Upgrading and renovating a property can provide some unusual problems for any type of
air conditioning
. This is particularly the case in older properties, where a range of structural and other issues may affect internal environmental management. If you're thinking of installing any modern air conditioning, even the most
basic reverse cycle air conditioner, there are a few issues which aren't obvious and will need to be managed. Air conditioning can't work at its best in a building environment which is already compromised by deterioration. To get the best out of your air conditioning, it's necessary to do a full upgrade of the premises.
There are a variety of potentially major problems with older buildings in relation to installing air conditioning. The most common problems for developers when upgrading are:
Poorly sealed rooms and windows. The lack of proper seals naturally affects the entire building’s climate management and reduces the efficiency of air conditioning.
- Antiquated wiring and fuse boxes. Old wiring is a fundamental safety hazard. It's definitely necessary to remove old electrical fittings when installing modern air conditioning, particularly in the "smart house" types of design, where totally different types of technology can be put at risk by these old types of wiring and electrical boards.
- Floors and ceilings. Many types of flooring, particularly floating (raised) floors, deteriorate over time and become dust traps affecting the internal environment and atmosphere. Ceiling gaps can produce dust and sometimes quite large temperature variations.
- Mould. Mould and mould spores can be prolific in the atmosphere, and are dangerous to buildings as they are to people. Moulds can produce enormous quantities of airborne spores, which can be a serious health hazard to some people, particularly asthmatics.
In terms of air conditioning, each of these issues needs to be systematically addressed.
- Seals – Best practice is to replace all building seals on the premises. This ensures environmental integrity and will also locate any structural weak spots that may be vulnerable to moisture or other threats.
- Wiring and fuse boxes – Most electricians will tell you to replace the old wiring and fittings "on principle", with good reason. These old fittings become unstable over time, often suffering from corrosion or buildup of dust. In either case, wiring becomes an instant fire hazard, perfectly capable of destroying the building and damaging equipment. It's simply not worth the risk.
- Floors and ceilings – Generally speaking the most common repairs simply involve resealing and replacement of damaged areas of these surfaces. The safest approach is to ensure that there are no holes or gaps leading directly outside.
- Mould – The one and only good thing about mould is that it shows you where the problems are. A thorough building inspection should be carried out prior to conducting any upgrade work.
Installing your air conditioning
After these works have been carried out, installation of air conditioning can now proceed. If you're thinking of installing a ducted air conditioner or the new generation of highly advanced air conditioning units, you'll soon appreciate why the meticulous attention to detail was required. These extremely efficient systems work best in a sealed environment. Your hard work will be worth it.
