During the hot summer months, a split system air conditioner is an excellent way to keep your home cool and comfortable. Ducts are not necessary for this type of air conditioner. All you have to do is put the cooling unit within and the compressor and capacitor unit outside, then connect them with pipes and an electrical cable. If you have a little experience with electrical and plumbing work and don’t want to pay a professional to download a split system air conditioner, you can do it yourself. Each air conditioner is made by a different company, but the general process for installing them is the same.

Mount the indoor unit on an unobstructed wall

To get the pipes from the indoor unit to an outdoor unit, you’ll have to cut a hole in the wall. Make sure the spot you choose will let you do this. For the best results, choose a spot far from direct sunlight and sources of heat. Mount the unit 7 feet (2.1 m) above the floor and leave at least 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) of space on all sides to let air flow properly.

  • Choose a spot with studs to make sure the wall can retain the mass of the unit.
  • Configure the unit at least 3.3 feet (1.0 m) aside from antennas and power or connection lines for TV, radio, home security systems, intercoms, or phones. Your air conditioner could have trouble working if this kind of electrical noise comes from these sources.
  • Stay away from places where gas might leak or where there is oil mist or sulfur.

Attach the mounting plate to the wall inside the house

Hold the rising plate against the ceiling where you want to put the indoor unit. Make sure it is level both vertically and horizontally by using a level. Mark the screw holes with a pencil, take the plate off, and drill a hole into the wall in which each screw will go.

  • Put the plate where the holes are, put plastic anchors in the holes, and then use tapping screws to hold the plate to the wall.

To allow you to feed the pipes outside, drill a 3 in (7.6 cm) hole through wall

Mark the hole with a mounting plate in the middle. Use a keyhole saw or a drill with such a hole-cutting attachment to make a 3 in (7.6 cm)-diameter circular hole in the wall that slopes down slightly toward the ground to allow water to drain properly.

  • Before you drill or cut the hole, ensure that there are no pipes or wires behind the wall.

Attach the inside unit to the mounting plate

To attach the air conditioner to the wall, just line up the female links on the unit’s back with the male connections just on the mounting plate and press hard to secure the unit in place. Make sure the unit leans back about 2 to 3 degrees so that the water can flow through the drain pipe.

  • Having a friend hold this same unit in place while you make the connections could be helpful.

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