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With the continual rise in temperature in most Indian cities over the past decade, air conditioners are no longer a luxury. With ACs becoming a mere necessity, one of the most critical considerations when installing them is their location, because finding the best location for an AC is critical to ensuring its optimal functioning and saving you electricity.
Well, you cannot change the location of your room or change the thickness of the wall, but deciding the best position for the AC unit is in your hands! So, let us understand where to place the AC in your room. Gharpedia brings you tips and tricks about the best AC placement in your house.
Make sure to check out our video on how to select the best location for AC.
Points to Consider for Selecting the Best Location for AC Unit
Whether you own a window AC or a split AC, locate it, considering the following factors:
1. Height of the Air Conditioner Indoor Unit
For any area, the anthropometry of the human body determines the height at which an AC indoor unit should be installed. A human body experiences a comfortable temperature when the torso recieves the airflow. So, according to the anthropometry, we experience the air which is at height 3ft to 5ft from ground. Therefore, it is recommended to place the AC at this height for optimum cooling.
We know that the cool air tends to settle down, while the hot air tends to rise. So, placing the AC at a higher elevation helps in achieving this natural cycle of air flow.
I. Considerations for Window AC
We install a window AC in the window openings. Usually, the sill of the window is at a height of 3-4ft from the floor. The air diffuser of the window AC unit is at the centre of the unit. So, there is a straight flow of air from the AC unit. Therefore, the ideal height to fix a window AC is between 3ft – 4ft (0.9 -1.2m) above the floor level.
II. Considerations for Split AC
The indoor unit of split AC projects out from the wall surface in the room. So, we recommend installing the AC unit at a height more than human height to avoid any obstruction. But we need cool air at a lower level than human height. Thus, the designers of AC have designed the air diffuser of split AC at the bottom of the unit, giving us the optimal air throw in a downward direction.
So, for rooms of any height, fix the indoor unit of a split AC at a height between 7ft – 8ft (2.1m – 2.4m) from the floor. Leave a minimum of four inches (100mm) height above the false ceiling or the slab to allow the return air to penetrate the AC.
Understanding the airflow diagram for a split AC, cool air from an AC flows down and creates a comfort zone in the space below. The hot air being the lighter one travels up to the top of the AC unit. The circulation keeps on going, while the AC is working, and thus creates a comfortable temperature in the room.
Another key issue is to make sure that your air conditioner’s indoor unit is not placed immediately above electrical appliances like televisions; if the unit leaks, this could pose a serious hazard.
Confused while selecting split AC or window AC? We have a detailed article to clear up your confusion:
Window AC vs Split AC: Make a Right Choice!!!
2. Planning the Best Position of AC According to the Furniture Arrangement:
We recommend you place an AC unit in the centre of the room to maintain the symmetry of your room, which helps in distribution of cooling air throughout the room.
In some exceptional spaces, we recommend placing home AC units according to the window openings and furniture layout of the room. For example, for a layout having an asymmetrical sitting arrangement, we recommend placing the home AC unit in the centre of the sitting arrangement. Also, see that it does not throw cool flow directly at the person sitting towards it!
3. Installing Indoor Unit at an Angel
While attaching the aluminium bracket to the wall, ensure that you tilt the bracket slightly so that the indoor unit of the split AC, when installed, is likewise tilted slightly to allow unrestricted flow of condensed water from the drain pipe.
4. Distance of Outdoor AC Unit from Indoor Unit
Install the AC outdoor unit in an open space to dissipate the heat from the condenser. The proper spacing between the indoor and outdoor units is critical for cooling. Coolant at extremely low temperatures flows inside the copper tubes that connect the inside and outdoor split air conditioning systems. When the refrigerant moves between the units, the cooling impact on the atmosphere reduces and to limit this loss, keep the distance between the interior and outside split AC units to a minimum. The maximum distance between split AC indoor and outdoor units is approximately 15 meters.
5. Best Location for AC Outdoor Unit
Install the outdoor unit of the split AC on a flat, sturdy surface. This unit contains critical components such as the compressor, condenser, fan motor, and so on. If the unit is not on a flat surface, it will vibrate rigorously, potentially causing copper pipe breakage, coolant leaking, and compressor/condenser damage. Furthermore, the vibrating device produces a lot of noise, which may annoy you and your neighbours.
The best location for an AC outdoor unit is in an open space, preferably on a terrace, so that air may freely flow over the compressor and condenser. Place the outdoor unit in a location that allows for easy maintenance of the compressor, condenser, and other devices. There should be no obstructions in front of the outdoor unit that would prevent fan air from traveling into the open space. Any blockages will have a negative impact on the AC’s performance and may even cause the hermetically sealed compressor coil to burn out.
Keeping the air conditioner out of direct sunlight can help to decrease the load. A shaded spot would make an ideal site. In ideal circumstances, the air conditioner should be put on the north or east side of your property, where it may naturally shade your air conditioning unit from the sun during the warmest portion of the day. The second-best alternative is to sit in the shade of a tree, especially one that drops little debris.
6. Placing the AC with Ease of Water Drainage
The condensed water drains out of the indoor AC unit while it is working. Locate the indoor AC unit in such a way that draining the condensed water is less cumbersome.
Conclusion
To achieve a proper cooling effect, it is mandatory to install AC at the best location. However, the best location of an AC unit varies from room to room depending upon the layout of a room, the openings in a room, and the airflow from the AC. It is necessary to consider all aspects before deciding where to install AC in a room. After all, air conditioners are not portable, like water coolers. Your decision will save you money as well as give you the best comfort.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Best Location for AC
1. What is the Best Location to Install an Air Conditioner?
Depending on a room’s layout, openings, and airflow, different rooms have different ideal locations for air conditioners. When choosing where to put air conditioning in a room, all factors must be taken into account, while also accounting the type of air conditioner.
2. What is the Ideal Height for Installing an AC Unit?
For window AC, the ideal height for installation is between 3ft – 4ft (0.9 -1.2m) above the floor level. For the indoor unit of a split AC, the ideal height for installation is between 7ft – 8ft (2.1m – 2.4m) from the floor. Leave a minimum of four inches (100mm) height above the false ceiling or the slab to allow the return air to penetrate the AC.
3. What is Ideal Location for Placing Outdoor AC Unit?
An ideal outdoor unit for an air conditioner is situated in an open space, preferably on a terrace, to allow air to flow freely. It should be free from obstructions, ensuring easy maintenance. The outdoor air conditioner should be kept out of direct sunlight.
4. In Which Direction Should an AC be Installed?
The north or east side of your home is the best place to install an air conditioner since it will naturally shade the unit from the sun during the hottest part of the day.
5. How Much Clearance is Required Around an Air Conditioning Unit?
There should be a free clearance of at least 5 inches (125mm) from the side of the indoor AC unit installation and clearance of at least 12 inches (300mm) from the top of the indoor AC unit for proper air circulation.
Before installing a new air conditioner check out our AC installation guide:
Things to Check While AC Installation!
Author Bio
Urnit Kaur – Urnit Kaur is an Architect based in Ahmedabad. She loves Design challenges and it helps her client’s to bring their thoughts into reality. She has been passionately involved in Architecture from designing projects to managing them on site since 2014. She has been part of Ahmedabad Heritage Dossier project, designing ISRO Bopal campus and currently working on other varied scale projects with Aakruti Architects. With her rich experience in field work, she shares tips and facts in her blogs about Architecture, Interior and MEP services. She believes learning should never stop, so she has developed a hobby of creating colorful home décor items by experimenting different materials and aesthetics.
