Installing an air conditioner on a loggia or balcony: installation options

Installation of the visor

To protect the balcony from moisture ingress, if possible, a metal visor is attached over the window. The installation of a visor on the balcony under plastic windows is carried out at the preparatory stage, so that its structure fits tightly between the plate and the profile of the glass unit. The frame of the visor with holes for anchor bolts is welded in advance. The hole pitch is approximately 40 centimeters. We attach the frame to the wall, leveling it with a level, and mark the places for the bolts. We drill holes in the wall and fasten the frame with anchors.

Blanks of slopes and crossbars are welded to the lower surface of the visor. When everything is ready, you can start installing the roofing decking. It can be galvanized steel or other material. On the upper part of the frame, a groove is made about 6 millimeters and up to 2 centimeters deep. We install the upper edge of the roof slab in the groove, and then fasten the decking to the frame with bolts or welding. The holes are sealed with mortar.

Air conditioning on the glazed balcony

The technical requirements of its operation do not allow installing an air conditioner inside a glazed balcony, so the device will have to be taken outside, where there is enough fresh air for its normal operation.

Air conditioning on the glazed balcony

Choosing a place to install the air conditioner

It is most convenient to hang the air conditioner unit on the parapet under the window on the side, not on the front side. Being in this part of the space, it will not hurt to arrange clotheslines behind the balcony or arrange flowerpots. This will also be correct if there is a sidewalk below - since water will drip from the air conditioner in summer, it should not fall on the heads of passers-by.

Choose the side of the balcony to which it is easier to bring the communication lines to the unit (electric wires and pipes with refrigerant). It mainly depends on which wall in the room the interior of the air conditioner will be hung on, and where you will lead the track through the wall. It is also advisable to take into account the illumination of the place for the air conditioner - it is better that as little sunlight falls on it as possible.

Installation of an air conditioner on the balcony

Attaching the air conditioner on the loggia to the parapet is more difficult than to the wall of the house, since it has a weight of more than 60 kg, therefore, before installing it, you need to strengthen the balcony fence

This is also important for those considerations that during the operation of the unit there is a slight vibration, which can gradually loosen the mount and destroy the wall. Vibration can be reduced by installing a shock absorbing device that will not only reduce the risk of falling, but also reduce the noise from the device.

Air conditioner installation

The procedure for installing an air conditioner on the balcony

We break through the exit from the room to the balcony for communication wiring;
We install brackets for the outdoor unit of the air conditioner on the balcony;
We install the outer part on the mounts;
We connect both blocks with a route;
We launch the split system.

The main method of fastening to a parapet is to install it on brackets welded to the metal parts of the fence, or fixed with anchors. The upper part of the mechanism is also attached to the parapet wall, creating additional stability. During installation, be sure to leave a space of 10 cm between the air conditioner and the guardrail to protect the mechanism from overheating.

When the outdoor unit of the air conditioner on the loggia is installed in place, a track is connected to it, connecting both parts into a single system.This work requires certain knowledge and must be performed by a trained person, therefore, in order not to create additional problems for yourself, it is better to invite a specialist.

Air conditioner track

Visor device

It is impossible to completely protect the mechanism from the effects of weather conditions, but you can do what is in your power. We advise you to arrange a visor over the unit, which at least partially protects it from precipitation and, more importantly, from icicles and blocks of snow falling from the roof.

The visor can be made of any moisture-resistant material, and it should protrude 20 cm beyond the perimeter of the air conditioner.It is better to attach the visor under the window, but so that there is a space of 30 cm between it and the top of the air conditioner.If it is impossible to do this due to lack of space, do visor above the window, but wider.

Air conditioner visor

Air conditioner placement rules

In order for your split system to work correctly, you must follow the rules for installing the outdoor unit. They provide:

Installation of thermal insulation for an air conditioner or a grating for a balcony. It allows you to avoid overheating of the air on the balcony, which occurs during the operation of the split system.
Ensuring normal air circulation at the site with an outdoor unit. Ideally, such a site should be unglazed. If you managed to glaze it, during the operation of the air conditioner, you will need to open the windows on it and not close it until the air conditioner is turned off. If you are installing equipment on a parapet, this rule can be disregarded.
Installation of a chute for draining the condensate of the air conditioner (when installing the units on the wall between the room and the balcony).

Also, when installing external elements of split systems, you need to remember that they cannot be mounted end-to-end to the side walls, floor or ceiling. Such an installation will lead to the fact that the equipment will constantly overheat during operation and, as a result, quickly fail.

What does a split system consist of?

Before turning to the installation features, let's remember what parts the household appliance consists of. The design of the air conditioner is made up of two separate blocks, one of which is mounted inside the room, the second is fixed outside - on the facade of the house. The modules are interconnected by a line of copper freon tubes and electrical wires.

The principle of operation of the split system

Cooling or heating of air in a room is carried out by moving the refrigerant through the pipes, which passes from the liquid to the gaseous phase (and vice versa), absorbing or giving off heat.

According to the manufacturer's recommendations, the evaporator (indoor unit) is most often installed on a wall under the ceiling, where the air temperature reaches its maximum

Another important condition is installation next to the outer wall of the room so that the distance to the remote module is minimal. The outer part is attached to the facade, and the installation process is regulated by the requirements of SNiP 2.04.05-91 * (in the current edition)

Installation tools

Not everyone has the opportunity to spend money and call a master to glaze a balcony. You can do this yourself, since the installation technology is not complicated. In addition, self-installation of plastic windows and glazing of the balcony will allow you to track installation errors in a timely manner and correct them. You will need the following tools:

Level for measuring the horizontal plane of the window.
Plumb line with good center of gravity to adjust the vertical of the frame.
Dowels with a spacer sleeve.
Rubber hammer.
Drill.
Polyurethane foam.
Construction tape.
Wooden wedges.
Pencil.

If more than one window is installed, a sealant is applied along the edges of the frame joints, and a rail is installed on top.

What you need to know about the operation of the air conditioner

If you do the installation from scratch with your own hands, it is important to have basic knowledge of the operation of the device.

The quality of the air conditioner itself depends on the external unit: therefore, you need to approach its installation with responsibility

The split system includes 2 blocks. External, serves for compression and collection of condensate. Internal, for evaporation, heating or cooling.
The indoor unit contains a refrigerant, usually freon. The substance is supplied under pressure to the evaporator grate. The refrigerant expands in the evaporator chamber, absorbing a large amount of heat. Condensation forms and collects on the grate.
Condensate is discharged through the reservoir cavity into the lumen of the drainage tube

It is important for the user to arrange the outlet of the drain tube in such a way that the condensate drains effortlessly and does not accumulate.
The electric current operates the compressor, which is usually installed in an external unit. The compressor (pump) pumps air and pumps refrigerant vapors from the evaporator into the condensation chamber

This chamber is blown by a fan, cold air is discharged into the room and reduces the temperature in the room.

There is nothing complicated in the device of the air conditioner, just like in the installation.

Freon is a dangerous substance, and it can negatively affect human health.

How to fix frames

The principle is one: perforated metal strips and anchor screws are used.

The end sides of the bottom and top of the frame are used to fasten the strips of the calculated length. When installing the frames, a level is used, and marks are made on the wall.

Balcony fixing drawings

Now, behind the other edge of the perforated strip, the frame is attached either to the ceiling or to the wall. Dowels are used. Often, when attaching the frame to the wall, anchors are used. Then you have to drill holes in precisely defined places.

Anchor plate fasteners

Fixing corners

It is quite difficult to fix the corners when installing balcony frames. To connect and mutually fix these complex nodes, it is worth using the following techniques.

Frames are leveled

First action. An angular profile is selected.

Second action. A metal corner is installed at the corners. Its size is 8-10 cm. Frames are attached to it.

Third action. The frames are fixed on a wooden block. It is masked after installation using plastic panels on the inside and outside.

Fourth action. Once the frames are in place, gaps will need to be bridged between their profiles and walls. These cracks are "caulked" with polyurethane foam.

Is it possible to install an air conditioner on a loggia

In professional vocabulary, the whole complex of technical equipment of an air conditioner is called a split system.

The outdoor unit should always be taken out of the living space, that is, outside the perimeter of the loggia.

Installation of the outdoor unit is carried out in compliance with safety precautions:

Fastening to strong corners;
Use of long and reliable brackets that are matched to the weight of the unit.

The most popular outdoor unit locations:

On the facade of a residential building;
On an open loggia;
On the open balcony.

If you have an open balcony or loggia, then the external unit can be installed even on the balcony itself

If the room of the balcony or loggia is glazed, then you need to consider it in the same way as any residential one and carry out the removal of the block outside the perimeter. In the choice of fastening equipment, in addition to the weight load, it is necessary to take into account the effect of the wind. There are cases when an unscrupulous fastening of the external block led to the fact that gusts of strong wind tore off the block, it fell from the height of a multi-storey building and caused damage to cars parked below, inflicted injuries incompatible with life. In this case, the owner of the air conditioner will pay for the repair of the machine and be responsible for the accident. The Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Emergency Situations regularly publish reviews on such precedents.

In order not to get into an unpleasant situation, you need to take a responsible attitude to the fastening of the external unit.

When is the approval of balcony glazing necessary?

There are a number of cases in which obtaining a permit is mandatory, these include:

increasing the load on the supporting plate or other supporting structures. This aspect is relevant for Khrushchevs, Stalin's buildings, old buildings and those buildings in which the floor slab is in an unsatisfactory condition;

permission to glazing a balcony with a take-out. If the removal (expansion) is carried out along the slab or by more than 300 mm along the parapet (removal along the windowsill);

blocking access to fire escapes, which were installed on balconies in buildings of the 80-90s model;

a significant change in the degree of illumination in the room. Sometimes, as a protective structure, not double-glazed windows are installed on the balcony, but walls are erected from foam concrete or plastic lining (siding or other facing materials) is mounted;

changing the facade of the building affects the interests of neighbors and causes their displeasure (Art. 4. LC RF);

the need to sell real estate. In this case, the data from the technical passport and the actual condition of the housing will be compared;

the need to use real estate as collateral when obtaining a loan.

The most interesting thing in judicial practice, when they try to legitimize an illegally glazed balcony, the court does not always make the same decisions, appealing to different regulations.

Therefore, today, companies that carry out the installation of glazing on the balcony and give a guarantee for their work are guided by the rule that an increase in the balcony / loggia by less than 300 mm can be done without approval.

In all other cases, including the removal of the balcony on the ground floor, it is required to have a permit on hand before planning the arrangement of additional space.

However, you need to know how to get permission in all other cases.

Phased glazing of the loggia (balcony)

Separate rules should be followed when glazing a loggia and a balcony. On the loggia, it is customary to glaze only one side, but the balcony frames are installed three-sided. Each element of such a structure should be designed correctly, and at the corners, adjacent parts should be securely connected.

The structural elements of the front end have the maximum weight and size. They are also inherent in sailing.

Therefore, the structure is installed with extreme care, immediately rigidly fixing:

to the balcony parapet;
to the visor (possibly to the slab of the upper floor balcony).

Frame blocks are offered in a ready-made form. But if the balcony is non-standard, the manufacture of the structure can be ordered at the factory. However, the measurer will first determine the exact dimensions of the balconies. When the blocks are ready, you can install them yourself.

How to glaze the frame

The polyurethane foam must dry completely. Then its surplus is cut off. At this stage, double-glazed windows are installed in euro frames. And if this is an ordinary wooden structure, then glass is inserted.

Installation technique for double-glazed windows

The frames are already there, it remains to insert the double-glazed windows. First, you should put pads in the inner part of the frame (from below). On one side, the gasket will slightly protrude beyond the perimeter of the glass unit. And this is correct, since otherwise the hammering of the glazing bead on the glass can split the fragile part. When the glazing bead clogs, the gasket will fit on its own.

Mounting on anchor plates

Now, on top of the gaskets, the double-glazed window should be installed very carefully. To make it convenient to work, professional masters use special suction cups. With their help, this heavy element can be lifted without unnecessary effort in order to insert it into the frame opening.

After installing the glass unit, the glazing beads are hammered using a wooden hammer.Gaps are provided for glazing beads, into which they must be inserted tightly. With their help, the glass unit will be securely pressed against the frame.

Fixing the glass unit with glazing beads

After the installation of the double-glazed window is completed:

install a window sill;
insulate the floor, ceiling, walls.

Wooden frame glazing rules

Fixing the wooden frame

You need to prepare:

wooden glazing beads;
rubber spatula;
glass of the right size;
sealant (putty).

According to general rules, glass is fixed with glazing beads, nailed in the window opening from the outside. This helps prevent moisture from entering the room. But if the balcony is glazed on the second floor and above, this technique is difficult to apply.

A modern sealant is now used to seal the gaps between the glass and the frame.

Video: Do-it-yourself balcony glazing, installation of a window sill and siding:

What does glazing warm and cold mean?

The balcony can be glazed cold or warm. Both types of glazing provide for the use of both conventional wooden frames and modern ones.

Cold glazing

With cold glazing, wooden frames with ordinary glass or euro frames with one sealed glass are installed. This design is suitable for a situation where the balcony does not become a living space and is not used all year round.

There should be no special requirements for maintaining a moderately warm temperature for such a room. Frames help to neatly arrange this room, slightly protect it from street noise. It is also protected from wind and dust.

With cold glazing, no auxiliary insulation measures are taken. However, you can improve the comfort of the balcony as follows: wood flooring is laid on the floor.

Glazing in the insulated version will be required in a situation where the loggia (balcony) is combined with any room. Then the room should be necessarily insulated with some kind of heat-insulating material.

Warm glazing

It is necessary to change the layout of the premises. The frames are installed with special double-glazed windows - triple-glazed. Warm balcony enhancements are costly and skillful.

Euroglass

You can choose any type of Euro-glazing. You will need to purchase frames with thermal inserts. These elements are placed between the glass unit and the profile. There can be two or one vacuum chambers in a glass unit. The choice depends on the region, that is, on the weather conditions.

Single and double glazing

What to consider when choosing a place to install the air conditioner

It is important to place the outdoor unit in such a way that it is supplied with a sufficient volume of air from the street, is accessible for maintenance, protected from bad weather and the sun, securely fixed and does not cause inconvenience to the tenants of the apartment and their neighbors.

Installation of an external air conditioner unit inside a glazed balcony is unacceptable. The space is too small for normal air exchange, it will quickly heat up, leading to damage to the equipment. Some systems are equipped with a safety shutdown at temperatures above +40 ° C, but this will reduce the efficiency. Even wide-open windows will not solve the problem, so installation inside the balcony is not recommended by professionals.

Installation of equipment on the facade of a building is an obvious way, but it is not always possible to implement it. Cases where wall mounting is not suitable:

air conditioner spoils the facade of the house;
the building is of historical value and installation of equipment is prohibited;
building structures or type of finishing do not allow fixing the system;
installation is prohibited by the management company or the building owner.

In all these cases, you will have to place the air conditioner on the outside of the glazed balcony.

When determining the specific location of the unit, the following features should be taken into account:

Pipe and wire lines run between the condenser and the evaporator. To make the operation of the air conditioner energy efficient, the distance between the elements of the system should be reduced. After all, the longer the length of the copper pipes, the higher the cost of electricity and equipment wear.
The outdoor unit must be hidden from wind, direct sunlight, rain and tree branches. A canopy made of durable sheet materials will do. The space under the visor should be quite large.
Condensation formed during operation must be removed from the building wall, so that it does not cause discomfort to the residents of the lower floors and pedestrians. Ideally, the plastic pipe for condensate drainage should be introduced into the sewer system, but this is very costly.
Another important criterion for choosing a location is the accessibility of the unit for servicing by air conditioning specialists. It is better to mount where there is an opening sash in the construction of the windows on the balcony.
The condenser, depending on the model, can weigh from 20 to 60 kg, therefore, you should check the reliability of the balcony parapets and walls to which the glazing is adjacent, if necessary, strengthen it.

Specialists and users of split systems do not recommend mounting an outdoor unit even on an open loggia. Since the air conditioner steals an already small space and will not allow further glazing without reinstallation.

Air conditioning on the balcony: how to install correctly

The installation of the air conditioner on the balcony must be done in such a way that the supply of fresh air is uninterruptedly provided to it. The outdoor unit must be installed in such a way that it is located behind the balcony. This is easy to do if the balcony is open and there is no glazing installed.

On a glazed balcony

Installing an air conditioner on a glazed balcony is somewhat more difficult than on an open one.

It is difficult to install an air conditioner on a glazed balcony, because climatic equipment inside the structures cannot be normally operated according to technical conditions (lack of fresh air).

The air conditioner unit is best placed under the window unit, only not on the front, but on the side. This arrangement of the block allows you to take out drying systems, flower boxes and other decorative attributes of decorating the front of the balcony outside the balcony.

The air conditioner should be strengthened in such a way as to minimize the risk of water ingress on the building structure or blind area. It is customary to fix the working unit behind the balcony, if it is glazed, on solid supports (the bracket must be made of galvanized steel to eliminate the risk of corrosion).

The air conditioner on the first floor loggia should be suspended from the side from which it is most convenient to lead the electrical cable to connect the HVAC unit

It is important to observe the shortest cable length between the outdoor and indoor units of the equipment.

Fencing revision

The unit can only be hung on a solid base.

Very often the glazing of the balcony is carried out without replacing the fence, or with a slight strengthening of the structures, so the external block of the air conditioner or split system cannot be mounted without first strengthening the fence.

Strengthening balcony railings must be done for the following reasons:

Significant weight of the block and supporting structures - the weight of the equipment can reach over 60 kg.
Increased vibration - during the operation of the equipment, significant vibration is possible, which can serve as an additional load on fragile railings.

The longer the equipment is in use, the more the fastenings in the walls are loosened, a significant level of noise from the operating unit is created.

It is possible to reduce vibration - it is necessary to install reliable shock absorbers that will significantly reduce the risk of equipment collapse and reduce the noise level.

Unglazed loggia or balcony

Block layout

Installation of an air conditioner on a loggia or balcony that does not have external glazing is much simplified. In this case, there is an undeniable advantage - the unit can be placed directly on the load-bearing wall, which is already protected from adverse influences by the second floor balcony slab.

In the case of choosing such an arrangement, the working unit will be located in the fresh air, but in the most comfortable conditions:

Sun shading.
Protection against atmospheric precipitation.
Stronger base for fixing the support platform under the block (main wall).
The smallest distance between the outdoor and indoor units of the climate system.
If the balcony is not glazed, maintenance of the air conditioner is facilitated; during the summer, you can take full care of the outdoor unit several times, cleaning it of dust and accumulated debris.
Safety - it is easier for the owner to make sure that the air conditioner will be damaged by vandals, if it is fixed on his own territory, and not outside it.

We recommend watching a video on how to properly mount an air conditioner with a block on a loggia with your own hands.

Installation of an external block inside a glazed loggia

This case is more complicated, and most experts advise against mounting the outer part of the split system on a glazed balcony. The advantages here are the same as when installing on an open loggia, but there are a number of disadvantages:

According to fire safety requirements, during the operation of the air conditioner, at least three windows must be open, with one of them opposite the outdoor unit.
The air on the loggia will be very hot, this can harm the decoration and the split system, and also reduce the efficiency of work - through the glass, heat is transferred back to the room.
When the temperature rises to 40-45 ° C, the air conditioner will automatically turn off, and if this does not happen, it may break.

Considering these factors, it is better not to install on a glazed loggia. But this is possible if there are no other options.

When installing inside a glazed loggia, it is important to correctly think over the ventilation

Window sill installation

As a rule, all window sills are standard in width and length, with a small margin for correction. For non-standard window sizes, window sills are made to order. If the space of the loggia allows, we install a wide window sill. Subsequently, it will be possible to put something on it, for example, pots of flowers or books. The space under the windowsill can also be used profitably by installing built-in lockers, or equipping a workplace.

We think in advance what the space under the window will be. Or we install the frame of the cabinet, or we carry out the finishing of the balcony along the ledge of the window sill. We prepare the base, cleaning it from dust, filling all the voids with foam. We cut the countertop to fit the window so that it goes under the slopes by about one centimeter. Then the window sill is installed on the plastic windows on the balcony, if necessary, wooden wedges are placed. We level the surface with a level, with a slight slope up to 10 millimeters. This will prevent moisture from entering under the base of the window.

The sill board can be fixed in several ways:

Polyurethane foam.
Cement mortar.
L-shaped brackets.
Spring brackets. They are attached to the profile under the window, and the bracket firmly presses the sill to the window.
If you lean the window sill directly against the window frame, then an adhesive mixture is applied under the base of the board. And the joint with the window is sealed with sealant.

When all the work is done, the cracks are filled with foam, we put a load of about 10 kilograms on the tabletop, check the slope of the surface and leave it to dry.

The main pros and cons of installing an air conditioner on the balcony

Installing an outdoor air conditioner unit inside a balcony has the following advantages:

System mounting is greatly simplified.
Additional protection against harmful environmental influences and accidental mechanical damage is not required.
The split system will start up quickly, since the length of the freon line will be minimal.
Drainage fluid will be required in small amounts.
For cleaning and maintenance of the split system, access will be free.

The main thing is to remember that climatic equipment should be operated only under conditions of the necessary heat exchange and free access to the environment.

Among the disadvantages of placing climatic equipment on the balcony, it should be noted:

The need to constantly keep the windows on the loggia or balcony open.
The external block of the split system requires a special outlet of the air heated during the operation of the equipment.
The heat coming from the glass of the window-balcony unit requires an increased power of the air conditioner.
The external unit of the split system, located on the glazed balcony, will often automatically turn off after warming up to +45 ° C, reducing the durability of the unit.
The noises of a working air conditioner will be heard in the adjoining room, which will disturb the peace of the tenants.
The split-system condensing unit, mounted on the bracket system, is a massive structure that will create certain inconveniences on a small balcony or loggia.

This also includes the transfer of the outdoor unit from the balcony to the facade of the house. In this case, significant material costs will be required in conjunction with labor-intensive work.