How Long Does It Take to Replace Your AC?

Air conditioning units are not cheap. If you take really good care of the one you have, it can last up to ten years or more. Much older air conditioners have been removed from homes because all the property owners did a great job keeping up with the maintenance. If you are about to replace your AC this year, you should know that the process requires a modicum amount of your time.

Set Aside at Least Four Hours

Depending on the type of air conditioner you intend to purchase as the replacement, you can expect a minimum of a few hours. The old unit has to be removed entirely, and new electrical work has to be installed. If you are swapping like-for-like units, take the morning or afternoon off from work. If you are purchasing an entirely different sort of AC unit, you will need more time for the project to be completed.

For example, a split or mini-split AC unit requires the installation of wall-mounted components in your home that are connected via hoses and wiring to a heat pump outside. Additional holes in walls and the careful threading of hoses and wires means extra time after your old unit is removed.

Likewise, a geothermal unit means an entire day, at a bare minimum. Trenches are dug in your yard to accommodate the heat/cooling coils and all of that has to be connected to a pump before it even enters your home. If the HVAC specialist runs into issues like thick tree roots or forgotten water lines, the installation might go beyond a single eight-hour day.

Other Factors That May Stretch Installation Time

Not everything can roll along smoothly in this world. That is why it is worth mentioning a few factors that may lengthen the time it takes to replace your air conditioner. For example, the HVAC technician may discover that not all the parts were loaded onto his/her repair truck. Maybe parts are missing from inside the box of the replacement unit.

On rare occasions, some parts may just be malformed, in which case the technician has to contact the company and wait for new parts to be sent. Be prepared for anything on installation day and just plan to take the day off to be safe.

Judah Byman