Having a central air conditioning unit installed, whether it is completely new to your home or is a replacement of an older unit, is a complicated process. You're putting your trust in the installers to get the job done with as little inconvenience to you as possible, and the installers want to do the job correctly. Still, even in the best of circumstances, surprises can appear, and you want to avoid those as much as possible. The best way to do that? Be prepared for some major changes.

The Exterior Unit May Need to Be in a Different Location

A central air conditioning unit has an external unit, wiring, dehumidifiers, an internal duct system, and other parts in your home. The external unit usually sits on a concrete base. Because newer air conditioners are more efficient, the external unit tends to be bigger than older units. If the installation is to replace an older unit, the concrete base may need to be removed and replaced, or the unit may have to go in a different part of your yard. For completely new installations, you will need to find a spot where the installers can place a concrete pad and where you can trim back landscaping. Note that if you have to move the external unit to another spot by your home, you will have to move some of the connecting ducts.

You Really Need a Programmable Thermostat, but Not a Smart One

Let's say you're adding central air to your home for the first time. You know you will need a thermostat, and maybe you want to keep it simple. You don't really see analog types anymore, and even if you do, they are not what you should choose. At the very least, choose a simple programmable thermostat. They let you set limits for a lot more than you could with the analog thermostats, and they also let you get the house nice and cool before you come home just by programming in the time you want the air conditioning to turn on.

When a New Unit Is Installed, Everything Needs to Be Installed

Air conditioning systems rely on every part working well and being in roughly the same shape as all the other parts. If the house you're in has any rudimentary duct system, for example, or you had a very old air conditioner that you're replacing, be prepared to replace everything. Even ducts might need to be moved or new ones installed.

You already knew that the job was going to be huge, but if any of these issues surprised you, you may want to talk with the people who are going to install the air conditioning and ask them to give you a run-down of what really needs to happen. Tell them you want to avoid surprises as much as possible and want a good idea of what to expect.

For more information about air conditioning services, contact a local HVAC contractor. 

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