Air Source Heat Pumps

Andy_WSM

richardc1983 wrote: »

What I am saying is that you dont want the compressor sat in water if it cant drain away, I think thermal blankets are the only things that separate the fan area and the bit where the compressor is I dont think it is "walled in" .

Do you understand what I mean not sure if I am making myself clear thats all.

Yes, I get you - but I don't see what I can do about it - It's a design flaw with the unit. The water does drain away - when it's not frozen as there are holes in the casing beneath the compressor.

richardc1983

And this time round was water draining through the compressor area?

Not sure what you would be able to do about it really other than putting some salt in the area where the holes are inside the unit to stop it freezing.

Andy_WSM

Hmm, that's not a bad idea. Since I defrosted it all with warm water earlier it has stayed ice free - despite the outdoor temps already being below freezing again tonight. Think I just need to keep a close eye on it.

We won't see this weather again for 30 years, so end of problem

richardc1983

Yes I guess it is a good idea, a bit of rock salt in the bottom will stop it all from freezing and should keep it "regular" lol!

They have said no end in sight for this cold temps though and going to get worse by the weekend artic air from russia is headng our way!!

greendwarf

Andy_WSM wrote: »

No, that's not what they said at all. The English instruction manual specifically says that units up to 5KW/h can be installed in the loft - clearly they can as it worked for a year and worked fine under our normal weather conditions, but this icy spell, which we wouldn't usually suffer here in the sunny SW finished it off! When the temps drop below freezing the unit struggles anyway - and more so in the loft where the temps were dragged down a few degrees colder.

Now it's on the back wall it's working "ok" - It was below -5C again last night, so it had a hard time, but this morning the temp has risen to -2C and the system is just about holding it's own. House temps are all up to set point (21/22C), so it's doing what it is supposed to do.

I appreciate this but it still doesn't explain why it should say this when clearly all you had done was effectively turn your loft into a giant fridge. It can't have been running as efficiently even if it was effective and there are plenty of places in the world that speak English with a very different sort of weather to ours.

Has anyone else come across this sort of suggested installation in the UK?

Mind you it all very easy for me to be relaxed about this sitting in the middle of London with outside temps above freezing, no snow and my Airforce unit humming away with virtually no defrosts! :j

richardc1983

Andy also has an airforce unit... someone else on the forum reported having an airforce unit that wasnt coping very well... but I think they were trying to heat an entire ground floor with it!

There was also someone else who was installing a heat pump into his garage... as advised by manufacturer! Cant seem to find the post... perhaps we should warn him of Andys experience.

albyota

most of the training programmes and seminars I have been on with the more reputable companies have always warned against installing a heat pump anywhere in an enclosed space, these things need lots of ambient air to work effectively, although having said that my A2WHP Ecodan has been positioned about 2.5 foot from a concrete fence 6 ft high...not ideal but at least its outside, total running cost of house Jan to Dec 09 £837...no gas, no oil, all electric.....well happy! great pictures by the way.

richardc1983

How about adding some pictures yourself Albyota, would be great to see your setup.

albyota

Yep will do, although the tight angle of where I can stand to take pics just shows the side and front profile ....you'll see, urrr I have never posted pics on this forum...is it easy to do?...in other words a PM would help to guide me. TA

albyota

Oh and the other thing is even after 4 years of building, the Utility door and window have still not been fitted properly yet......thats job No. 134 on my list!!!