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Rank 2
June 26, 2021
Solved

How can I effectively cover my Air-Source Heat Pump without compromising efficiency?

  • June 26, 2021
  • 27 replies
  • 24250 views

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 @hydrosam or @Transparent could advise?

 

 

I think @juliamc is correct in everything she writes here. She’s rapidly becoming the group’s expert on the right way to install Heat pumps. :hugging:

 

As for the wooden cover…. very attractive styling! :slight_smile:

 

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.

 

 

 

27 replies

juliamc
Rank 20
Rank 20
June 26, 2021

Others may have different opinions, but I would say that the only part of the outdoor unit to cover should be the top !! You’ve blocked the airflow in and out, and I would say it’s not the required one metre from your fence, which is a requirement as @Gingernut49 has found.

Rank 2
June 26, 2021

This is where the installer has placed the unit. P.s the cover is larger than the unit. 

I am also considering a design change with widening the slates to allow more air flow through. 

 

To note the 1 meter I have had auditors comes out and they didn't comment on that. 

2018 3 Bed Semi Detached, Daikin 7KW Monobloc HP, 1.6KW East 3KW west/sout west roof solar, 15KW battery, Always looking for improvements.
Gingernut49
Rank 6
Rank 6
June 26, 2021

My auditor didn't comment at the time but has notified the installation company that it has to be moved one meter away. Mine looks as near to the fence as yours now, about a foot. (Same colour fence too.)

Trying to be 'green'
Rank 2
June 26, 2021

This is the unit without cover. Just shy I think now looking at this

2018 3 Bed Semi Detached, Daikin 7KW Monobloc HP, 1.6KW East 3KW west/sout west roof solar, 15KW battery, Always looking for improvements.
juliamc
Rank 20
juliamcSolved
Rank 20
June 27, 2021

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 @hydrosam or @Transparent could advise?

 

 

I think @juliamc is correct in everything she writes here. She’s rapidly becoming the group’s expert on the right way to install Heat pumps. :hugging:

 

As for the wooden cover…. very attractive styling! :slight_smile:

 

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.

 

 

 

Rank 2
June 27, 2021

Hi @juliamc thanks for that. We are doing some alterations today. One of them is making a hole for the fan. There are no slates at the back of the unit. And it's the same spacing on 3 sides. Also drainage below so water doesn't puddle. 

 

We are still deciding what to do for the left side. Possible doing some more opening aswell. 

2018 3 Bed Semi Detached, Daikin 7KW Monobloc HP, 1.6KW East 3KW west/sout west roof solar, 15KW battery, Always looking for improvements.
Transparent
Rank 20
Rank 20
June 27, 2021

I think @juliamc is correct in everything she writes here. She’s rapidly becoming the group’s expert on the right way to install Heat pumps. :hugging:

It was @nealmurphy who specifically mentioned the 1-metre from the fence rule in this other topic. It can be reduced, but you first have to obtain planning consent from the local council.

As for the wooden cover…. very attractive styling! :slight_smile:

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.

Save energy... recycle electrons!
Rank 4
June 27, 2021

Hiya. 
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 as @juliamc has said. 

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. 

15kwh grid-tied battery, ASHP Daikin 11kw R410 mono + 300l Cylinder. 3.3kw Solar PV. Kia e-Niro EV
Rank 2
June 27, 2021

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? 

2018 3 Bed Semi Detached, Daikin 7KW Monobloc HP, 1.6KW East 3KW west/sout west roof solar, 15KW battery, Always looking for improvements.
Rank 4
June 27, 2021

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. 

15kwh grid-tied battery, ASHP Daikin 11kw R410 mono + 300l Cylinder. 3.3kw Solar PV. Kia e-Niro EV