Several rules on how to dismantle a household air conditioner. How to dismantle an air conditioner with your own hands: step-by-step instructions How to properly dismantle a split system
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There are situations when it is necessary to dismantle the air conditioning system. For example, you planned major renovation, relocating an air conditioner or moving.
To dismantle the split system, you need to know the features of this operation. Let's consider the sequence of actions when dismantling the air conditioner, as well as the consequences of incorrect dismantling of the air conditioning system.
When is it not necessary to remove the air conditioner?
Based on the scale of the planned repair and the tight fit of the indoor unit to the wall, instead of immediately starting to dismantle the air conditioning system, you can resort to another way to resolve the issue.
Case No. 1
If you plan to re-glue the wallpaper and the gap between the wall and the indoor unit is large enough, then it is not necessary to dismantle the entire air conditioner, just disconnect the unit from the plate.
Case No. 2
If during the renovation you plan to plaster and level the walls, then you can also dismantle only the indoor unit. Upon completion of the repair, the length of communication should be sufficient for reinstallation of the module.
Case No. 3
There are cases when the block needs to be dismantled along with the route. This may be caused by a number of circumstances:
- it is planned to “lower” the ceiling;
- the nuts for connecting the route to the module are located in the wall;
- in order to prevent the connection of nuts inside the wall after repair;
- to move the indoor unit.
Case No. 1 
Case No. 2
How to remove an air conditioner from the wall yourself: instructions
Before you start removing the split system, you need to prepare not only the usual household tools, but also professional.
The necessary tools for dismantling the split system include:
- pipe cutter;
- side cutter;
- construction knife;
- Phillips and integral screwdrivers;
- hexagon socket wrenches;
- manifold;
- open-end and adjustable wrenches;
- drill;
- screwdriver
In some cases, safety equipment may be needed.
Preparatory stage
After preparing the instrument, study the recommendations of specialists proper dismantling air conditioning systems. Most people ignore the recommendations of professionals, after which the air conditioner is dismantled with many errors.
Interesting:
Dismantling without pumping freon into the device leads to its leakage. Restoring freon is then quite difficult and expensive. The minimum amount of financial costs is four thousand rubles.
Freon release
There are three main methods for dismantling the air conditioner yourself:
- disassembly with freon release;
- preservation of freon in the device;
- saving refrigerant in full thanks to the use of special techniques and specialized equipment.
The last method allows you to get maximum effect lossless, but other methods are also widely used.
Before carrying out work, carefully consider design features air conditioning systems. It is a closed circuit with refrigerant and includes a compressor, an evaporator with a condenser and a system of copper tubes to connect all the components and ensure the supply and removal of refrigerant.
To turn off the air conditioning system without losing refrigerant, you need to pump it into the condenser. This is possible when operating in cooling mode by closing the valve from the product to the tube. It will take no more than one minute to pump the full amount of freon. After pumping, it is necessary to close the valve on the tube. With this operation you can stop the gas supply completely.
Dismantling
Work begins with removal external unit. To do this, you must first disconnect copper tubes. The tubes are cut at a distance of about twenty centimeters from the fitting, and then the sections are caulked for complete sealing.
At long-term storage When the device is disassembled, the copper tubes are filled with nitrogen, ensuring tightness to prevent oxidation.
Work begins with removing the external unit
Outdoor unit
After disconnecting the copper tubes, remove thermal insulation. It is advisable that the operation be carried out by two people: one will work outside the building, and the other inside the room. This will greatly simplify and speed up the process.
So, one person will shut down electrical energy, and the other will disconnect the wires.
The tubes should be straightened so that they can pass through the holes in the wall. Next, the end of the cable that is dragged into the room is screwed to them. After this, the nuts that support the external unit on the brackets are unscrewed.
At the end of the operation, the block is removed and dragged into the building. It can only be stored vertically.
Disconnecting the compressor
It is very important to dismantle the compressor in the correct way. To do this, you need to perform the following operations:
- Remove the cover from the external module.
- Disconnect the suction and discharge pipes.
- Disconnect electrical wiring.
- Unscrew the fasteners of the condenser and fan.
- Pull out the capacitor.
- Remove the fastenings and dismantle the compressor.
With this sequence of measures, the possibility of pipe defects is eliminated and it becomes possible to repair other components.
Indoor unit
There are cases when owners limit themselves to dismantling only the external unit. For example, when repairing a compressor. When it is necessary to remove the entire split system, it is important to take into account the existing nuances of dismantling the indoor unit.
To dismantle the indoor air conditioner module, you must perform the following steps:
- Remove the housing cover, focusing on the indicators located at the bottom of the product.
- Disconnect the electrical cable by unscrewing it from the terminals, and then carefully remove it from the split system.
- Unhook the pipe, installing the reservoir in advance; liquid may leak out from there.
- Remove the heat insulator and disconnect the refrigerant pipe.
- Carefully unscrew the tubes as when removing the external unit, and wrap them with insulating tape or screw on the caps.
- Carefully dismantle the indoor module and remove the mounting plate.
Features of work in winter
In cold weather, it is almost impossible to pump refrigerant into the condenser: the oil thickens greatly, and if you try to connect the air conditioner in this situation, a blower malfunction can easily occur. This situation is not terrible for air conditioner models that are equipped with a special winter kit. The equipment includes heating of the compressor crankcase and drainage, as well as a fan speed retarder.
If you have a model installed without this configuration, then freon can be pumped through a pressure gauge station to collect gas.
This station is connected to the shredder valve, similar to a pressure manifold.
Consequences of improper dismantling
Here are a number of possible consequences if you dismantle the air conditioning system incorrectly manually:
- Loss of tightness of the cooling circuit and leakage of freon. Eliminating this unpleasant situation will require significant financial investments.
- Clogging internal contour systems with dust, penetration of moisture. These circumstances especially affect the functioning of the compressor, and the operation of the air conditioner in general. Therefore, the product should not be removed in rainy or snowy weather.
- A heavy outdoor unit falling from a height. Even if the product falls from a small height, in most cases this will lead to its breakdown and replacement.
- Mechanical damage to the surface of the external module and other elements, which can cause depressurization of the circuit. Even the slightest crack can cause gas leakage and dust and moisture getting inside.
Watch the video on how to remove the air conditioner
Dismantling this household system is carried out for subsequent repairs or when moving, many users solve the problem simply - call the specialists from service center. A thrifty owner who has the skills and desire can save money and do everything himself, and we will tell you how to remove the air conditioner correctly, while avoiding mistakes and negative nuances.
Any modern split system, which includes household air conditioner, consists of blocks for indoor and outdoor locations. They are connected by two lines through which the refrigerant moves. Circulates through a tube of smaller diameter freon in liquid state from the indoor unit to the outdoor unit, the same thing runs through a thicker copper tube in the opposite direction, but in a gaseous state.
This is where problems lie that can ruin everything you do when trying to remove the air conditioner yourself.
- As a result of improper shutdown of main pipelines, partial or complete loss of freon.
- Air containing moisture can get into the tubes and heat exchanger, which can cause damage when the air conditioner operates in a new place - incompressible moisture enters the compressor and disables it.
- If small particles get into copper tubes when they are pulled through a wall or during improper transportation, the system will quickly break down.
- Particular attention should be paid to the threaded bends soldered to the tubes; if they are damaged, very expensive repairs will be required.
- Incorrectly disconnected wires. If you do not put special marks on the terminals, it may lead to incorrect connection at the new location.
- Cutting it too short drainage tube, which discharges condensate outside the outdoor unit, you doom yourself to its premature complete replacement.
- When transporting a product to a new location, there is a risk of losing small fasteners and parts if they are not securely fastened after disassembly.
All of the above cases lead to very expensive repairs of the entire system, so before you start dismantling the air conditioner yourself, read the instructions.
Preparation
Before dismantling the split system with your own hands, you need to prepare a tool, not a simple one. home arsenal, but purely professional, as shown in the photo:
Many users do not take advice seriously professional craftsmen, how to properly dismantle any split systems. As a result, the shutdown is carried out with numerous violations: they dismantle the product without pumping freon into the air conditioner, and it leaks, which will not be as easy to replenish as many people think.
Refilling the entire system with refrigerant will result in serious financial costs:
- first, the master will check the integrity of all pipelines - 600 rubles;
- refilling an air conditioner with a power of up to 4.5 kW - up to 3 thousand rubles;
- the same actions with equipment power up to 7 kW - up to 3.5 thousand rubles.
At the bare minimum for household air conditioners, this operation will cost you at least 4 thousand rubles, depending on the refrigerant used.
Freon release
There are three ways to dismantle the air conditioner yourself:
- disassembly with freon release;
- keep the gas inside the air conditioner approximately or “by eye”;
- completely save freon with the help of professional equipment using a special technique.
The third option gives the best effect without any losses, but many users use all methods. Experts advise completely preserving the refrigerant so that there are no problems when installing dismantled equipment in a new location.
To properly dismantle the air conditioner, you need to know the design of the split system, which consists of a closed circuit filled with freon. The main components are a compressor, an evaporator with a condenser and a system of copper pipes that connects the entire structure and ensures the supply and removal of refrigerant.
This is what the schematic structure of a modern air conditioner or any split system looks like:
To turn off the air conditioner yourself without losing freon, you need to pump it into the condenser; to do this, when the equipment is operating in cooling mode, you should close the valve between the product and the thin-diameter tube. When all the refrigerant is pumped into the condenser within a minute - that’s exactly how long it will take to completely pump gas into the condenser, you need to shut off thick tube valve, turning off the freon supply, and “close” it in an improvised trap.
Dismantling
Before dismantling the external unit, you must disconnect copper tubes, but in practice they are not reused, since their extension is strictly prohibited. It is necessary to cut them at a distance of about 200 mm from the fitting and caulk the sections for complete sealing.
Attention! When storing the product disassembled for a long time, the tubes are filled with nitrogen and ensure tightness to prevent oxidation of the inner surface.
Outdoor unit
The instructions say: after working with copper tubes, you must remove thermal insulation As a rule, all masters work together, one indoors and the other outside. Thus, dismantling is carried out faster: the partner has turned off the power and now you can disconnect the wires at the place of their connection, first marking the terminals.
The tubes are straightened manually so that they pass through the holes in the wall without interference, and the end of the cable is screwed to them to remove it into the room.
After this, unscrew the nuts that hold outdoor unit on special brackets, together with an assistant, carefully remove the block and move it inside the apartment. Lastly, the brackets are removed from the wall of the building.
Important! During transportation and storage, the dismantled outdoor unit is positioned only vertically to prevent mechanical damage from shaking - it is inserted into a box with foam plastic underneath.
Compressor
Sometimes only the outdoor unit is dismantled, for example, if only the compressor needs to be repaired, and the indoor unit of the air conditioner remains in place. During similar operations, the internal block of the split system is also not touched.
The main condition is to properly dismantle the compressor:
- remove the cover from the outdoor unit;
- then disconnect suction and discharge tubes;
- all electrical wiring is turned off;
- the fasteners of the condenser and fan are unscrewed;
- remove the capacitor from the block housing;
- access to the compressor is open - remove the fastenings and dismantle it.
With such actions, the risk of causing damage to pipelines is eliminated and there is a real opportunity to repair other elements located in the casing of the outdoor unit, if necessary.
Indoor unit
Dismantling the internal unit of an air conditioner has its own very specific nuances, without knowledge of which all your efforts will be useless, and in some cases, careless actions can lead to breakage of rather delicate fasteners, for example, evaporator latches or clamps holding the unit on the guides.
To understand how to remove an air conditioner from a wall, you need to study the instruction manual, which contains the section you are interested in. Many users will not be able to do this operation and will have to turn to professionals.
Remove the indoor unit the air conditioning system will only work after removing the front panel, then you also need to disconnect all the electrical wiring, freon inlet and outlet pipes. You need to disassemble the tangle of wires carefully and without fuss. But this is not all the testing - manufacturers have reliably blocked access to evaporator latches ensure that dismantling is carried out only by specially trained people.
Access is closed by a lid, the latches of which are pressed quite tightly to the wall - you can get to them using two screwdrivers with a very thin tip. Your partner must hold the entire block during this labor-intensive process.
After removing the evaporator, you can unscrew mounting plate, which blocks access to the electrical wires and freon pipes supplying the product, hidden in a special gutter inside the wall. The last thing to unscrew is the decorative box, which runs along outer wall all the way to the outdoor unit.
The disconnected wires are carefully twisted and placed in a separate box for transportation. To help home craftsmen, there is a video on how to dismantle an air conditioner on your own, without turning to specialists:
Dismantling in winter
Many users are interested in the question: how to remove a split system in winter period when due to low temperature it is impossible to pump refrigerant into the condenser. The oil in the compressor will thicken, and all attempts to turn it on can end very badly.
If you have a special model equipped with a kit where there is heating of the compressor crankcase and the entire line drainage system, as well as a block that slows down the rotation of the fan, then your intentions will be crowned with success. If it is not available, you can use a special refrigerant collection station, which is connected in the same way as a pressure manifold.
Several Yet practical advice: You can start dismantling yourself only when you are completely confident in your own capabilities and have a qualified partner. Also, having a special tool makes the job much easier.
How to dismantle split-system air conditioners yourself in summer and winter
In connection with moving to a new place of residence or changing the location of the office, it may be necessary to dismantle split-system air conditioners - removing the external and internal modules from their mounts. The process has its own characteristics regarding the type of device, time of year, and also requires the availability of appropriate tools.
dismantling by industrial climbers
A team of professional installers can carry out this work efficiently and quickly, but their work costs money, especially if it is necessary to dismantle several split-system air conditioners at the same time. If they have high power ratings, on which the price depends, then the total cost will be rather high. Is it possible to save money on this, or will trying to cut costs entail big expenses?
Of course, this is the first thing that comes to mind in a situation of shortage of funds. It would seem intuitively clear to a man who has at least some understanding of technical topics how to unscrew the fittings, pump freon, disconnect the necessary communications, remove everything and pack it in boxes. There are instructions and videos for dismantling the air conditioner with your own hands - I read, watched and got to work. But in reality everything is not so simple.
Disadvantages of DIY dismantling
The main danger is under-pumped freon. And this can happen if there is no special pressure gauge to measure the pressure on the gas line. Freezing of water vapor in the air conditioner leads to pump failure.
Actions using unprofessional tools will lead to damage to the evaporator pipes of the indoor unit, which are located very close to the place where the device is mounted in the walls.
If the pipeline was cut too short, it may simply not be the right length for subsequent installation. Building a new one disables the unit.
Evaporative units of duct split systems, in addition to pumping out the refrigerant, disconnecting the pipeline, electrical wires and drainage hose, require careful disconnection from the air ducts. It is quite difficult to do this without experience.
To dismantle the air conditioner yourself, you will need special tools, the cost of which significantly exceeds the price of dismantling by qualified craftsmen, even if they are rented.
Large semi-industrial splits have considerable weight and size. It is impossible to remove them alone. Here you can add the difficulty of removing the external unit - it is located on the facade of the building, often at a sufficient height and a decent distance from the window. Here, in any case, you will need a team of industrial climbers if the amateur does not want to risk his life.
No one can guarantee 100% preservation of the functionality of the air conditioner when dismantling it with their own hands. The risks of delivering a device to a new facility in a faulty condition are very high.
If these arguments do not stop a person from his decision to try himself as a master installer, then he should carefully study the instructions for dismantling air conditioners on his own. various types, given below.
Dismantling a wall-mounted split system
liquid and gas taps, respectively, on the right and left
Oversized wall splits are not particularly difficult to remove. The following set of tools should be available:
- pressure gauge;
- 2 Swedish keys;
- wire cutters or pipe cutter;
- set of hexagons;
- wrenches or socket set;
- indicator screwdriver, simple screwdriver;
- pressure gauge station for collecting freon (if the air conditioner needs to be dismantled in winter).
They begin work by pumping freon into the external unit in order to use it again later. To do this, you need to connect a pressure gauge through the shredder valve to the gas valve of the pipeline. The air conditioner operates in cooling mode. Next, remove the covers on the side valves and tighten the discharge valve using a hexagon. After a couple of minutes, the pressure should drop below zero. Now you can close the suction valve, turn off the device, turn off the power.
The next step in dismantling the air conditioner with your own hands will be to disconnect (cut) the main pipes with wire cutters or a pipe cutter at a distance of 15-20 cm from the fittings, caulking them and removing the outdoor module from the bracket. It must be placed in a dense cardboard packaging container and surrounded with foam plastic. Then wrenches or use heads to unscrew the brackets.
Transportation capacitor unit produced only in a vertical position.
Next, they move on to dismantling the indoor unit of the air conditioner, where it is necessary to open the cover protecting the device. The module is held on both sides and the fasteners are unscrewed. Disconnect the pipeline line, caulk the ends of the tubes, disconnect all electrical interconnecting wires and remove the unit from the mounting plate by opening the fastening latches and following the guides of the indoor unit.
Now they move on to removing the fastening itself, the remaining pipeline and the decorative plastic box. Thus, the dismantling of the wall-mounted split system air conditioner is completely completed, and all that remains is to carefully pack the system and transport it to a new location.
If you do everything according to the proposed scheme, then during subsequent installation you will not have to completely fill the circuit with freon.
All described work can be viewed below in the video of dismantling wall-mounted air conditioners.
Dismantling a duct split system
flaring of copper pipeline for split systems
The greatest difficulties arise when dismantling a ducted air conditioner yourself, since the weight of this structure is significant, and you will still have to disconnect the air ducts from the units.
The set of tools in this case remains the same. Work begins with disassembling the air ducts. The supply and exhaust adapters with the grille are removed. Remove the air ducts by disconnecting them from the indoor unit. If they are metal, then unscrew the screws; if they are flexible, remove the clamps. Next, freon is pumped into the receiver of the external unit and removed according to the scheme for dismantling a wall-mounted split system.
The fastening nuts of the evaporator unit are loosened, the freon line, drain hose and electrical wires are disconnected. Next, carefully remove the block from the wall and pack it in a special container.
air conditioner drain hose
Some craftsmen dismantle the duct air conditioner with their own hands in the following order:
- pumping freon into the receiver of the external unit;
- removing the outdoor module and disconnecting its connecting communications;
- disconnecting air ducts;
- dismantling the indoor unit of the air conditioner and its connecting communications;
- packaging of the split system and its transportation.
Both options will be technically correct and will not cause subsequent problems with the functioning of the system in the new location.
Dismantling of column, cassette and console split systems
A column split system, along with a wall-mounted one, does not present any difficulties in terms of dismantling works. Everything goes according to the same scheme:
- checking the pressure with a pressure gauge and pumping freon into the indoor module;
- disconnecting all its connecting lines and then removing the device from the outer wall of the building;
- disconnecting the connecting lines of the indoor unit of the air conditioner and its subsequent dismantling.
The indoor column unit does not have a mounting plate (like a wall unit) or studs (like a cassette, column and console unit) to attach it to, so in this regard there are much fewer problems with it.
The cassette split system is dismantled according to the duct scheme. When working with the internal module, it is necessary to loosen the fastening nuts, and then perform the remaining manipulations. The only difference is that in this case there are no air ducts.
The indoor unit of a floor-ceiling (console) split system is attached to the wall or ceiling with studs, like a cassette or duct unit. When removing it, instructions for dismantling a wall or duct split system will help.
Do not remove the outdoor unit during rain or snow, as moisture that gets inside the ports leads to damage to the compressor.
Dismantling the split system in winter
Some difficulties arise if you have to dismantle the air conditioner yourself winter time. What are the difficulties? The fact is that when the temperature outside is below the permissible operating values of the device, it cannot be turned on, therefore it is impossible to remove working fluid from the highway. In such cases, you will need a pressure gauge station to collect freon. The taps on the external unit are closed, the station is connected to the shredder valve and the refrigerant is collected from the main line and the internal module.
If this is not done, a complete leak of refrigerant will occur. You will have to refill the circuit and change the seals of the service ports. Therefore, it is better not to dismantle the air conditioner yourself in winter.
You should watch the video of dismantling a wall-mounted split system with your own hands for a complete picture of the process.
Do-it-yourself air conditioner dismantling
There are situations when it is necessary to dismantle the split system or one of its units. For example, it may be necessary to remove the units when renovating an apartment, moving the air conditioner to another place, moving, etc. It would seem that there is nothing easier than removing or disconnecting something. “Breaking is not doing.” But in the case of an air conditioner, this motto does not work. The reasons are as follows:
- In order for the air conditioner to work normally in the future, it is necessary to preserve freon. Otherwise, refilling it will not justify the money saved. In this case, you need to know how to transfer freon to the external unit. And some tools will be required;
- Few people undertake to install air conditioners that have been removed “clumsily” in the future. And when installing it yourself, even more difficulties arise.
Do-it-yourself air conditioner dismantling
Let's look at some of the features of this process, and then find out the sequence of actions. What to consider for air conditioners without winter options:
- If the outside temperature is positive, you will need to turn on the air conditioner for cooling and wait until the compressor turns on and the cold comes out of the indoor unit. The temperature in the room must be sufficient to turn on the air conditioner. Read more here;
- If you need to dismantle the air conditioner at sub-zero temperatures, we can do without turning it on (use the air conditioner when low temperatures not allowed). In this case, we simply turn off the service taps, then bleed the remaining freon from the “route”. At negative temperatures, the main part of the freon condenses in the external unit, and its loss will not be so significant.
To dismantle the air conditioner with your own hands you will need: a pressure manifold, a set of hexagons, a Phillips screwdriver, an adjustable wrench, and a knife.
1. Connect pressure gauges to the service connector of the external unit (thick tube). Unscrew the cap (if installed) and the valve plugs (but not the tube nuts).
Attention! Pressure gauges must be screwed on quickly and to end. because wherein will Freon comes out under pressure! Be sure to take this into account and use gloves. Freon can cause burns!
2. Then turn on the air conditioner for cooling. We are waiting for the compressor to turn on and the pressure in the circuit to rise.
3. If the temperature outside is negative, simply turn off the taps. At positive temperatures, follow these instructions. Actions must be carried out quickly and correctly with the compressor running (study in detail first).
- Using a hexagon, we begin to close the tap of the liquid tube (thin) to the end. After which the pressure begins to drop to 0 bar (this takes about 5-15 seconds) (look at the pressure gauge).
- As soon as the pressure has crossed the 0 bar mark on the pressure gauge, quickly (but carefully) close the tap of the gas tube (thick) all the way. And immediately (within 5 seconds) turn off the air conditioner from the remote control (you may need the help of a partner). That's it - now freon is in the external unit.
When tightening the taps no need to tighten too much .
4. Turn off the “power” of the air conditioner.
5. Remove the pressure gauges. Unscrew the tube nuts on the external unit. This will bleed the remaining freon from the indoor unit.
Important! Immediately seal the fittings and ends of the tubes to prevent the slightest dust from entering.
6. Unscrew the top cover of the outdoor unit. We write down how the interconnect wires are connected to the external unit. We disconnect them. We also disconnect the “power” cable and other additional wires (if any).
8. Carefully straighten the route and clear the hole. Here you will probably have to cut the ends of the tubes to remove the nuts (don’t forget to seal them right away). Thermoflex and drainage can also be cut. We tape the “track” together with tape. In the photo below there is a “power” wire to the indoor unit. Everything is ready outside.
10. Remove (up) the internal block from the plate. And we pull out the block along with the route. Here you will need the help of a partner.
11. Unscrew the plate. We can foam the hole.
12. Attach the remote control and plate to the indoor unit so as not to lose it later.
Dismantling only the indoor unit
The indoor unit is removed separately when it interferes with repairs. After repair, it is reinstalled in place. It can be removed separately if the air conditioner is installed correctly. There are cases when the nuts of the indoor unit are hidden in the wall, which is unacceptable. Then the air conditioner will have to be removed along with the “route”.
First, we carry out the operations of points 1 to 4. Then we do the following:
- unclip the lower clips of the indoor unit. We put some kind of support under the block;
- open the flex under the block. We unscrew the nuts with two wrenches, this will bleed off the remaining gas (a little oil may leak out). We seal all ends of the tubes;
- open the cover for connecting the interblock wires of the indoor unit. We sign how the wires are connected. Then we turn them off;
- disconnect the drainage hose (water may leak);
- disconnect the “power” cable if it goes to the indoor unit. We check if there are any other additional wires;
- remove the support and remove the internal block (up) from the plate;
- then remove the plate of the indoor unit.
And don’t forget to attach the plate and remote control to the indoor unit so as not to lose it. For subsequent installation of the indoor unit in place, it is necessary to evacuate the system.
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Do-it-yourself dismantling of air conditioners - it all depends on the system
Do-it-yourself air conditioner dismantling
It is clear that you do not always want to involve professional performers to perform the work of dismantling an air conditioner. Therefore, it is very important before proceeding with the removal of the structure on our own, take care to comply with all safety rules, which will guarantee that the work will be completed and no one will get hurt.
Dismantling a device such as an air conditioner is not an ordinary procedure at all, you must admit, we don’t do this every day. Therefore, if you are 100 percent confident in your abilities, then you can safely start doing the work.
Tools and materials for dismantling
Like any other type of work, dismantling air conditioners with your own hands requires some preparation. In order not to worry about materials and not to be distracted by searching necessary tools, it must be prepared in advance.
Tools and materials for dismantling the air conditioner yourself
So, we will need the following:
- an adjustable wrench, if you don’t have one, a gas wrench will do;
- hex keys;
- socket wrenches;
- open-end wrenches;
- screwdriver;
- pliers;
- if available, pressure gauge;
- pipe cutter;
- materials that will be needed to make plugs for faucets and disconnected pipes.
If your air conditioner is installed on the balcony multi-storey building or in a private house, in which case dismantling will not be difficult even for a novice craftsman, but if the device is installed on the surface of the wall, in this case, it is worth stocking up on a set of accessories for mine rescue operations.
Oversized air conditioners, how to dismantle them
Dismantling the air conditioner is not at all difficult to do on your own, without involving professionals in the process. Before you start doing the work, even if you are confident in your own abilities, it is worth reminding yourself in what order the work to dismantle the device is carried out.
Removing any type of air conditioner is carried out in several stages:
- we block the channels that served to supply the refrigerant;
- turn on the device and wait for the waste material to completely leave the device system;
- disconnect the electrical wires;
- disconnect the air conditioner drain.
Having completed these stages of work, you can, with the utmost care and precision, remove the device from its mounts (this does not apply to floor-standing air conditioners), disconnect the pipes that served as a conductor for the liquid, and finally remove the unit.
Dismantling the split system
Dismantling the split system
Removing this system is somewhat more complicated than installing it traditional types air conditioners. Here it is also necessary to carry out preliminary preparation. We will need keys, which are usually supplied with the device.
A similar dismantling scheme is also used when working with monoblock systems.
Large air conditioners, how to dismantle them
The greatest difficulty in dismantling work is presented by cassette air conditioners, because such devices are different large mass and quite large in size. Therefore, before you start work, you should look for a partner to help you. The process of removing such systems is carried out in several stages.
Disconnect the refrigerant supply pipes
Duct air conditioners, dismantling features
Dismantling a duct air conditioner
The most difficult job to perform is the removal of duct air conditioners. All models this series are distinguished by their large dimensions, heavy weight, complex design and air ducts, which also need to be dismantled. Because of large sizes air conditioners similar type It will be very difficult to get by on your own, so find yourself partners who will help you cope with the work successfully.
Like other types of work related to the dismantling of air conditioning systems, the dismantling of duct-type systems is carried out in several stages.
Since beginning craftsmen do not always have everything in stock necessary equipment, you should contact professional performers.
If you take a closer look at the installation of an air conditioner, it becomes clear that the process is not quite complicated and it is quite possible to do it on your own. The only differences that may arise in the work plan depend on the model and type of air conditioner, as well as its installation diagram.
Particular attention to waste freon
Very important when dismantling the system Special attention pay attention to the process of pumping used freon into the external unit. To do this, you need to turn it on and select the cooling mode. After this, we attach the pre-prepared pressure gauge to the outlet and close the valve. Now, when the supply of working fluid is impossible, the system compressor begins to operate only in suction mode, which allows freon to be pumped into the external unit of the system. Having made sure that the needle on the pressure gauge has reached “zero”, we very quickly close the valve and turn off the power to the compressor. After simple manipulations, we ensured that the working fluid is now in the external unit of the system, as it was with the new device. Having pumped the working fluid, you can begin removing both the external unit and the fasteners that served as a support for the air conditioner.
Dismantled air conditioners need to be completed and preserved; this measure will avoid unwanted contamination and dust entering the system. Now that the air conditioner has been dismantled, oxygen can enter its system, which oxidizes and does not have the most positive effect on the pipes inside the system. To prevent the device from becoming unusable, store it dismantled long time not worth it. If there is still a need to keep the air conditioner removed, then inviting a specialist will allow you to pump nitrogen into the system pipes and clog them.
Video - do-it-yourself dismantling of air conditioners
Do-it-yourself air conditioner dismantling
When carrying out repairs or moving to a new place of residence, it is sometimes necessary to remove the air conditioner. For this, professionals are usually called in, but if you wish, you can perform the procedure yourself. The process is quite complex and requires compliance certain rules and safety measures, but with sufficient care and strict adherence to the instructions to a person familiar with the technology, you can save a lot.
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Possible problems
Untrained people often make the same mistakes when trying to dismantle an air conditioner with their own hands. Such oversights in work can lead to unpleasant consequences, among which:
In most of these cases, the problem can only be solved with the help of expensive professional repair, and sometimes you may need complete replacement device.
Removing the air conditioner How to remove the air conditioner while preserving freon
Therefore, only those who are completely confident in their abilities, observe extreme care during the process and strictly follow all the rules should remove the air conditioner themselves.
Disassembling a split system without damaging anything is a rather difficult process that requires a lot of time and effort. For convenience, you can divide it yourself into several stages, each of which is worth considering in detail to take into account all the nuances.
Preparatory stage
Before you start working with the device, you should prepare a set of necessary tools. It would be desirable for this to be professional equipment, designed to work with a specific device, but ordinary devices that are available at home for everyone who at least sometimes works with household appliances person. To disassemble the air conditioner standard model, the following tools are needed:
If part of the split system is located on the wall of a high-rise building, you need to take care of equipment that allows you to reach it. If there is a window or balcony next to it, the structure can be tied with ropes and pulled in, otherwise it will be necessary to buy or rent special equipment.
Dismantling the air conditioner and then installing it in another location
Descent and collection of freon
Before removing the air conditioner from the wall, all refrigerant must be pumped out of it. To do this, it is assembled in the external block of the device. To achieve this result, you need to complete the following steps:
There are two ways to understand when all the freon has collected in the evaporator. The first is to roughly calculate the time by waiting 40-50 seconds before sealing the outdoor unit. Second: determine the pressure using a pressure gauge. The reading on it should be -1 MPa before turning off the air conditioner. This figure means that all the freon has collected in the outdoor unit, while a technical vacuum has formed in the indoor unit.
Do-it-yourself air conditioner dismantling
Removing the outdoor unit
After the freon is collected in the outdoor unit, it is necessary to disconnect the outdoor unit from the indoor unit. The process requires caution; support from an assistant is necessary, since the work will be carried out at a high altitude. Sequencing:
Instead of unscrewing the nuts from the fittings, craftsmen most often simply cut off the copper tubes at a distance of about 15 cm from them. Then their edges are bent and clamped with a vice, securely closing the passage and minimizing the likelihood of air, dust and other foreign particles getting inside. The disadvantage of this method is that after moving the air conditioner to a new location, it is necessary to cut off the bent edges and change the tubes - their extension and reuse is prohibited.
The bracket for the outdoor module is removed last, after disconnecting the freon tubes and other communications from it. internal part device. It is attached to the wall with regular bolts that can be easily unscrewed with a wrench.
Removing the indoor unit of the air conditioner
Working with the internal module
The last step is to disconnect the part of the split system that is installed indoors. At this stage, you need to dismantle the air conditioner correctly in the following order:
At this point, removal of the air conditioner can be considered complete, but do not forget to be careful when transporting the split system to a new location. If any of its parts are damaged during transportation, you can easily lose freon, and then all efforts to dismantle the device yourself will be in vain.
The device must only be transported in a durable cardboard box, all walls of which are lined with foam plastic, and then the device is wrapped in soft bubble wrap.
Dismantling in cold weather
If the temperature drops below -5 °C (this is the cooling limit for most “home” air conditioners; the figure may be different with industrial machines), then additional difficulties may arise with removing the split system. This is due to the fact that under such conditions it will not be possible to completely pump freon into the external module; part of it will have to be released into the atmosphere. In addition, when sub-zero temperature You cannot remove the plugs and open the service ports, so the device will have to be warmed up. The seals of the service valves often begin to leak due to frost.
If the air conditioner still needs to be removed, it must be outdoor module needs to be treated with a construction heat gun. Then, before the temperature drops, you need to unscrew the plugs and close the service valves - this will preserve part of the refrigerant located in the outer part of the device. After this, the device is carefully unscrewed from the pipes, allowing the remaining freon to flow out. The remaining stages of disassembly are carried out in the same way as at normal temperatures.
Professional workers, when dismantling an air conditioner in cold weather, use pressure gauge stations to extract freon, but purchasing or even renting them will cost more than the services of the craftsmen themselves. Therefore, if preserving all the refrigerant is a fundamental issue, you will need to wait for warm weather to remove the device yourself.