Pre-ducting is one of the best ways to save unnecessary expenses and corrections if you know in advance that you want air conditioning in your apartment under construction or renovation. Why?
In the case where pre-piping is possible, it means that there is no need to demolish walls and create other construction "damage" during installation. Because, as the name implies, the pipes needed to operate the air conditioner are pre-installed, thus integrating it into the construction workflow.
In the case of a new dwelling, the installation of air conditioning systems is usually considered at the planning stage and at least the possibility is created in principle that the air conditioning system does not require wiring or splitting the masonry of the dwelling already occupied. There are many advantages to pre-piping, as it takes only a few hours to install the air conditioners at the end point and even the entire dwelling can be easily fitted with equipment. The pre-piping should be done while the walls are still bare, at the same time as the electricity is being installed and with the help of the plumber, who will then place the air conditioning terminals in the agreed position and install the ducts in the groove in the wall, then plaster and paint.
In the case of pre-piping, if the air conditioner is not immediately installed on the pipes, the end point can be sealed in a junction box, which can be painted, wallpapered and even years later, the air conditioner can be installed, just by removing the top of the box.
It is very important to drain the condensation water properly when pre-piping the air conditioner, because at this stage you can even drain the condensation water in the floor to the nearest water drain. Care must be taken to avoid a stagnant section in the drip water, as the soapy, greasy waste water from using the drains can completely block the air conditioning condensate drain, and the owner will only notice that the water is not draining from the interior, but dripping down the wall. Unblocking the blockage can be a very expensive job, and may even involve major demolition work, completely unblocking the entire pipe section until the blockage can be located and repaired.
In the case of an already occupied dwelling, pre-piping is only recommended in conjunction with renovation work, because in a furnished room, chiseling it in is not the most optimal solution because of the dust generated. It is therefore usually a good idea to have the air conditioning ducts installed in the wall in one go, before painting and during the electrical installation.
It is important to note that pre-piping is not possible in panels - as the concrete wall itself is a static element - so it is not possible to split load-bearing walls, only individual partitions. The thickness of the wall is very critical, a minimum wall thickness of 10, but preferably 15 cm is recommended, as the pipes also need to be plastered, so if there is not enough material thickness, the thin plaster can later crack over the piping.
A very important practical tip to start with: always install the air conditioner by the person who pre-piped it! This is mainly important for a perfect result and to take responsibility after the work, not to mention the warranty!
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