Installing and Maintaining an HVAC System

Why Only Professionals Should Install HVAC Pipework

26 June 2017

Aaron Kennedy

Are you considering doing your own pipework installation for the air conditioning system in a home extension? Read on and discover some of the considerations that professionals base upon to select where those pipes should be placed. Use this information to make an informed decision about your suitability to conduct this technical task on your own.

Impact on Existing Supports

HVAC pipework can be installed onto existing supports, such as the steel framework within the roof space. However, the installer needs to first evaluate whether those supports have the capacity to take on the added weight of the new duct work. This consideration puts into account the weight of the conditioned air that will be flowing through those pipes. Do you have the capacity to make the right decision about the ability of those supports to take that added load?

Ease of Maintenance and Service

Professional installers of HVAC pipework also look for locations that will enable technicians and homeowners to maintain the system without any undue hazards. For example, it may be hard for a professional to install ductwork in a poorly ventilated crawlspace. This is because that person predicts that such an environment poses asphyxiation risks to anyone who may try to get into that poorly ventilated space in order to fix a leak or attach insulation. Can you anticipate all the future maintenance needs of your system before you install the piping?

Impact on Other Services

It is also standard practice for HVAC installers to assess how the pipework that they wish to install may affect or be affected by other services in that building. For example, they try to avoid installing the pipes close to electrical wires. This is because any defect in that piping can create an electrical hazard, such as a fire that starts when condensation on HVAC ducts triggers a short circuit in damaged electrical wires. Do you have the capacity to select pipe installation sites where other services will not be affected by those HVAC pipes?

Impact of Different Codes

The installation of HVAC piping should conform to various regulations and codes, such as fire safety regulations. The pipes should not be installed in a way that reduces the fire resistance of existing structures. Do you know the different local codes that you should not violate as you install those HVAC pipes?

It may be too risky for you to undertake the task of installing those pipes on your own as a layperson. Let the professionals handle that job so that you avoid making a mistake that may cause various problems later.

Share

Search