A method for taking custody of, transporting and installing an air conditioner having an outdoor unit which uses a flammable refrigerant and includes a refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor, an expansion device and an outdoor heat exchanger which are connected to one another through pipes, wherein the outdoor unit is shipped from a factory while the refrigeration cycle is evacuated to produce a vacuum, the outdoor unit is kept in custody and transported in a state in which the vacuum in the refrigeration cycle is maintained, and when the outdoor unit is installed, the flammable refrigerant is charged into the refrigeration cycle. With this structure, it is possible to provide a method for taking custody of, transporting and installing an apparatus having a refrigeration cycle in which safety is assured when the apparatus having the refrigeration cycle is being transported or kept in custody, the efficiency of the disposing operation is enhanced, and a problem such as deterioration of performance is not generated.