How are your Heat Pumps Doing this Winter: The Good, the Bad, & The Ugly?

Posted by: Allison Friedman // Rate It Green Admin

I don't want to gloat about my heat pumps entirely, believe me, as I just found out an older mini split we have apparently has a refrigerant leak.  HVAC is also never easy - and never 100% "done" or "perfect," it seems.  We also happen to have water in our house right now from an ice dam.... But that's another story for a different post.  

I am pleased that our new heat pumps seem pretty good and free of snow!  I would love to report sometime that HVAC got easier to get right and that everyitng in our home is working perfectly, but we've got elements of our system that are complex, different, and of different ages.  Who else out there has some combiation of VRF heat pumps, mini splits, hydro, radiant heating, radiators, older A/C compressors, forced hot air, and a combination of furnaces, air handlers, zone dampers, ERVs, makeup air, bath fans,  humidification and dehumidification equipment, and a generator? I am sure I forgot something, or that some of these don't even belong on the same list. 

Earlier today, I was sent images of heat pumps that got buried in a coastal snow drift, and I recall back before our big recent project when I was thinking about how to locate compressors so they'd be safe from snow. I am happy to report that we did succeed in two places, though not in the way I planned. For one set, we extended a garage overhang, and that's been working pretty well.  For the other, we took advatage of a small pocket in the back of our house.  These little odd spaces are the result of projects over the years, by us and others, but I do feel we were rewarded for looking for any opportunities.   And I can also say it's work asking and continuing to ask what is possible. An architectand builder helped us in the garage area, and the HVAC folks ptiently explored whether the connections we'd need were possible in the back of our house. 

So first, here are my heat pumps that I am knd of proud of.  I worked for these locations! 


The extended garage overhang has worked really well.  I originally hoped to hang a compressor on the wall here, to keep the snow off. But I was advised against this for a few reasons, including the risk of vibration of the compressor was actually on the wall.  
 

We were able to use this old architectural "pocket" to locate another heat pump. This spot has also worked nicely. 


Next, here are the images I received this morning from a building professional.  These images remind me that mother nature has something to say sometimes, and we can't always just raise the heat pumps enough or hang them off a building.  Thesehyper heat units are in a shallow ditch and are 24 inches off the ground.  But the snow drifted 5 to 6 feet.  So, this seems a reminder that if we can't locate the units under cover or they're not off the ground enough for current conditions, someone has to get our there and shovel.  

So, let's hear how your heat pumps are looking this winter.  Are they doing great" Did they get buried? We can pat ourselves on the back togther, or commiserate as needed.  And if you need to talk to soeone about your ice dam, I'm here.  


For some ideas about snow and HVAC compressors:
Mini Split Compressor Placement in Cold Climates (Think about Snow and Other Conditions)

To learn more about our VRF heat pump project:
VRF Heat Pump Installation

For cold weather heat pump advice from Mitsubishi:
Mini Split Cold Weather Design Advice and Guidelines, with Mitsubishi