Sometimes in life there are situations when we change our place of residence or simply move to new apartment. All property and furniture are moved with us, this also includes the air conditioner. In this material we will tell you how to dismantle an air conditioner yourself, so that you can then install it in a new home.
If the air conditioner is a window or mobile type, then you only need to work a little to remove the unit from the window or, in the case of a mobile cooler, simply dismantle the air duct. Another thing is when you need to disassemble a split system - a system where the outer and inner parts are connected by pipes with refrigerant passing through the wall. Since the cooler will need to be installed in a new location, it is undesirable to release all or part of the freon into the atmosphere during disassembly. It is clear that the loss of freon will lead to additional costs for refilling the unit with new refrigerant, which can be completely avoided.
There are 2 ways in which you can disconnect the tubes from the outdoor unit without releasing the coolant. Both of these methods are based on the circulation of refrigerant in various states of aggregation. Please note that the connecting copper tubes are different diameter. This is done because freon moves through one, smaller channel in the form of a liquid, and through a large diameter tube into outdoor unit it comes in like gas.
The essence of the operation is to ensure that all the coolant ends up in one place - the outdoor unit of the split system. After this, you can safely disconnect the main pipes from it.
If, when the unit is turned on, you close the pipe with the liquid refrigerant leaving the outdoor unit into the house, the compressor will quickly pump all the freon gas into the outdoor unit. As already mentioned, the operation can be performed in two ways:
- “by eye”, following the advice of experienced specialists;
- using a manifold.
Removing the air conditioner while saving freon
Before starting dismantling, you should prepare all tools. This is an adjustable wrench for turning different nuts or a set of open-end wrenches, a hexagon for opening the service valves of split systems and a screwdriver. In addition, you will need the services of an assistant, if only because it is quite difficult to remove the air conditioner from the wall yourself.
The sequence of performing the operation in the first way is as follows: we twist the protective caps from the service valves of the outer part and insert the hexagon into the slots of the liquid valve with a thinner tube (usually located at the bottom). Then turn on the air conditioner for cooling in turbo mode. At the same time, we exhibit the most low temperature air, which is provided in your cooler model.
Advice. If you dismantle the air conditioner yourself in a high-rise apartment, then it is better to entrust the functions of turning the split system on/off to an assistant, since it will be more convenient for you to have both hands free.
After switching on, the liquid refrigerant line is closed by tightening the valve into which we previously inserted the hex key. From the moment of tightening, we mark 1 minute; during this time, all the freon must be pumped by the compressor into the outdoor unit. The time period was chosen according to the advice of experienced installers, which is why this method is called “by eye.” After a minute has passed, turn on the second valve, closing the gas line, after which you must immediately turn off the unit. The coolant has been pumped and you can begin dismantling.
To properly dismantle the air conditioner, you should loosen and unscrew the nuts securing the lines, disconnect them, and carefully wrap the pipes with tape or tape, avoiding dust or dirt getting inside during transportation. Then, the thermal insulation must be removed from the outer sections of the freon line and the copper tubes must be manually aligned so that they pass through the hole in the wall more easily.
Attention! Before carrying out dismantling work, you should disconnect the split system from the electrical network.
Next, remove the protective cover and loosen the clamps electric cable, disconnect it and screw the free end to the main pipes. Now all that remains is to unscrew the nuts securing the outdoor unit and, together with an assistant, remove the latter from the bracket. The last external operation is the dismantling of the metal brackets.
Having moved inside the house, remove the front panel of the unit and disconnect it from the mounting plate. You can dismantle the lines along with the cable yourself by unscrewing them from the cooler and carefully pulling them through the wall. The same operation is performed together with an assistant, without unscrewing the tubes from the unit. The last thing that remains is to remove the mounting plate from the wall, now the split system is completely ready for transportation. How to carry out the entire dismantling is clearly shown in the video:
It is more correct to dismantle the air conditioner by pumping freon into the outdoor unit, guided by the pressure gauge manifold. The latter is connected to the service pipe with gaseous refrigerant and after turning on the unit and shutting off the liquid pipeline, you can see on the device how the pressure in the system drops.
When it reaches zero, it is necessary to close the second valve and immediately turn off the cooler. The rest of the procedure is performed in the same way as described above. You can see how to perform this step correctly in the video:
Conclusion
It is not difficult to dismantle household air conditioners and it is quite possible to do it yourself. The main thing is to correctly perform the operation of pumping the coolant, without confusing the sequence of operations.
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Very often situations arise when it is necessary to dismantle and transport some equipment. If washing machine or it is enough to simply unplug the TV and put it away, then disconnecting the split system is somewhat more difficult. Let's take a closer look at how to dismantle the air conditioner with your own hands without outside help. Thus, you can save a tidy sum on the services of specialists.
Mistakes when dismantling a split system
Why might you need to dismantle the split system? The reasons can be completely different, for example:
- People move from one place of residence to another,
- The apartment is undergoing renovation and it is necessary to remove equipment from the room so that it does not interfere with the finishing work.
- The equipment has broken down and needs repair or maintenance.
Under no circumstances should you begin this complex procedure without first learning how to do it correctly. For example, unknowingly you can unscrew the fittings where they connect the block and the copper pipes. In this case, all the refrigerant will simply leave the system. And then you will have to refill the air conditioner with freon, and this is an additional expense.
If you make mistakes during uninstallation climate system, then in the future this may negatively affect the service life of the air conditioner. And sometimes this can lead to equipment becoming unusable and having to be either seriously repaired or completely replaced.
Any violations in the technology of shutting down the system can lead to a freon leak. This substance is under high pressure inside the freon line. If you handle the device carelessly and allow microcracks to appear in the heat exchanger, air or moisture may get inside. Such an omission will negatively affect the operation of the air conditioning compressor, leading to its breakdown.
Uninstallation of air conditioning equipment that was carried out incorrectly can lead to the fact that the device will not work for a very long time in the new location. In order not to make mistakes, you will need instructions for the air conditioner. It should indicate how to properly dismantle it. Concerning practical recommendations, then they will be given below.
The process of dismantling the air conditioning system
So, in order to disconnect the air conditioner, you should do the following sequence of actions:
While the indoor unit is being uninstalled, air may enter the outdoor unit, causing an oxidation reaction inside the pipes. For this reason, it is impossible to store an air conditioner that has been turned off for a long time. Decide this problem This can be done by injecting nitrogen into the pipes and plugging them.
Features of removing the external unit with your own hands
Since work like dismantling air-conditioning equipment is not so easy to carry out, it is better to separately examine in more detail the disassembly of the external and indoor units.
Self-disabling the street block is carried out in the same way that professionals use. You may also need special equipment and tools. You may need to purchase a pressure gauge manifold, which is needed for the correct dismantling of the paths connecting the external and internal blocks, that is, the routes. In this case, any leakage of freon will be completely eliminated. The only drawback is the high cost of such equipment. Its price is comparable to the cost of removing a professional technician.
Another detail to note Special attention- This is the vacuum pump in the compressor. It is very fragile, especially under the influence of aggressive external factors. In order to protect it, when assembling the air conditioner, the pump was enclosed in a tightly closed shell, and the pump mechanism was in a vacuum.
You should dismantle the street block yourself only if there is free access to it. You should not pretend to be a climber when performing work at high altitudes. A professional high-altitude installer can easily handle this.
But if you can get to the external unit without special effort, then proceed to unscrew its fasteners.
How to dismantle the indoor unit yourself?
A very important step is to dismantle the indoor air conditioner unit. We have already considered the scheme for performing the work of disassembling and removing it. Now we need to go into more detail on how to disconnect everything important details and don’t miss out on important details.
You need to be very careful when working with the evaporator, since it is very easy to damage when removing it, or rather, you can ruin its fastening system. Next to the evaporator there are wires that are secured with latches. You also need to try not to hurt them. Very often the cover that covers the evaporator is located on the side where the air conditioner is adjacent to the wall and can be very difficult to reach.
Exit from difficult situation A screwdriver, or rather part of it, will help. You need a screwdriver with a cross-shaped tip. Holding it with pliers, you will need to act blindly. While you are unscrewing the screws holding the air conditioner unit to the wall, your assistants must hold it, otherwise, when the fastenings become loose, the air conditioner may fall, which can cause equipment damage.
Thus, if you decide to disassemble this equipment yourself, then you need to be at least a little confident in your abilities and the success of the operation. Even if all the work was done correctly, and the independent dismantling of the air conditioner was generally successful, problems may occur during transportation itself.
When transporting fragile equipment such as an air conditioner, shaking in the car is unacceptable, as the device can be significantly damaged. If you suddenly hear a soft bang somewhere in the air conditioner box, then you may have to purchase a new device soon.
It happens that household equipment needs to be dismantled for some reason. Do this with a TV or washing machine easy: remove the plug from the socket, and then move the equipment where required. And here is a device for maintaining indoors optimal temperature and humidity, it will not be possible to turn off and remove from its place using such a simple scheme.
Reasons for dismantling the air conditioner
The need to remove the split system arises in the following situations:
- The air conditioner has expired and needs to be replaced with a new and improved one;
- The façade of the house, to which the external unit of the system is attached, is planned to be plastered and painted;
- A housewarming party is planned, the working staff will move to another office with the preservation of the old climate control equipment;
- Carrying out renovations in the apartment - painting walls, wallpapering or installing a stretch ceiling.
Peculiarities withdrawals various types
Climate control equipment can be divided into three groups:
- split system;
- cassette air conditioners;
- duct type air conditioners.
It is impossible to drain the split system during dismantling working fluid, starting the process idle, as is done with cassette and duct air conditioners. In this case, the refrigerant is collected in a special container. Moreover, even the order in which the pipes are emptied matters. First, the refrigerant is drained from the thin pipe, and then from the thick one. In general, dismantling a split system is difficult: most often the pipes of such climate control equipment are made of copper, which is why they have to be cut off rather than removed.
A cassette air conditioner is heavy equipment, so it cannot be dismantled alone. The cassette air conditioner unit is necessarily protected by fittings. Therefore, after disconnecting the pipes through which the refrigerant passes and disconnecting the equipment from the network, you will need to use a power tool to cut metal.
Such equipment is dismantled from a suspended ceiling
Dismantling a duct-type air conditioner is more difficult. Still, a ducted air cooling unit weighs a lot, has large dimensions and a special design with air ducts. This means that in this matter you cannot do without an assistant.
This air conditioner is similar to a split system, but also combines ventilation functions.
Possible consequences of incorrect dismantling
The main requirement for dismantling is caution. Neglecting this rule can lead to loss of freon from the tubes that cool the air. To refill the equipment with a special liquid, you will have to pay the technician a lot of money.
Also poor quality dismantling climatic equipment is fraught with the penetration of air into the structure, which can oxidize its metal parts. Later on internal elements The air conditioner may develop rust, which will cause it to fail.
It's important to shoot necessary details from climate control equipment with extreme care, otherwise they may break. IN best case scenario for the air conditioner you will need to purchase some new elements, in the worst case, you will have to buy a new split system.
Therefore, you should think seven times before removing the air conditioner yourself. Should be abandoned self-dismantling and invite a master to your home in the cases presented below:
- It is necessary to dismantle a heavy duct or cassette air conditioner;
- There is no knowledge and confidence to carry out dismantling;
- There were no tools to remove the air conditioner.
Removing the air conditioner with your own hands
Required Tools
Before dismantling the climate control equipment, you need to prepare the following tools:
- Set of hex keys;
- adjustable wrench ( Alternative option- gas key);
- Set of open-end and socket wrenches;
- Screwdriver;
- Pressure gauge;
- Pipe cutter
In addition to tools, you will need material that will serve to create plugs.
The listed items are used when dismantling the air conditioner in an apartment, on a balcony or in a country house. But to remove household appliances attached to the wall multi-story building, you will need to find equipment to perform work at high altitudes.
External unit
Dismantling the air conditioner begins with removing the external module - the compressor-condensing unit:
The process requires caution
- At the end external unit by using adjustable wrench open the valve plugs;
- Using a hex wrench, screw in the liquid valve;
- Turn on the air conditioner for half a minute, setting the cooling mode (to allow freon to flow into the external module). At the moment when the compressor begins to work only to draw in air, to the valve from gas pipeline attach a pressure gauge. After this, wait for the values to reset and immediately close the refrigerant return valve;
- Disconnect the air conditioner from the power supply. After this, you need to make sure that there is no current - insert an indicator screwdriver into the terminal with the phase;
- Using a pipe cutter, cut the freon line and cover the remaining edges with electrical tape so that debris does not get into the structure through them and moisture does not seep through;
- Cut off the connecting tubes at a distance of approximately 20 cm from the fittings;
If you are tasked with repairing a condenser module, then when dismantling the air conditioner there is no need to cut the copper tubes.
- Disconnect the drainage pipeline and wires that connect the blocks. The end of each wire, as well as drainage tube, wrapped in protective material;
- Unscrew the bolts and nuts from the air conditioner, using a socket (or open-end) wrench. This work must be done together;
- Taking the socket head, remove the protective fittings and brackets from the wall on the balcony or building.
Removing an air conditioner from the facade of a building requires insurance
The dismantled air conditioner is placed in a secure box, covered on all sides with foam plastic and packaging film. To prevent damage to equipment during transportation, it must be placed in the vehicle only vertically.
How to remove the internal module?
Having removed the outdoor unit from its place, they proceed to dismantling the indoor module. This work is also carried out step by step:
- The protective coating is removed from the air conditioner frame;
- Unscrew the fasteners;
- Disconnect the climate control equipment from the network and remove the connecting elements, that is, the freon line, cables between the units and the drainage pipe;
The process is carried out using a screwdriver
- Open the latches of the fastenings and remove the block from the plate;
The fastening latches that secure the indoor module to the mounting plate must not be broken. Therefore, when dismantling the block, you must act very carefully.
- Remove the mounting plate from the wall, unscrewing the fasteners, and remove all copper tubes along with the plastic wire;
To make it easier to remove the block from the wall, it is supported with pliers
- The edges copper tubes freon is covered with a special material, acting in the same way as when sealing the tubes of the external module.
The air conditioner module, removed from the wall in the room, must be placed in cardboard box, placing foam on all sides. After this, the equipment must be covered with soft bubble wrap. For transportation indoor unit special requirements No.
Video tips
Naturally, in order to remove an air conditioner, you need to have an idea of the structure of a specific model of climate control equipment. If you take on this matter “blindly”, you can make a lot of mistakes and break the air conditioner.
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There is a move ahead. To a new apartment or office. In the same place is an air conditioner, bought with my own money. I really want to take it with me, like my favorite sofa and armchair. Why not dismantle the air conditioner yourself? Save money, moving is already an expensive business. They say that installers remove the air conditioner in 15 minutes, but am I completely armless? But first you need to find out how much it costs to remove an air conditioner according to all the rules.
Price of work
If you summarize the prices for dismantling household air conditioners, then on average you get a very simple ratio: 1 W – 1 rub. That is, the cost of dismantling an apartment air conditioner will cost 2500-4000 rubles, and a large one for an office or a mansion - 8000-1000. For dismantling the cassette built into suspended ceiling, the price increases by 5-15%. Quite a lot.
The price of amateur performance
It is intuitively clear to a more or less technically literate person that it is impossible to simply unscrew the fittings - after all, the system is filled with freon inside; if you simply remove the fittings, it will leak out, and refilling costs 800-1500 rubles. Therefore, some kind of devices and tools are needed. Let's ask.
What is exactly needed to dismantle the air conditioner is a pressure manifold. The cheapest one costs about 1,500 rubles, or even 3,500. It’s almost the price of dismantling. Another set of hex socket wrenches, a pipe cutter - about 250, if you rent a pipe cutter. So we came up with almost the cost of professional dismantling. Oh yes, also steeplejack work, the outer unit is hanging on the wall. We add another 500 for safety equipment. And a risk to life.
Why is it so difficult and expensive? Is it possible to somehow simplify it and make it cheaper? Let's try to figure it out. At least how to do without a pressure gauge and save freon. So that your work is somehow justified.
How does the air conditioner work?
The principle of operation of an air conditioner is known: the compressor of the outdoor unit (condensing) pumps out refrigerant vapors from the indoor unit (evaporative), they condense, heat up, and release heat environment through the radiator of the outdoor unit, then the liquid refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator of the indoor unit, evaporates there, absorbing the heat of the room, and the cycle repeats.
From here you can already see one weak spot - the air conditioning compressor pump. Working in such difficult conditions, it must be a fairly complex unit. That’s how it is - household air conditioners use cam vacuum pumps. Its heart is two or three (in this case, there are three cams on each rotor) rotors of complex configuration in a sealed chamber, see fig. Additional seals such as piston rings, gaskets, valves, etc. No; the required tightness and one-sided action are ensured solely due to the precision machining of parts. Any other design will not provide the required performance at such temperature and pressure differences.
Now it’s clear why the pump is so vulnerable: the slightest scratch from a speck of dust, a piece of ice or a piece of oxide from the pipes - and the air conditioner will waste electricity wasting the refrigerant rather than cooling the room. After all, on one side of the pump there is freon vapor at minus -70 degrees (approximately) at a pressure of a fraction of an atmosphere, and on the other, its condensate at +80 at a pressure of several atmospheres. And freon is extremely fluid.
Note: The figure shows holes drilled into the ends of the rotors. They are needed for perfect balance - the cam pump fails even from its own vibration.
It is for the sake of preserving the pump that air conditioners are sold filled with purified inert gas under pressure (remember, it was vented during installation), and before filling the system, they are pumped out to a vacuum to remove water vapor - if they freeze in the system, they will form ice, which will quickly disable the air conditioner.
Knowing all this, let's try to figure out how to remove the air conditioner yourself, and what the risk factors are.
Outdoor unit
Without touching on the dangers of industrial mountaineering, let's start right away with the technology. The first rule is to spare no pipes. If longer ones are needed in a new location, you will have to lay new ones: extending pipelines in any way means most likely killing the air conditioner. If you need the new ones shorter, then slightly trimmed old ones (see below) will do; In extreme cases, you will have to move the indoor unit a little.
To dismantle the condensing unit, in addition to simple mechanics (brackets, fastenings) and electricity (wires - from the terminals, labeled, and in a new place - into the same terminals), the home-made master needs to know the location of the freon fittings on the outdoor unit, see fig. Explanations for positions:
- The fitting of the steam (supply) pipeline, it is thicker;
- Liquid (discharge) pipeline fitting, thinner;
- Liquid fitting cover;
- Steam connection cover;
- Nipple.
The fitting covers can be removed while the air conditioner is operating; underneath them are internal nuts with hexagonal slots for a socket wrench. The nipple is also covered with a lid in working order; in the figure it has been removed, and the nipple rod is slightly visible; by pressing on it, the coolant is released from the system.
The outdoor unit is dismantled in the following order:
- A pressure gauge is attached to the nipple;
- The air conditioner is turned on from the remote control for constant cold;
- After 10 minutes, having removed the cover of the liquid fitting, tighten its internal nut tightly - the pipeline is blocked, the pump pumps freon into the condensation chamber;
- Monitor the pressure gauge readings - when it shows minus 1 MPa (minus one atmosphere, technical vacuum), tighten the steam fitting nut as tightly as possible;
- The air conditioner is immediately completely disconnected from the network;
- Pipes 15-20 cm from the fittings are cut off with a pipe cutter, and all four ends are IMMEDIATELY caulked, as shown in the figure;
- In the same way, very quickly, the pipes at the indoor unit are cut and caulked;
- Screw all fitting caps and nipples into place;
- They disassemble the electrical part, remove the outdoor unit, and pack it in a shipping container.
Risk factor #1: In addition to the obvious ones (dust getting into open pipelines and air with moisture vapor into the evaporation chamber), there is one more, most serious danger - transporting air conditioners filled with refrigerant is strictly prohibited. After the described operations, the outdoor unit will be pumped with freon under a pressure of several atmospheres, and any shock during transportation may simply “bang”. In the best case, you will hear a loud hiss, the meaning of which is simple: a new air conditioner.
Is it possible without a pressure gauge? Dear, even for rent! There is a way, but the probability that after it the air conditioner will work in a new place is no more than 50%: let the pump pump for at least 5 minutes, and then press the nipple rod. It doesn’t hiss - all the freon is already in the condenser.
Risk factor #2: the pump is not designed for even short-term operation “excitedly”. The back pressure at its outlet will literally within a few seconds exceed the maximum permissible (there is no outflow of refrigerant, it is blocked), and the air conditioner may break down forever right before your eyes.
Note: caulking pipes with pliers is absolutely unreliable. You need to compress the end of the pipe with a small benchtop bench vice as hard as you can, or not caulk it, but roll it. Rolling presses are included in kits for cutting copper pipes, but such a kit costs several times more than a separate pipe cutter, and also for rent.
Warnings:
- Under no circumstances remove the union nuts of fittings with rolled pipes. This is shown in the figure as an example only. Neglecting this will usually cost you a new air conditioner.
- When transporting, handle protruding pipe tails with extreme caution. Consequences of breaking or sharp bending - see previous warning.
Indoor unit
At first glance, dismantling the indoor unit of the air conditioner seems simpler: all the freon has been pumped out, the pipe stubs are caulked, all that remains is to remove it from the wall. But this is the self-confidence of a new sapper who has discharged his first mine.
The evaporation unit is inserted from above into the grooves of the guides with latches. The design of the latches is designed for the work of specially trained and certified personnel equipped with special tools; Each manufacturer has its own snapping system. That is, designers specially design latches so that the DIYer cannot do anything with them. Have you heard of “fool protection”? This is who she is.
Do-it-yourselfers are not fools, and methods for opening latches different systems invent. And here the second stage of foolproof protection comes into play: the tangle of thin tubes of the evaporation chamber is located dangerously close to the latches.
Risk factor 3: fiddling with latches randomly or homemade instrument, it is very easy, even knowing their design, to damage the evaporator .
Notes:
- In most household air conditioners, in order to get to the latches more or less safely, you have to remove the evaporator cover. And its fastenings are facing the wall (the principle Chinese puzzle). The most desperate Kulibins get out of the situation by taking a piece of a Phillips screwdriver and unscrewing the fastening screws, holding it with pliers.
- Three people are needed to dismantle the indoor unit, otherwise another risk factor is added: the unit will fall down and break.
- The most simple system latching – with the latching heads facing the wall. In this case, it is possible to get by with two thin screwdrivers, inserted into the groove of the bracket between it and the wall, while simultaneously pressing the latches with both hands, and assistants lifting up the block.
Video: dismantling the external and internal air conditioner units
Before dismantling the air conditioner yourself, you need to study the instructions. The difficulty lies in the fact that in a split system the refrigerant moves between the units. If you perform incorrect actions during the removal process, you can damage the equipment. Some units consist of only one block, so there are no problems with them.
To understand how to dismantle an air conditioner with your own hands, you need to know what problems you will encounter. They are as follows:
- Refrigerant leakage may occur during operation. It will begin to evaporate into the atmosphere. This will lead to the need for emergency refueling of the unit. It's better not to allow this to happen. It is necessary to dismantle it so that the substance remains in the system.
- If water gets into the refrigerant, the liquid in the evaporator will freeze. Hard pieces of ice will damage the compressor. To prevent this from happening, you should not work in the rain.
- Located with outside walls, the outdoor unit may fall during dismantling. To eliminate the risk of such trouble, work should be carried out with an assistant.
- Damage to structural elements must not be allowed. Freon will begin to escape through the crack or dirt will get inside. Therefore, you should be careful in your work.
- Care should be taken when disconnecting lines from pipes. They have threaded leads soldered onto them that can be torn off.
- When disconnecting wires, write down their location. This will come in handy during reassembly.
- Do not cut short the drainage pipe through which the condensate escapes.
Preparation stages
At the preliminary stage, it is necessary to retain the refrigerant in the system. It is located in a circuit that consists of a compressor, evaporator, condenser, and connecting pipes.
Freon enters the evaporator in a liquid state, so small diameter tubes lead here. As the refrigerant evaporates, it enters the compressor in the form of gas. Here the branch size is larger.
Target preliminary stage: Collect all the gas in a condenser. To do this you need to follow the following steps.
