Air Conditioner Pipe Length & Sizing Calculator

Calculate proper refrigerant pipe diameter and maximum length for air conditioner installation. Determine liquid and suction line sizes based on cooling capacity.

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The rated cooling output of your air conditioning unit. Higher capacity units require larger diameter pipes to handle increased refrigerant flow and maintain efficiency.
BTU
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The type of refrigerant gas used in your AC system. Different refrigerants have varying pressure characteristics that affect pipe sizing requirements and maximum allowable distances.
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The vertical distance between indoor and outdoor units. Greater height differences create additional pressure drop that limits maximum pipe length and affects refrigerant circulation.
meters
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The horizontal distance between indoor and outdoor units. Longer horizontal runs add resistance to refrigerant flow and must be factored into total pipe length calculations.
meters
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The difficulty level of the pipe routing path. Complex installations with multiple bends and obstacles require additional considerations for pressure drop and installation labor costs.
?
The cost of copper refrigerant pipe per meter including insulation. This helps estimate total material expenses for your AC installation project.
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Results
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Liquid Line Diameter
The required inner diameter for the high-pressure liquid refrigerant pipe. This smaller diameter pipe carries condensed refrigerant from the outdoor unit to the indoor evaporator.
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Suction Line Diameter
The required inner diameter for the low-pressure suction refrigerant pipe. This larger diameter pipe returns vaporized refrigerant from the indoor unit back to the compressor.
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Maximum Pipe Length
The maximum allowable total pipe length for your AC system based on manufacturer specifications and refrigerant type. Exceeding this distance will reduce cooling efficiency and may cause system failure.
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Total Pipe Length Required
The calculated total length of refrigerant piping needed for your installation including horizontal and vertical runs. Use this to order sufficient pipe materials and plan installation routing.
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Estimated Pipe Installation Cost
The estimated material cost for refrigerant pipes based on required lengths and per-meter pricing. This does not include labor costs for installation work.
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System Efficiency Factor
A percentage indicating expected cooling efficiency based on pipe length and configuration. Lower values indicate greater efficiency loss due to long pipe runs or elevation differences.
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Air Conditioner Pipe Length & Sizing Calculator

This calculator determines the correct refrigerant pipe diameters and maximum lengths for air conditioner installations. Proper pipe sizing is critical for maintaining AC efficiency, preventing compressor damage, and ensuring adequate cooling performance. Enter your system specifications to get recommended liquid and suction line diameters, verify your installation distances are within acceptable limits, and estimate material costs. Using incorrectly sized pipes or exceeding maximum length specifications can lead to reduced efficiency, increased energy costs, and premature equipment failure.

Input Parameters Explained

Parameter
Description
Cooling Capacity
The rated cooling output of your air conditioning unit. Higher capacity units require larger diameter pipes to handle increased refrigerant flow and maintain efficiency.
Refrigerant Type
The type of refrigerant gas used in your AC system. Different refrigerants have varying pressure characteristics that affect pipe sizing requirements and maximum allowable distances.
Elevation Difference
The vertical distance between indoor and outdoor units. Greater height differences create additional pressure drop that limits maximum pipe length and affects refrigerant circulation.
Horizontal Distance
The horizontal distance between indoor and outdoor units. Longer horizontal runs add resistance to refrigerant flow and must be factored into total pipe length calculations.
Installation Complexity
The difficulty level of the pipe routing path. Complex installations with multiple bends and obstacles require additional considerations for pressure drop and installation labor costs.
Pipe Material Cost per Meter
The cost of copper refrigerant pipe per meter including insulation. This helps estimate total material expenses for your AC installation project.

Understanding Your Results

Result
What It Means
Liquid Line Diameter
The required inner diameter for the high-pressure liquid refrigerant pipe. This smaller diameter pipe carries condensed refrigerant from the outdoor unit to the indoor evaporator.
Suction Line Diameter
The required inner diameter for the low-pressure suction refrigerant pipe. This larger diameter pipe returns vaporized refrigerant from the indoor unit back to the compressor.
Maximum Pipe Length
The maximum allowable total pipe length for your AC system based on manufacturer specifications and refrigerant type. Exceeding this distance will reduce cooling efficiency and may cause system failure.
Total Pipe Length Required
The calculated total length of refrigerant piping needed for your installation including horizontal and vertical runs. Use this to order sufficient pipe materials and plan installation routing.
Estimated Pipe Installation Cost
The estimated material cost for refrigerant pipes based on required lengths and per-meter pricing. This does not include labor costs for installation work.
System Efficiency Factor
A percentage indicating expected cooling efficiency based on pipe length and configuration. Lower values indicate greater efficiency loss due to long pipe runs or elevation differences.

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