Hi there. I have built a cover for my ASHP and wonder how many others have done the same. I am considering a redesign after some feedback from engineers who seen this on Facebook. Like making the spacing gaps bigger and possibly removing the hidden side panel.
Best answer by juliamc
Although it looks great, I think you are compromising the efficiency of the pump with your cover. I assume the air intake is on the side and back (it is on mine which is a different model) so by partially covering the outlet you are trapping some cold air which will then be drawn in again, so getting ever colder and colder, thus have less energy in it. It will be like running it in winter.
Maybe if you cut a circular hole in the front, so all the cold air is expelled, and keep the left side and back open, you’d be okay? Perhaps
I think 
As for the wooden cover…. very attractive styling! 
But the distance between the rear of the Heat pump and the wall is calculated to allow sufficient air-flow to be drawn through the heat-exchanger. The cover has significantly restricted this.
The slats on this cover also impede the out-flow. Thus the line of least resistance is for the rear input port to simply suck the air from the front and push it through the heat-exchanger again. It is effectively a partial ‘short-circuit’ of airflow being recycled within the cabinet.
I'm afraid my opinion on the cover is it’s going to hamper the performance of the pump quite significantly. You’ll need to make the gaps much wider and you need to get decent air flow through the system.
You can buy heat pump covers to disguise them a bit but they are a bit like the camouflaged covers you get for wheelie bins and not as nice as the cover you’ve made.
Hi all I have modified the wooden cover. Please note the rear has no slates. Only 3 sides. The top is also decking boards which have the grooves under. But also 5mm gaps on the top. Again to allow air flow. Thoughts?
I just did a quick google and it looks like you aren’t far away from some designs.
https://www.pumph.co.uk/product/wooden-guards/
From my research the key is to not have the cold air being expelled to be able to recirculate back through the heat pump, one the of the issues with the first location of my pump was it being in low point of the garden and the cold air couldn’t escape (it was also boxed in by walls and fences). If the area where the fan is blowing the cold air allows it to escape from the pump then the design should work.
Have you also kept the side to the left of the pump free?
Personally if I was going to box it in I’d make the slats further apart but I’ve got no idea what an optimum design is. The design on the link I shared above doesn’t specify what gap they’ve used but you might be able to find details on another website.
We are adapting the side tomorrow to make a larger opening. On the left closes to the fence. We going to adjust to help suit this.
+8My unit is also out of view at the side of my house so I don’t need to hide it.
+1I quite like the design of my unit, so not planning to box it in.
I’m also working on a couple of other woodworking projects - sheds down the side of the house and a rabbit hutch, so have plenty of other things to keep me busy!
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