AC Installation Step by Step — What to Expect
Having air conditioning installed in your home or office is a straightforward process when handled by experienced professionals, but many clients are understandably curious about what happens on the day and how long everything takes. Knowing what to expect helps you prepare your space, plan your schedule and feel confident that the job is being done correctly. In this article, we walk you through the entire process from first contact to handover.
Every professional installation begins with a free on-site survey. A technician visits your property to measure the rooms, assess the building structure, check the electrical supply and discuss your preferences for indoor and outdoor unit placement. This visit typically takes 30 to 60 minutes and results in a detailed written quotation. The survey is critical because it identifies potential complications — such as long pipe runs, limited facade space or insufficient electrical capacity — before work begins, avoiding surprises on installation day.
Once you approve the quotation and the equipment is ordered, installation day is scheduled. The technician team — usually two people — arrives with all necessary tools, materials and the AC units. The first task is to confirm the exact mounting positions for the indoor and outdoor units, marking drill points on the walls. A core hole of approximately 65 mm diameter is then drilled through the exterior wall to create the passage for refrigerant pipes, electrical cables and the condensate drain line.
With the core hole in place, the indoor unit mounting plate is secured to the wall using appropriate fixings — expansion bolts for concrete or brick, and reinforced frames for plasterboard. The outdoor unit is mounted on its bracket or stand, ensuring adequate clearance for airflow and maintenance access. Copper refrigerant pipes are measured, cut, flared and connected between the two units, along with the electrical control cable and the condensate drain hose. All connections are carefully insulated and secured along the installation route.
Before refrigerant is released into the system, the installation team performs a vacuum and pressure test — one of the most important quality checks. A vacuum pump evacuates air and moisture from the piping, and a micron gauge verifies that the system holds vacuum below 500 microns for at least 15 minutes. This confirms there are no leaks and that the internal piping is completely dry. Only after a successful vacuum test are the outdoor unit service valves opened to charge the system with refrigerant.
The final stage is commissioning and handover. The technician powers on the system, runs it in both cooling and heating modes, checks the airflow temperature differential and verifies that the remote control and any Wi-Fi features are functioning correctly. You receive a demonstration of how to operate the unit, along with all documentation — including the warranty card, installation report with vacuum test results and maintenance recommendations. The entire installation for a standard single-split system typically takes between 4 and 6 hours.
After the installation team finishes, the work area is cleaned thoroughly — all drilling dust is vacuumed, packaging materials are removed and any wall penetrations are sealed with weatherproof sealant. At LeoKlima, we take pride in leaving your home exactly as we found it, with only the new AC unit as evidence that we were there. If you are ready to enjoy professional air conditioning in your space, get in touch with us to arrange your free site survey.
