5 Things To Know Before Installing Your Aircon

In Malaysia’s humid, tropical weather, air conditioners are essential in nearly every household. Finding one that fits all your needs while accommodating the size of your home is essential to improve better ventilation to offer effective cooling without wasting energy.

Before you install your air-conditioning system, planning ahead is essential during the early stages of your renovation to ensure proper cooling once you move in. The list below will show you what you should prepare before hiring an installer to mount the aircon system for you.

1) Choose An Energy Efficient Aircon Unit

Your air-conditioning is one of the biggest contributors to your electricity bill. So you should choose an energy-saving unit to maximise efficiency, even though an energy-saving aircon unit may be more expensive up front.

To find an energy-efficient aircon, look for the 5-Star energy sticker affixed at the side of your appliance as this will give you a better estimate of its cumulative annual consumption rates.

An inverter aircon will give you the most energy savings, since it is able to slow down the compressor when the desired temperature is reached. Here are the main differences between inverter and non-inverter aircon units.

Above: Look for the 5-Star energy rating when choosing an aircon for maximum energy savings. Source: Suruhanjaya Tenaga Malaysia

2) Determine the Right Placement For Optimum Cooling

The cold air coming out of your aircon needs to spread out across your room to make it comfortable. If your unit is blocked, or put in the wrong place or the wrong height, it will result in uneven cooling, or wasted energy.

Your air-conditioning unit needs to be situated in a space that is not blocked by walls or cabinets that may result in poor air circulation. For example, building a cabinet around the aircon and leaving little space for ventilation (some homeowners do this because they don't want to aircon to affect their interior design).

But that’s not all. Your aircon height should also be a determining factor during the installation process. For example, a split type AC should be installed at 7 to 8 feet in a 10-feet high room for the best cooling performance. As for a window type AC, the optimum height is 3-4 feet from the floor.

You are also advised not to install the aircon compressor too close to the wall or in an airtight room. This can cause high pressure in the compressor, which can cause the current to trip. A rule of thumb is to maintain at least two feet between the aircon compressor or condenser unit and any nearby obstruction such as a building wall or fence.

3) Position The Drainage Pipe Correctly

When the aircon fan is blowing cold air, it's natural for moisture to drip from the unit. This is normally handled by using a drainage pipe to flow the water out the window, or to the bathroom.

The drainage pipes need to be positioned correctly so it doesn't have lots of bends, and should be angled low so the water drips out quickly. If not, any blockage will cause the water to flow back into your room.

4) Choosing The Right Aircon Capacity

You should choose the right aircon horsepower for your room size. If your aircon unit is underpowered, your room will take a long time to cool (if it ever cools down at all). Too powerful, and you may just be wasting energy.

If you are installing many high-powered aircon units in one house, check that it doesn't overload the circuit breakers. You may need an electrician to upgrade the amp rating in your electrical panel.

To find the right aircon capacity for your room, measure the room size and multiply by 25 BTU (British Thermal Units). For example:

10 feet width x 15 feet length x 25 BTU = 3750 BTU

In Malaysia, aircon unit capacity is listed in horsepower. 1 HP or 1 horsepower converts to around 2,500 BTU. So, for the room that needs 3750 BTU, you need an aircon of at least 1.5 HP.

Choosing a smaller capacity may end up increasing your electricity bill because the undersized aircon will keep needing to work at maximum power to bring the room temperature down. Meanwhile, an oversized aircon will cause the compressor to cut on and off frequently, unless you have an inverter aircon.

5) General Pricing For Aircon Installation in Malaysia

Here is a list of our standard prices for aircon installation services from our verified service pros.

SPLIT UNIT WALL AIRCON

1 HP: RM250

1.5 HP: RM290

2 HP: RM330

2.5 HP: RM370

3 HP: RM410

CASSETTE (CEILING) UNIT AIRCON

1 HP: RM450

1.5 HP: RM500

2 HP: RM550

2.5 HP: RM600

3 HP: RM650

All installation services include:

• Installation of indoor unit

• Installation of outdoor unit with bracket  

• Include gas top-up for R22, R410, or R32

• Include up to 10 feet copper piping with 3/8” insulation

• Include up to 10 feet wiring

• Include up to 10 feet 1/2” drain piping

Cost of additional copper piping, wiring and drain piping:

• 1.0 HP: RM18 per ft

• 1.5 HP: RM20 per ft

• 2 HP: RM24 per ft

• 2.5 HP: RM28 per ft

• 3 HP: RM30 per ft

To hire one of our aircon pros, simply submit your aircon installation request using our online form and we will get back to you shortly.

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