Introduction: Preparing for AC Installation in Englewood
When your cooling system can no longer keep up with the demands of Colorado summers, start planning for AC installation. Learn how to prepare for AC installation in Englewood, what to expect on installation day, and why to choose a professional installer from Horizon Services
When Is It Time for a New Air Conditioner?
As air conditioners age and wear out, they experience performance losses that affect comfort, energy efficiency, and more. Start planning for an AC replacement with Horizon Services if:
- Your AC is more than 10 years old.
- Your equipment needs frequent or costly repairs.
- Your energy bills are high.
- Your home has uneven temperatures or humidity problems.
How to Prepare Your Home Before Installation
Follow these steps for home preparation for HVAC installation in Englewood.
1. Clear the Installation Area
Move furniture and other belongings away from indoor HVAC equipment, and trim back foliage and clear dirt and other debris from outdoor HVAC units. There should be at least three feet of space around the work areas.
2. Ensure Easy Access
Unlock side gates, clear yard paths, and make sure there is parking space available for HVAC technicians when they arrive to prevent delays or safety hazards. Make sure that attics, crawl spaces, and the electrical panel are also accessible.
3. Secure Pets and Plan for Family Members
Keep pets in a closed, comfortable room away from the active work zones to protect them against stress, injury, and escapes through open doors, and to avoid distractions or hazards around technicians. You can expect moderate noise as technicians remove old equipment and set up the new system, so plan for kids and other household members to spend time in another area of the home or to be away during most of the installation.
4. Review your Existing Thermostat
Consider your current thermostat. If you have a manual thermostat, consider upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat to maximize energy efficiency through adaptive, geofenced temperature adjustments, HVAC maintenance alerts, and eco-savings mode. Your technicians can install and configure a smart thermostat at the same time as your new system.
What Happens During AC Installation?
Before the air conditioner installation, HVAC technicians assess your home and cooling load to size and select the equipment. A new AC installation takes four to eight hours, depending on the job’s complexity. Professionals follow this process during the actual AC installation:
- Step one: Old system removal, including refrigerant recovery and disconnecting electrical connections.
- Step two: Outdoor site preparation with a level pad, ensuring adequate clearance around the pad, and securing the condenser unit.
- Step three: Installing the indoor components, including the evaporator coil, condensate drain system, and refrigerant lines.
- Step four: Connecting refrigerant lines, electrical wiring, and the thermostat as well as configuring zoning or smart features.
- Step five: Post-installation checks, such as refrigerant charge and pressure verification, temperature splits, condensate drainage, thermostat calibration, and safety controls.
Should You Upgrade Other HVAC Components?
Upgrading other HVAC components during central air installation in Colorado depends on your system’s overall condition, compatibility, efficiency, and performance.
- Ductwork: Improperly sized, leaking, or damaged ductwork can waste energy and strain your AC.
- Heating equipment: Replacing an aging furnace ensures compatibility with your HVAC system and can lower overall installation costs.
- Air cleaners: Installing air cleaners helps your new air conditioning system run efficiently and improves overall air quality.
- Whole-home humidifier/dehumidifier: Balanced humidity reduces HVAC strain while supporting better comfort and health.
- Blower: Old blower motors may not meet the airflow or high-efficiency requirements of modern AC equipment.
What to Expect After Installation
After AC installation, testing, and verification of system performance, your HVAC technician will walk you through your new system and provide you with information on best practices for operation and maintenance.
Expect your new AC to take up to a few hours to adjust to your home. During this time, also called the pull-down period, your new AC brings the temperature down as it removes built-up heat and humidity. It may operate in longer cycles until it reaches the temperature setting, after which it should cycle on and off more regularly.
High outdoor temperatures and other factors can extend the pull-down time. Avoid lowering or changing the temperature setting, since your HVAC technician has configured your system to calibrate to the environment.
Benefits of Professional AC Installation
Professional AC installation offers several benefits for your comfort, safety, and long-term cost savings:
- Accurate sizing and placement: Technicians precisely calculate your home’s cooling load using complex factors to avoid under- or over-sizing AC equipment, ensuring even temperature distribution and humidity control.
- Energy efficiency: Accurate sizing and proper installation optimize efficiency, lower energy bills, and avoid short cycling. Technicians can also identify and address other efficiency losses, such as poor insulation, air sealing, or ductwork design.
- Responsible refrigerant handling: EPA-certified HVAC technicians follow standardized procedures for safe refrigerant disposal and charging.
- Code compliance: The City of Englewood requires permits and compliance with building codes, which means a licensed HVAC contractor in Englewood is required to ensure safe AC installation.
- System reliability and lifespan: Professional AC installation with correct component calibration reduces strain and minimizes long-term wear, helping to prevent breakdowns and premature AC replacement.
- Warranty protection: Most manufacturers require proof of professional installation to maintain warranty coverage, which protects you from out-of-pocket costs for defective components.
Colorado Considerations for AC Installation
Professionals consider how environmental factors in Englewood and Colorado impact air conditioner replacement and use them to accurately size and install cooling equipment:
- Air density: At about 5,370 feet, Englewood and other Colorado areas have thinner air that carries and releases heat less effectively, so installers may need to compensate with higher-capacity AC equipment.
- Humidity: Colorado’s arid environment affects cooling loads, so technicians factor these conditions in for energy-efficient air conditioner sizing.
- Strong UV rays: High-altitude environments like Colorado have stronger UV rays, which can increase solar heat gain and your cooling load, as well as heat and strain outdoor equipment exposed to direct sunlight.
Why Choose Horizon Services for AC Installation in Englewood
Serving Englewood and the Denver metro area since 1009, Horizon Services is a trusted provider for AC installation and other HVAC services. We’re locally owned and operated, and our licensed HVAC technicians provide superior service backed by experience. Other benefits of choosing Horizon Services include:
- Trane® Comfort Specialist™
- Flexible financing options
- Certified HVAC technicians
Schedule Your AC Installation Consultation Today
If you’re ready to enjoy better comfort during the summer in the Greater Denver area, start planning for an AC installation with Horizon Services. Contact us today to schedule an AC consultation.
