How to install a mobile floor air conditioner in an apartment with your own hands

A mobile air conditioner is an ideal way out of situations when an air conditioner is required, but installation of a stationary air conditioner is not desirable or impossible. For example, in a building that is rented. The same issues with the installation of an air conditioner (even in your apartment) may appear when the house has historical or cultural value. In this case, local authorities can prohibit any modification of the walls of the facade of the building, that is, the installation of various external devices (air conditioners, satellite dishes).

Features of mobile air conditioners

It is necessary to clearly realize that a mobile floor air conditioner is a compromise equipment, all the main advantages of this portable equipment in an apartment are only in the fact that it can be installed in houses where conventional split systems are not available.

The advantages of mobile air conditioners are as follows:

• do not need laborious installation work, everything can be done by hand. Moreover, this is true for recently renovated apartments;
• mobility. At its core, a mobile air conditioner is best defined as “relatively mobile”. Since just installing the air conditioner, connecting and enjoying the cold air will not work, you still need to do a certain process of preparation work, although, of course, not such a volume, in contrast to the installation of full-fledged climatic equipment;
• do not require approval of installation, which is quite important for buildings that are rented;
• there are no utilities for the supply of freon and the removal of condensate.

But mobile air conditioners also have disadvantages:

• this type of equipment does not have a drainage system. But condensation in the air conditioner still forms, and a special container flows down at the bottom of the device, and from there the water must be periodically poured out;
• all mechanical elements, including the compressor, are located inside the building. At the heart of every air conditioner is a compressor. The compressor activates the refrigerant, "taking" heat from the freon, and draws out cold air. But at the same time, the compressor has a very strong noise, and just like any mechanics, it creates thermal processes during operation, the mechanical device of the air conditioner is also no exception;
• air for cooling is sucked in directly from the room, thus, one stream of air passes through the cooling system repeatedly, which negatively affects the mechanical performance of the equipment;
• a mobile air conditioner is necessarily equipped with an air duct, with the help of which warm air is removed from the apartment to the outside. Despite its thermal insulation, the air duct still remains very hot, which, again, leads to warming up of the air inside the apartment;
• a mobile air conditioner "steals" a certain area of ​​the room in which it is installed, which is all the more critical for small rooms.

All this applies, first of all, to the so-called monoblock mobile structures.

The two basic elements of every HVAC system are the condenser and the evaporator. These devices are a design of radiators connected to each other, through which freon constantly passes. In the evaporator, the recycled freon is converted into a vaporous form, "removing" heat from the room, and in the condenser, on the contrary, heat is transferred to the air.In monoblock floor standing units, both systems are installed in one unit, which is located inside the room.

Another variant of the design feature of mobile climate control equipment is a split system. This type of air conditioner has a structure of several systems, indoor and outdoor units. These split-systems are devoid of many disadvantages, unlike monoblocks, but at the same time they get a significant drawback - they are quite expensive. A split system of this type in terms of its performance is significantly inferior to classical equipment of the same price category, even if you do the installation yourself (in addition to very difficult cases when you need to install the air conditioner correctly).

Installation of a mobile air conditioner

Installation of floor-standing mobile equipment is much easier, unlike other types of climatic devices. But if they say that "mobile floor equipment does not need installation at all" - this is also wrong. Simply, mobile devices can be of several types - split systems or monoblock designs. And in these devices, the compressor is located in a block that is placed inside the room. At the same time, in the split system, the fan and the condenser are located in the external unit, and they are connected to each other by a thin tube, in which the system with the refrigerant is located.

During the installation of a mobile device with your own hands, you must observe certain nuances of installation:

• do not connect the equipment to the mains with an adapter or extension cord;
• the air conditioner must be connected only to an outlet that is grounded;
• climatic equipment must not be grounded using a gas pipeline;
• do not turn on the device if the protective grill or panel of the indoor unit is removed;
• after installing the equipment, it is necessary to provide easy access to the plug;
• do not put the fuse in the neutral position or on the grounding cable, otherwise the “shock” of the air conditioner will occur;
• there should be no obstacles to air circulation near the equipment, the distance from the device to any objects must be at least half a meter;
• it is forbidden to install a floor air conditioner in the bathroom, as well as outside the living area.

Monoblock installation

There are several installation methods:

1. The air exhaust pipe is installed through the ajar door.
2. The air exhaust pipe is installed through a transom or an open plastic window.

Installation steps:

1. Install the condensate drain hose into an elastic air duct (certain designs of monoblocs are equipped not with a hose, but with an installed condensate drainage tank).
2. Connect the air duct to the equipment exhaust port.
3. Install the other end of the duct (where the nozzle is usually put on) into the window or door opening.

Important! Before turning on the air conditioner, it must stand upright for at least 3 hours, that is, in its normal state.

Mobile split system

This type of equipment has a higher power, in contrast to the monoblock.

There are 3 ways to install:

1. The outdoor unit of the equipment is mounted in the utility room.
2. The outdoor equipment unit is mounted on the terrace.
3. The outdoor unit of the equipment is installed behind the window using belts or fastened with brackets.

Split system installation stages

Indoor unit installation

This unit is equipped with wheels and can be moved with ease throughout the apartment. Any objects must not obstruct the air circulation through the air intake panel of the unit.

Installation and fastening of the outdoor unit

The best place for this block is a place that will provide normal and properly organized conditions for heat exchange, for example, a veranda, a loggia or a window. There must be a distance of at least 6 centimeters between the outdoor unit of the equipment and the wall or the second unit.

Securing the block is not considered a mandatory rule. This mobile equipment can be installed simply on the floor or on some level surface that will prevent water leakage. In the case of floor installation of the unit, it must be securely fixed to the base with four rollers, this will facilitate the movement of the structure. For installation, the kit includes special support brackets that secure the unit to the wall.

For wall installation of the outdoor unit, you need to make holes in the wall, install dowels in them and fix the brackets. After that, an external block is placed and fixed on them. Be sure to make sure it is securely fixed!

Mobile air conditioners are truly an innovative solution in the field of HVAC equipment. Almost instant air cooling in the room, inexpensive cost, ease of installation and convenience of further operation - the main advantages of purchasing this system, both for office and home use, are probably obvious.