DIY Aircon install? Yay or Nay?

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kwaggawerner

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Hi Guys,

So I bought a split aircon, but the more I get quotes the more I feel I'm being ripped off, some companies want to charge over R5000 excl for a ground-floor split unit install, and 4-meter piping. Overall the quotes range from R1800 (from a "guy on snupit" which includes the brackets "and any extras", R350+ value on the brackets alone, seems fly-by-night) to a well-known installation company wanting just over R5k.

Now I'm pretty handy with my hands, and I'm not scared to use a drill. I got pricing from TecsaReco on copper tubing, 100mm trunking, brackets, etc.. so I think I'm comfortable in doing the installation myself, to a point - I'd still need someone to suction the piping, do the flaring of the tubes, and add additional R410 if necessary.

While I understand the risks of warranty since it's not a certified installer - however 2 of the quotes I got on snupit, the guys said they weren't officially certified, "but have been in the industry for many years".

So my question is this, if I installed the AC myself, could I then just get a company to charge me a "service" fee, to flare and connect the tubes, and add gas?

I don't want installation for free, but I also don't want to be ripped off - 100x40 Trunking costs R183 for 3 meters, not R250 a meter.
 
If the installation costs are as much as a new unit I'd also do it myself.

A bottle of R134A etc isn't that expensive, and I think the charge hoses are a couple hundred bucks at most.

Yes if you want to vacuum the system you'll need someone with the proper equipment, but check your units documentation I've heard some units come pre-charged and don't require vacuuming the pipes before breaking a seal to release the pre-charge.
 
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pay the R1800 .you need air free oil for the flares and the brackets are a pain to manufacture ,units are precharged from factory so no vacuuming needed but although its an easy job rather let someone whose done it before do it for you .
 
If you are somewhat DIY inclined you will be able to do it yourself.
I've done 2 installs myself.
Brackets you can buy on Takealot and you can rent a core drill bit and SDS if you don't have one.

Do you need 4 meter in addition to the pipes already supplied?
 
Ahhh... Smartarses who buy the equipment themselves then what it installed for next to nothing.

See a few Solar geniuses paint themselves in the same corner...

Good luck...
 
If you're a bit tech savvy, it's quite easy to install yourself. Many YT tutorials on it. You'd still need an electrician to install the breaker box and get a COC though.
 
A3@MBB said:
If you are somewhat DIY inclined you will be able to do it yourself.
I've done 2 installs myself.
Brackets you can buy on Takealot and you can rent a core drill bit and SDS if you don't have one.

Do you need 4 meter in addition to the pipes already supplied?
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info, so the total length I measured between indoor and outdoor unit is about 5 meters... how long is the piping attached to the indoor unit?
 
All the condensers come pre-charged for a certain amount of pipe length. Almost all manufactures recommend that you use a certain amount of piping between the indoor and outdoor unit. So check the manual.

Vacuuming is the correct way and it will show you if there is any leaks and it will get rid off all contaminants inside the pipes. I would say do everything except the piping connections and get a company to do that and the commissioning of the unit. That way you can keep you warranty for in case something happens.
 
x7razor said:
All the condensers come pre-charged for a certain amount of pipe length. Almost all manufactures recommend that you use a certain amount of piping between the indoor and outdoor unit. So check the manual.

Vacuuming is the correct way and it will show you if there is any leaks and it will get rid off all contaminants inside the pipes. I would say do everything except the piping connections and get a company to do that and the commissioning of the unit. That way you can keep you warranty for in case something happens.
Click to expand...
Thanks x7razor, that's the plan. I'd pay for that...
 
The indoor unit pipes is not very long usually just enough to make it through a double brick wall some cheapies does not even make it past the middle of the wall. What BTU and make did you get?
 
kwaggawerner said:
Thanks for the info, so the total length I measured between indoor and outdoor unit is about 5 meters... how long is the piping attached to the indoor unit?
Click to expand...
As mentioned, this depends on manufacturer. Best is to check for yourself in box.
 
x7razor said:
The indoor unit pipes is not very long usually just enough to make it through a double brick wall some cheapies does not even make it past the middle of the wall. What BTU and make did you get?
Click to expand...

I've had a terrrible experience with AC installers at work, for my office, they had to come out 5 times! Always a leak somewhere, even after replacing the aluminium pipe (which they originally installed with copper) they still cracked the pipe around a corner.

With my home installation, I want to it to be a perfect install, proper insulation, making use of pipe benders and being gentle with the copper tubing - since it's mine, and my money, I care that it's done properly, as opposed to a minimum wage lackey.

StrongestAvenger said:
Need to remind you that only a qualified SAQCC technician may legally install a split type air conditioner and issue a refrigeration COC that is different from a elec COC. Doing it yourself you are breaking the law. Use it / don't use it.
Click to expand...

I do understand that, but I wonder how many techs are certified, maybe it's just the business owner and one or two "senior" technicians, and what about the assistants (aka bakkie engineers), who end up actually doing the work... not sure they are always qualified.
 
StrongestAvenger said:
Need to remind you that only a qualified SAQCC technician may legally install a split type air conditioner and issue a refrigeration COC that is different from a elec COC. Doing it yourself you are breaking the law. Use it / don't use it.
Click to expand...
Then all the companies are breaking the law since I have never seen anyone give any COC for a aircon install. Or the guys doing the job a qualified SAQCC technician
 
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