Installing an Air Source Heat Pump

[adeh61]

Hi all,

Has anyone installed this air source heat pump. I found it on ebay

12000 BTU HEAT PUMP INVERTER SPLIT AIR CONDITIONING CONDITIONER WALL MOUNT UNIT | eBay - https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-53481-19255-0/1?ff3=4&toolid=11800&pub=5575196602&campid=5337914959&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fitm%2F12000-BTU-HEAT-PUMP-INVERTER-SPLIT-AIR-CONDITIONING-CONDITIONER-WALL-MOUNT-UNIT-%2F262907180327%3Fhash%3Ditem3d367d3527%3Ag%3AjosAAOxycmBSqvAd

Looking to heat a conservatory approx. 30 sq/m

 

[LankyWill]

That is an expensive way of heating a conservatory, you usually rely on solar radiation to heat them. I would be looking for a more conventional way of heating the space. Could you not plumb a rad in or even an electric space heater?

 

[adeh61]

I could but I don't think it would be warm enough on the colder days plus I want aircon for the summer.
I worked out it would cost about £120 a year to run

 

[LankyWill]

A conservatory isnt designed to be a warm space as such, glass is the one of the poorest thermal insulators and that is why conservatories are drafty and cold(Winter Months). You would be wasting a lot money just trying to get the space warm and this seems a bit extravagant. As for the air con i would just create cross ventilation or even simple fan.

 

[Leesparkykent]

The spec says its good up to 13 square meters in a conservatory and you say you have 30 square meters of conservatory.

 

[Marvo]

Agree with Lee, if it's a poorly insulated space then you'll need at least an 18000-20000BTU unit to be effective. Unless the conservatory isd built with some kind of low-E glass then heating it is going to be expensive.

 

[adeh61]

Its got solar glass a tiled roof with 6 " insulation and 2" insulated floor with an insulated dwarf wall.

 

[adeh61]

Ok, as it is able to heat a 35sq/m room and the conservatory is well insulated I've ordered the one below. It has an intelligent defrost/auto clean function and is slightly more efficient.

Inverter heat pump air conditioning 12000 btu split system 3.5KW z series 1250sd

The spec says it can heat a conservatory size of up to 21 sq/m

 

[adeh61]

Forgot to say it has been reduced to £500 inc delivery

INVERTER HEAT PUMP AIR CONDITIONING 12000 BTU SPLIT SYSTEM 3.5kW Z SERIES 1250SD | eBay

 

[Worcester]

It's a split unit, you need specialist equipment and to be F-Gas registered to install it.
We install loads of them in our clients conservatories, home media rooms, and home gyms. All are please with the running costs.

 

[adeh61]

Do you install this specific type or other makes.

 

[Worcester]

We tend to install either Panasonic or Fujitsu, bearing in mind the install cost (an average aircon engineer is charged out at £500 a day) the few extra quid over the no-name Asian products, along with the 7 year warranty from Panasonic make the better quality products a better purchase. (We're a Panasonic Pro partner)

 

[adeh61]

I'm going to install myself and get a neighbour to check and do evac

 

[Worcester]

So is it OK for your neighbour rewire his house himself?

 

[adeh61]

I don't know but I'll ask him. If he can't I will do it for him.

 

[LankyWill]

Air con gas is deadly, its denser than air and sits on top of the oxygen in your lungs suffocating you. I'm all for having a go but this pushes beyond hanging a door and changing a tap! Leave it to the pros and have some peace of mind.

 

[adeh61]

Its looks easy to install. The unit is pre-gassed and the neighbour will sort the gas side for me.

 

[Marvo]

You should really get in a fridge guy who has a vacuum pump etc. Without it you can't effectively test for leaks and if you leave non-condensable gas (air) in the pipework the unit is going to be inefficient, perform poorly and you could shorten its lifespan. TBH I'd be surprised if it isn't a legal requirement in the UK to have someone who's F-Gas qualified to install and commission this unit.

 

[Worcester]

You should really get in a fridge guy who has a vacuum pump etc. Without it you can't effectively test for leaks and if you leave non-condensable gas (air) in the pipework the unit is going to be inefficient, perform poorly and you could shorten its lifespan. TBH I'd be surprised if it isn't a legal requirement in the UK to have someone who's F-Gas qualified to install and commission this unit.

It is, and we have to log all our work as well - oh and it's notifiable to building control.

 

[adeh61]

He is a registered engineer. That's why I'm getting him to connect the gas side.
There are some diy ones on there as well

 

[adeh61]

Got the system installed. Easy installation the neighbour sorted the gas side out for me as well. That was simple to do to and far easier work than the actual installation of the unit, if I had to pay an engineer £500 to do this I think I would have cried.

 

[adeh61]

Just an update on the air sources heat pump.
I had the 12000 BTU commissioned after installing and after keeping the conservatory nice and cool in the summer it is heating the conservatory very well also.