how to install central air to existing furnace

Title: “Breathing New Life into Your Old Furnace: A Detailed Overview to Adding Central Air Conditioning”

(how to install central air to existing furnace)

Summer warmth can turn your home right into a sauna. If your old heater functions great however does not have cooling power, including central air conditioning may save you from sweating via another period. This job isn’t for the pale of heart, however with planning and perseverance, you can update your system without replacing whatever. Allow’s break it down.

First, find out if your heater can take care of central air. Not all heaters play great with air conditioner units. Inspect the air flow capacity. Central air conditioner requires a blower motor strong enough to press cool air with air ducts. If your heater’s follower struggles with home heating, it’ll choke on cooling too. Older heaters often have weak motors. Ask a HVAC pro to examine airflow or suggest upgrades.

Next, choose the best air conditioning system. Dimension matters. Also big, and it’ll short-cycle, losing power. As well tiny, and it’ll run continuously. Compute your home’s square video. Suit it to a device’s BTU ranking. A 2,000-square-foot residence requires around 34,000 BTUs. Don’t presume– utilize on-line calculators or obtain a pro to evaluate.

Currently, discover area for the outdoor condenser. This metal box sits outside your residence. It needs color, air flow, and a flat concrete pad. Keep it away from home windows– it’s loud. Action your yard. Clear debris or plants close by. If you’re tight on area, consider a high-efficiency model. They’re smaller sized however costlier.

Time to attach the a/c to your heater. Shut down power to the system. Open up the furnace panel. Situate the plenum– the huge metal box on top. Affix the evaporator coil below. This coil holds refrigerant to cool the air. Secure it with sheet steel screws. Seal gaps with aluminum foil tape. Mess this up, and you’ll leak awesome air into the attic room. Not optimal.

Run cooling agent lines between the coil and outside device. Use copper tubes protected with foam sleeves. Drill a 3-inch hole in the wall near the condenser. Feed the lines with. Connect them to the evaporator coil and condenser. This action is difficult. Soldering copper requires ability. If you’ve never taken care of a torch, call a pro. Refrigerant leakages are dangerous and prohibited to manage without accreditation.

Wire the air conditioning to your heater’s control board. Suit the thermostat wires to the appropriate terminals. Many systems make use of a red cable for power and yellow for cooling down. Ascertain the layout in your furnace manual. Wrong links can fry the board. Turn the power back on. Evaluate the thermostat. If the condenser hums to life, you’re gold.

Don’t neglect the ductwork. Central air needs clear paths. Examine existing air ducts for leakages or obstructions. Seal cracks with mastic paste. Insulate air ducts in unconditioned spaces like attic rooms. Poor airflow forces the system to function more challenging. Your energy expense will thanks.

Lastly, mount a clever thermostat. Programmable versions enhance cooling down cycles. Set schedules to match your day. Away at work? Allow the temperature level surge. Coming home? Awesome it down from another location. Some designs even learn your routines.

Upkeep maintains things running. Change filters monthly. Dirty filters stress the blower motor. Clean the outside condenser annual. Hose off fallen leaves and dirt. Schedule an expert tune-up every various other year. They’ll examine refrigerant degrees and electrical links.

(how to install central air to existing furnace)

Adding central air to an old heater isn’t a weekend break project. It requires time, tools, and a tolerance for irritation. But once it’s done, you’ll enjoy even cooling without replacing your reliable heater. Just image it– say goodbye to oscillating fans or window units cluttering your sight. Just quiet, constant comfort.