Can I Install Air Conditioner Myself?

Whether you want to set up a window unit, an in-wall unit, or a central system, the answer is “no.” Like any home improvement project that involves electricity, plumbing, carpentry, and HVAC, an air conditioner installation is best left to the professionals.

Some people say, “You can do it yourself if you want to risk it.” “I wouldn’t recommend that anyone but a professional do this,” he says that most homeowner-installed air conditioners end up with problems due to installing them improperly. Anyone problem related to the fundamentals of how an air conditioning system functions will cause problems for your unit and make it run less efficiently and more noisily than it should.

I don’t think you can get away with installing a window unit and claiming it as a household improvement for tax purposes, either: It says that the labor involved in setting up a window unit makes it ineligible for such deductions.

Homeowners should be warned against buying cheap units from “some guy coming around trying to sell them door to door.” He says such units usually don’t last long and often malfunction quickly, adding extra wear and tear to your AC system.

If you must install an air conditioner yourself, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions carefully; read them all before you begin because some procedures may change depending on what type of AC unit you’re using and the building where it’s going.

So, I guess my conclusion is… you shouldn’t try to install an air conditioning system yourself unless you’re a professional and know what you’re doing. My article on buying the right size Air Conditioner was informative because they say if it’s too small, it won’t cool enough. If it’s too big, the compressor will work harder than necessary and wear out more quickly, along with extra energy usage from the unit not being appropriately sized for your space. Have any of you installed an air conditioner? If so, give us some pointers on how to do it yourself! Maybe we can get a good list of tips here from everyone. Also, if you’ve had it installed by a pro (or if you bought one of those cheap ones from the door-to-door salesman), tell us about your experience with them as well. Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to follow our blog… we have lots of great articles on home improvement coming up!