Heat pump SEER ratings now reach well over 20, but if the equipment is not installed correctly, homeowners will not achieve anywhere near the level of energy efficiency (or comfort) they purchased. This is evidenced by a recent study from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which found that improper installation of heat pumps may increase household energy use for space heating and cooling on the order of 30 percent over what it should be.
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According to the study, the most common installation problems include duct leakage, refrigerant undercharge, oversized heat pumps with non-oversized ductwork, low indoor airflow due to undersized ductwork, and refrigerant overcharge. Each one of these issues has the potential to cause significant performance degradation and increased annual energy consumption for homeowners. Homes often have a combination of these issues, which can lead to expensive, but necessary, repairs.
COMMON PROBLEMS
Charlie B. Thompson, operations manager, Munn&#;s Sales and Service Inc., Fruitland Park, Florida, has seen his share of poor heat pump installations. About 65 percent of his customers utilize heat pumps, and when he works on systems his company didn&#;t install, he often finds undersized ductwork to be a problem.
&#;If we suspect undersized ducts, we will test the static pressure of the duct system,&#; Thompson said. &#;If the static pressure is too high, we&#;ll physically inspect the ductwork to confirm our static pressure readings.&#;
Unfortunately for homeowners, tracking down the ductwork problem can be much more affordable than actually fixing the problem.
&#;It&#;s definitely in the customer&#;s best interest for a contractor to properly size the duct on the initial installation rather than save a little money by undersizing the duct,&#; said Thompson. &#;Enlarging ductwork in a retrofit situation can quickly become costly.&#;
About 50 percent of Matthews, North Carolina-based McClintock Heating, Cooling, and Electrical Inc.&#;s customers use heat pumps, and company president, Rob McClintock, maintains ductwork is the primary problem when it comes to older heat pumps.
&#;We regularly see duct systems that were improperly designed and installed, leaky, and coming apart,&#; said McClintock. &#;Design issues can contribute to an overall lack of proper airflow, and airflow deficiencies can result in an inability to properly charge the system. This can cause premature compressor failures, system component failures, drafty winter operation, high utility bills, and an overall dissatisfaction with the system itself.&#;
Sometimes it is not a design issue that causes a heat pump to perform poorly; it is a lack of regular maintenance. To determine whether there are any design or neglect issues, McClintock and his crew run airflow tests on every heat pump system they encounter. After establishing a baseline, he can tell if the system is operating within the manufacturer&#;s specifications.
&#;Of course, this takes a little more time, but we find it can give us an insight into what may be the next thing to go wrong and then counsel the homeowner accordingly.&#;
John Poyle, president, Hagerstown Heating and Cooling, Hagerstown, Maryland, is used to working with heat pumps as 90 percent of his customers have one installed. He encounters improperly installed heat pumps all the time, and many have the problems listed in the NIST study. Additionally, a lack of proper clearance around heat pumps is a common issue. This usually occurs when contractors install new, energy-efficient units.
&#;The new, higher-SEER units are physically bigger, and when contractors place them in the same location as older units, air restrictions may occur, which can hinder system performance,&#; said Poyle. &#;We move or modify heat pumps every year due to air restrictions, and it can be costly. In some instances, line sets and the line voltage have to be rerouted in order to move the unit to a different location. These repairs can exceed $1,300 for something that the previous contractor could have done for half the cost during the installation.&#;
COMMISSIONING
Of course, the solution to all these problems is to correctly install the heat pump in the first place. And, whether it&#;s new construction or replacement, all successful installations start with conducting a comprehensive load calculation, said McClintock. &#;This calculation should include all the important things about a house, such as all building materials, window coverings, direction to the sun, specific location of the house, intended temperature targets, etc.&#;
Once the load calculation is finished, a duct system, if new, can be properly designed. If it is a replacement system, it can be evaluated, said McClintock.
&#;If replacing a system with the same size equipment, contractors should never assume the duct system is properly designed and sized,&#; he said. &#;Remember, a system&#;s efficiency is only as high as the weakest link, which, in many cases, is the duct system.&#;
Once the heat pump is installed, be it in new construction or as a replacement, a commissioning report should be conducted to ensure the system is operating per manufacturer specifications.
&#;This report should begin with airflow verification, because if the system does not meet the proper airflow requirements, then virtually no other test can be performed,&#; said McClintock. &#;Performing a commissioning report takes time, teamwork, and sometimes more money than was originally allotted. But, this will almost always save money over time and result in a happier customer.&#;
Poyle agrees that commissioning each heat pump installation is a good idea, because it creates a company culture in which everyone has skin in the game.
&#;A quality control system shouldn&#;t make anyone feel like they can&#;t be trusted,&#; he said. &#;Instead, it should be viewed as bragging rights, because no one can find anything wrong with the installation. It&#;s a great way to create competition and recognition within the company and a good way to identify poor craftsmanship and attitudes.&#;
Performing a standardized startup and commission on each installation is a requirement at Munn&#;s, which utilizes a checklist for both retrofit installers and new construction startup technicians to follow. The checklist includes, among other things, inspecting all ductwork on each system change out, setting up fan coil blower speeds to achieve proper airflow across the indoor coil, and measuring the refrigerant charge to make sure it adheres to manufacturers&#; specifications.
&#;An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,&#; said Thompson. &#;We are the professionals. We have complete control over whether customers have properly operating, comfortable systems or miserable, uncomfortable homes. If we don&#;t have complete control, then who does?&#;
Publication date: 5/29/
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There is not much use in investing in a system that provides hot water if the place in which it will be stored is not given sufficient thought beforehand. The location of a hot water system should ideally be within proximity to the hot water faucets. If the water only needs to go a small distance, your system will have a higher degree of responsiveness than one that requires the water to travel further. You won&#;t have to make the base temperature higher to make up for the time it takes for the water to travel through your pipes because you won&#;t need to make that adjustment. As a consequence, there will be a consequent reduction in the amount of energy frittered away.
Having said that, if you consider the layout of your property, there is no way to guarantee this will be the case. If you have to choose which tap you want closest to the hot water unit, it is usually best to put it nearer to the fixtures with the highest demand, which are most often those in the shower or bathroom. Suppose you have to choose which tap you want closest to the hot water unit. In that case, it is usually best to put it nearer to the fixtures. Suppose you have to pick which tap you want closest to the hot water unit. In that case, it is generally advisable to locate it more closely to the institutions with the most considerable demand for hot water. If you have to choose which tap you want closest to the hot water unit, click here.
There are several aspects to consider while shopping for a heat pump for your home. The following are some general rules of thumb. Still, please remember that our staff is always available to discuss your requirements over the or visit your home in person to assess its characteristics.
It would be best if you went with the larger size. This is because you can turn down a larger heater but not turn up a minor system. Although it might initially set you back a few hundred dollars extra, you will enjoy the investment for at least ten years, if not longer. There are a few primary categories of heat pumps, which are as follows:
When putting in a hot water system, you may need to do it inside or under cover. Under these circumstances, you should take the necessary steps to keep them safe from children and put them in a place where they won&#;t get into other activities or be damaged by anything else. A small cupboard is often used for this purpose.
As required by the manufacturer and the Australian Standard Heated Water Services, carefully plan for and leave enough space around the water heater for maintenance and ventilation (with various exceptions). In the same way, gas units used inside must have an exhaust flue built so that the gases made by combustion can go outside. Be very careful not to store corrosive chemicals near your water heater. These substances can give off vapours that could get sucked into the water heater and cause it to rust from the inside out. It would not be practical to construct a storage tank system in smaller homes and apartments; instead, you could need to instal a continuous flow system. The interior unit typically includes a coil, fan, air filter, air vanes, and condensate pipe that heats or cools, dries, and circulates the air in the space. The indoor apparatus may be:
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Around the unit, there should be nothing that could get in the way of the air circulating freely. Near the ceiling is the ideal placement for a heat pump that utilises the reverse cycle. At floor level is the perfect arrangement for a heat pump whose primary function is to provide heating. (It is essential to remember that various units are incompatible; for example, those intended to be mounted high on a wall should not be mounted low on the wall.) The optimal location for a ducted system is in the ceiling area, with the supply and return air ducts located as far apart as possible. The efficient flow of air is significant:
As a result, the precise location of the indoor unit is something that ought to be given a lot of careful thought. One of the most disappointing findings from research conducted by BRANZ on families that own heat pumps was that more than a fifth of the households with heat pumps said that their heat pump had not been built in the ideal location. To avoid making people uncomfortable due to draughts caused by airflow, the site should take into account the room&#;s entry and departure points and the expected arrangement of furniture.
Only highly trained and knowledgeable technicians should instal heat pumps. To achieve the highest possible levels of heat transmission and heat pump capacity:
The air input channel of the outside unit must be clear of any obstructions.
It is necessary to divert the air from the outlet away from the coil and the air intake.
It is critical to ensure that air can circulate freely around the coil. The distance between the outdoor unit and any impediment must be 500 millimetres on the air input and outlet faces. It must be 100 millimetres on all other fronts.
Consider the heat pump&#;s primary function while placing the exterior unit. Place the outside unit facing north or west for maximum heating performance (and vice versa for cooling). Heat pumps are most efficient when the internal and exterior temperatures are close.
Because the unit&#;s compressor and fans will produce noise, it is essential to situate the team in such a way that it causes the least amount of disturbance to the inhabitants and the neighbours:
For maximum efficacy, position the outside and interior units as closely as possible. If there is a requirement for a pipe run that is significantly longer, a trained professional installer may add another pump to the line. Be sure that the recommended pipe run lengths provided by the pipe manufacturer are not exceeded. BRANZ&#;s analyses of installed heat pumps have uncovered a few typical mistakes that should be avoided. In particular:
When installing a heat pump in a location with geothermal or coastal conditions, you must ensure that the exterior unit has special anti-corrosive coatings.
Design choices for air-to-air heat pumps include the following:
Heat pumps are capable of functioning as:
Because they are around thirty per cent more efficient than fixed-speed systems, inverter systems are becoming more widespread in their installation. They are quicker at reaching the desired temperature than systems with a constant speed, and the speed adjustment results in a much quieter operation.
Don&#;t bring your air-source heat pump inside! You are not permitted to instal an air-source heat pump inside the house because doing so will have the same effect as placing a refrigerator in the space. It will continue to cool the surrounding air until it cannot extract any more heat from the air.
If you want the outdoor unit to have the best performance for heating, place it in the warmest location possible, such as on a wall that faces north or west (and vice versa for cooling). When there is a relatively small difference in temperature between the indoors and the outdoors, heat pumps operate at their maximum level of efficiency.
During the winter, if the rooms in the back of your house, including the bedrooms and hallway, tend to be chilly, we can instal ducts specifically to heat those spaces. The heat pump in your living room continues to do an excellent job, and with the touch of a button, you can distribute pleasant, even heat to the other areas of your home.
They can avoid the need for a remotely mounted air sensor by merely placing a sensor on the back of the unit by the coil and spinning the fans for a few seconds. This solution is not only simple and cost-effective, but it is also efficient. Should we then mount the unit where it will receive the most sunlight? Put another way, and the answer is that you can put it wherever you like.
When installing a heat pump, you need an average of 12 to 24 inches (one to two feet) in all directions, but you can place it as far away as 100 feet from the house. Several things should influence the final position of a heat pump from home.
Sanden Eco Plus Heat Pump InstallationAll storage systems experience some heat loss through the cylinder&#;s walls, or &#;standing losses,&#; and heat pump water heaters are no exception. This indicates that they use energy even when no hot water is used. The amount of heat loss increases with cylinder size. Heat losses account for a significant amount of the total energy used to heat water in tiny houses. Turn off the heat-pump water heater at the switchboard if you&#;re leaving your home for a long time to save electricity.
The system must be appropriately sized if you want to utilise the heat pump water heater on the cheaper off-peak energy tariff when it predominantly heats water overnight. You can run out of hot water if it is too tiny. When requesting a quote from your supplier, bring up this topic.
If you live in an area with a lot of cold weather and use a lot of hot water, the reheat or recovery rate (in litres per hour) will be very significant to you. This is impacted by the following:
Configuration of the system&#;s temperature and humidity and the surrounding air temperature of your cold water supply.
When the temperature of the air around you is lower, the rate at which you reheat food will slow down. Some systems use an electric boost element, activated if the air temperature is low. As a result, the time required to bring the water in the storage cylinder up to temperature will be cut down. However, this will also increase the monthly maintenance costs.
A built-in timer is now standard on many heat pump systems, and this timer allows users to set the amount of time they want the system to run to heat water. If you already have a solar photovoltaic (PV) system installed on your roof to generate electricity, this may come in handy. Suppose you operate the heat pump water on a peak electricity tariff. In that case, you may programme the timer to operate the system during the middle of the day to use the electricity generated by the sun. This can be done by setting the timer to run the system during the middle hours of the day.
A heat-pump hot water system consumes a significantly lower amount of electricity than an electric storage hot water system. This is because it just uses electricity to run the compressor and the fan, rather than using electricity to heat the water directly with an electric element. This results in significantly lower energy consumption overall.
If the cylinder is large enough, these systems can be operated during the overnight hours using the more affordable off-peak electricity tariff. However, it is essential to make sure that the system is of adequate size for your requirements. These systems are also capable of operating on a peak electricity tariff, indicating that they will heat water throughout the day per your consumption of it.
If you have a photovoltaic (PV) system installed on your roof to generate power, it may be advantageous to operate a heat pump water heater on a peak electricity tariff. Additionally, it would be best if you used a timer to restrict the time the water is heated to the middle of the day. Because of this, the photovoltaic system will be able to make more efficient use of the electricity it generates, resulting in a lower overall amount of electricity being sent back into the grid.
The location of a hot water system should ideally be within proximity to the hot water faucets. If the water only needs to go a small distance, your system will have a higher degree of responsiveness than one that requires the water to travel further.
You won&#;t have to raise the base temperature to compensate for the time it takes for the water to travel through your pipes because you won&#;t need to make that adjustment. This will additionally result in a decrease in the amount of wasted energy.
When looking for a heat pump for your home, there are several factors that you should take into consideration.
The following are some guidelines to follow as a general rule. Please remember that our team is always available to discuss your requirements over the or visit your home in person to evaluate its qualities. They can do either of these things at your convenience.
Whether or not a Ducted Air Circulation(TM) System has been installed, as well as whether or not the installation of such a system is planned for the foreseeable future.
When the amount of space that needs to be conditioned is significantly higher, as is the case when the amount of floor space in residence is increased, a considerably larger heat pump is required. It is possible that a second heat pump will not be necessary for the home if there is already a big heater installed in one of the rooms of the house.
There are a few different heat pumps that are more specialised, such as &#;bulkhead&#; heat pumps and ceiling-mounted heat pumps. Each of these heat pumps has its own set of benefits and drawbacks.
Are you interested in learning more about new energy heat pump? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!