Call installer regarding heat pump concerns

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/12/2022 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Question: I had a new furnace and heat pump installed last spring, now that cold weather is here, the heat pump comes on regularly, but there is a lot of ice forming underneath it. This unit is installed a foot away from the house wall and is 14 inches under the bedroom window, so that when it starts the window fogs up. The ice build-up is about six inches below the bottom of the pump now. How can I keep it from building up so it doesn’t encase the bottom of the heat pump unit?

Is it possible to enclose this outside unit in a large lean-to like structure, which would not inhibit the air flow but would keep the snow from getting in, and also to sound-proof it a bit from the bedroom? Is there any kind of slanted pan that could be placed under the enclosure, in the early fall, to run the moisture off and keep it away from the house?

Alternatively, should I just shut it off for about three months of the coldest weather, as it doesn’t come on when the temperature is really low anyway? If so, is there a switch to shut it off somewhere?

Any suggestions would be appreciated,

Thank you, Audrey.

Answer: You should not be required to contact a home inspector, or other external source of knowledge, to solve an issue and learn about proper operation of your newer heating and cooling system. Call the HVAC contractor who installed the heat pump, have them come and check out the issues, find a solution, and explain to you all that you should know about your system.

Heat pumps are quite efficient heating and cooling units that resemble central air conditioners and are powered by electricity. They can provide both moderately low-cost cooling and heating, but have a limited temperature range at the low end. They have not been very popular in our area due to that concern, because a back-up heating source is required for temperatures below approximately -15 to -20. Also, the low cost of natural gas relative to electricity is still a huge factor in most homeowners’ decision for heating systems. Because of the scarcity of these units, I am not very well versed on all the pros and cons, as well as potential defects associated with heat pumps. So, asking any local home inspector for advice on this topic, unless they are also a HVAC specialist, may not yield a favourable result.

The true experts on operation of heat pumps should be HVAC technicians/contractors that have many years experience installing and maintaining them. There may be more of these specialists in rural areas, where natural gas is not readily available for heating fuel. In areas where homes are remotely situated, Manitoba Hydro electrical service should be available, but not necessarily gas.

In most situations, a heat pump is installed along with an electric furnace. The furnace should be capable of heating the home on its own and will use the blower to circulate the heat and cold generated by the heat pump, as well, through a coil situation in the ducting. If the outside temperature drops below the threshold of the heat pump, the electric elements of the furnace should automatically turn on, yielding an almost seamless transition.

The location of your heat pump may be one of the potential causes of the ice buildup and other issues. Installing either a heat pump or air conditioner condenser directly below a window is not a preferred location and is often avoided. The noise when they are operating can be annoying as well as the hot air generated when in cooling mode. There are specific limitations for clearance from various house components, but only the HVAC installer may have that knowledge. Regardless, enclosing the unit in any type of structure is not possible.

The outside of your heat pump unit should be completely unobstructed and open to the outside air for proper function. The outside coil should be kept clean and not blocked by any structure or vegetation, or it will not work properly. In the worst-case scenario, the entire system may shut down if there is sufficient blockage so that air cannot circulate correctly. Building any type of structure, temporary or otherwise, is not possible and may only increase the chances of ice and snow accumulation. The clearance from the ground sounds reasonable, but you may have to manually remove snow and some ice from the area, periodically.

Too often with newer technologies for household use, especially with smart home components, they are not designed with the average homeowner in mind. They are designed by computer and/or mechanical engineers that have a level of sophisticated knowledge way beyond most lay people. They are often relying on the HVAC community not only to properly install and set up these complex components and controls, but also to help homeowner understand how to use them. I often wonder if they fully understand all these functions, as well. If not, how can they simply explain how to use such a system or the complicated controls to an average person?

Figuring out a solution to the ice, noise, condensation, and other issues with your newly installed heat pump should not be the responsibility of a neighbour, friend, or even a home inspector. Call the HVAC contractor that put it in, in the first place, and have them evaluate the situation and explain your options and other details about how to properly operate your heat pump system.

Ari Marantz is the owner of Trained Eye Home Inspection Ltd. and a Registered Home Inspector (RHI)(cahpi.ca). Questions can be emailed to the address below. Ari can be reached at 204-291-5358 or check out his website at trainedeye.ca.

trainedeye@iname.com