Moving an Air Conditioner: Split Units, Pipes and Reinstallation

The new flat is ready and the air conditioner is still bolted to the wall of the old one. Someone suggests unscrewing it with a spanner and putting it on the van. That is the quickest way to leave a good AC sitting in a corner of the new place, not working.

An air conditioner is a sealed system with pipes, electrics and a refrigerant gas. Moving it well is mostly about who disconnects it and how the parts are carried.

Get the right person to remove a split unit

A split unit has an indoor part on the wall and an outdoor part with a compressor, joined by copper pipes and cables. The gas in those pipes should be handled by an AC technician, who will usually pump the refrigerant into the outdoor unit before disconnecting the pipes. A person who removes it without doing that risks losing the gas and damaging the unit.

So hire a technician for both ends: one to take it down and one to put it up. Ask them to protect the pipe ends, and follow the manufacturer's guidance on moving the unit and on how long to wait before switching on.

A window unit is simpler to take out, but it is also heavy. Two people should handle it, and it should be kept upright.

Pack each part

1. Indoor unit: wrap it in cloth or bubble wrap, keep the front panel closed and tape it. Put it in its original box if you still have it.
2. Outdoor unit: wrap the casing, protect the fan and coil with cardboard and keep the valves covered.
3. Remote, brackets, screws and the drain pipe: put them in a labelled bag and tape it to the indoor unit.
4. Copper pipes: if they are being reused, coil them gently without kinks and cap the ends. Many technicians prefer to replace pipes, so ask.

Carry the outdoor unit upright

The compressor in the outdoor unit does not like being turned upside down or laid flat for a long time. Keep it upright as far as you can, held against the side of the vehicle and strapped so it cannot tip. Do not stack anything on top of it.

If it has to go on its side for part of the trip, the manufacturer's guidance may recommend a waiting period before it is switched on again. Ask your technician or read the manual.

The indoor unit is lighter but easier to damage. Put it in a spot where cartons cannot press on it, and keep it away from water in the rainy season. Our guide to rainy season moves in Lagos explains how to cover a load.

Plan the route and the stairs

Outdoor units are often mounted outside windows or on balconies, and bringing them down takes planning. Make sure your technician and helpers know the route, and clear the stairs before anything is lifted. Do not carry a unit by the pipes or the fan guard. For heavy lifts, use two or more people and follow the basic points in our guide on lifting heavy items safely.

If you are in a high-rise, check the lift access and the building rules first.

At the new place

Before the technician arrives, decide where the indoor and outdoor units will go, and check the power supply and the socket. Make sure the wall can take the weight of the bracket. After installation, ask the technician to test cooling and check for leaks and drainage before they go.

Do not run the unit on a damaged or overloaded socket. If the power at the new place is unreliable, speak to your technician about protection for the unit.

How to do this on Sphere

1. Choose a pickup van for one or two units, or a truck if you are moving a whole flat.
2. Add the pickup and drop-off, with the floor and access details.
3. Describe the load and mention the air conditioner, whether it is a split or a window unit and whether the technician will be present.
4. Propose your price. Nearby verified drivers accept it or send a counter-offer, and you choose.
5. Agree loading help with the driver before you accept an offer.

See house moving in Lagos and van hire in Lagos for more.