also a hole in the copper pipe that he fixed. I don’t think I would have been able to do all this myself, although I did put the plumbing in place, and made myself a nice “window” from these while plastic sheets, double layered.
The electric work I could have done most certainly myself, but the other steps you needed special tools for, and I bet those are move expensive than the services of this gentleman. Although he did a few things the “Taiwanese Way”, which I had to fix later.
As for your problem, I think if you have 2 inside units, you probably have a compressor with 2 circuits. At least the guy in the store told me I could not put in so inside units with my compressor. But this is somewhat based on assumptions. Anyhow, this would explain why one unit does not work anymore. You might have a freon leak in one of the curcuits, so you should have somebody find that leak, or test your system for leaks, before they refill the freon.
I think this was a reference to the OP. I would concur. That stuff is nasty, and expensive. And under pressure. And very very cold. And you need tools. And to know what you’re doing. There are no self-install a/c systems. Where are you going to get the refrigerant? Is it R12 or 134a etc etc…
Thanks ratlung for your explanation. That makes a lot of sense. I’m definitely going to have him test for leaks. From what I’ve read, if there are no leaks, then freon should idealy never have to be replaced. Of course, I don’t know if that’s really possible in reality.
Anyway, hopefully it will be a simple solution to the problem. Glad that you got your air conditioners setup okay.
Hopefully I’ll meet you on the hike this Saturday.
I think this was a reference to the OP. I would concur. That stuff is nasty, and expensive. And under pressure. And very very cold. And you need tools. And to know what you’re doing. There are no self-install a/c systems. Where are you going to get the refrigerant? Is it R12 or 134a etc etc…[/quote]
Actually, it does not seem to be too difficult. At least watching that guy doing it makes me believe, that anybody can do that, once you invest into the equipment. Oh, and freon only gets cold once it went through the compressor. An I am sure one can read up on all the other details. Hello, there was even a description in the A/C manual on how to set it up, just that it was in Chinese.
I think this was a reference to the OP. I would concur. That stuff is nasty, and expensive. And under pressure. And very very cold. And you need tools. And to know what you’re doing. There are no self-install a/c systems. Where are you going to get the refrigerant? Is it R12 or 134a etc etc…[/quote]
Actually, it does not seem to be too difficult. At least watching that guy doing it makes me believe, that anybody can do that, once you invest into the equipment. Oh, and freon only gets cold once it went through the compressor. An I am sure one can read up on all the other details. Hello, there was even a description in the A/C manual on how to set it up, just that it was in Chinese.[/quote]
(The Freon is compressed in the cylinder it comes in - cock up the joint between the bottle and the high pressure input and it could give you an injury, that’s what I meant about it being cold)
(The Freon is compressed in the cylinder it comes in - cock up the joint between the bottle and the high pressure input and it could give you an injury, that’s what I meant about it being cold)
Hmmm. How much did he charge?[/quote]
Oh, you mean like any other bottle with compressed gas. I am just suprised that it is that much compressed. This guys bottle seemed to have a pump on it, but it is a while ago, so my memory might be fading. He also seemed to use the pressure in the bottle to vaccumize the freon curcuit, I think you need some sort of device to keep the pressure in the bootle high enough. Isn’t freon usually more like an oil, at least that’s what I have been told, but I might be mistaken.
Anyway, afterall, I thought he charged too much for this rather crappy job. I think it was something around 4000 or 5000, I don’t really remember anymore. He charged me tripple the price for a curcuit breaker, but at that time I did not know the regular price. And he glued the curcuit breaker right at the wall, in the open, because it was not compatible with the system in my curcuit breaker box. And he attached the cables to the curcuitbreaker right at the 70 A curcuit break, and they were kind of in the open. I just put my hands infront of my eyes, pretended not to notice that and tried to get the guy out of my appartment, before he messed anything else up. But he fixed a hole in the copper pipes nicely, and he was still cheaper than some other company I asked. Afterwards, I moved the curcuit breaker into the box, and fixed everything up nicely. Since then the A/C is working like a dream.
i just moved into a new place last week. during negotiations with the landlord, they agreed to intall a second a/c in the back. however, this was contigent on me paying the installation fee, which they claimed would cost “about 2000.” I know that i shouldn’t have to pay for this, but there are some other things that they are doing to the place so i bent on this… The A/C that they are going to install is a two piece unit that they already had in the building, but before installing it they sent it to be cleaned out and checked.
this morning i get a call from the ll saying that it will actually cost 6000 to install the unit. this strikes me as outrageously expensive. when i asked if that price included the cleaning, she said “no, the cleaning only cost 3000.” there is already a 220v plug where the inside part of the unit will go, and the outer part will be put right outside the window. there really won’t be anything to the install job, so i can’t fathom why it would cost more than a couple thousand.
i think that the ll is trying to get me to cover the bulk of the repair cost, so im going to tell her to just drop off the unit and i will find someone to install it.
anyone know of any reputable yet inexpensive A/C installers in Taipei near Jhongxiao Dunhua?