Siting Residential Heat Pumps: Installation Tips For The DIY Mind

Proper installation of heat pumps is important for DIY-minded homeowners who may wish to enjoy the benefits of using a heat pump. DIY installation of heat pumps may be relatively easy but the slightest of mistakes can have a negative impact on pump performance.

Choosing the right location is vital for the performance of a heat pump and for compliance with regulations formulated to control noise pollution from household appliances. With this in mind, here are three tips on choosing the right location for heat pump installation.

Isolation And Elevation Of Heat Pumps

The ideal location of installation should be isolated from residential building structures so that there's minimal transmission of vibrations and sound to adjacent structures whenever the pump is operational. If the situation demands for a heat pump to be attached to an external wall, the pump shouldn't be installed on the external wall of a study room (or bedroom) where noise from an operating pump will be more of a nuisance.

In order to reduce vibrations on an operating heat pump, DIY-minded homeowners are advised to install heat pumps on solid and level mounting pads. These mounting pads are often made of concrete or plastic, with the latter often being more affordable than the former. In areas that experience heavy snowfall, heat pumps should be installed on a mounting pad that elevates the pump high above the average snow line in the area. This helps to prevent direct contact between the pump and snow that accumulates on the ground.

Access To The Pump

While at it, DIY-minded homeowners should also ensure that their preferred location of installation allows for easy access to the heat pump. The importance of this is often seen when it is time to do maintenance on the pump. For example, it is often not a good idea to install the heat pump in the often narrow "alley" between two adjacent structures on the residential premises (e.g. a narrow space between one wall of the house and a garage shed).

Air Circulation

Last but not least, heat pumps should be installed in an outdoor area that allows for maximum air intake. This is because the pump needs a constant supply of air to extract heat from and then move it into the house.

Dense vegetation around a heat pump can break the continuous supply of air to the pump. As such, DIY-minded homeowners should install their heat pumps away from areas that have a thick vegetative cover.


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