Are you considering a heat pump installation for your southwest Arizona home? Our area offers the perfect climate for this type of cooling and heating system, and you should be able to save substantially on your home’s energy bills. When choosing a heat pump contractor, spend some time researching both the system and available area contractors for the installation. Once you’ve made your selection, it’s also important to understand the installation process. Your chosen installation technician should:
- Choose the proper exterior location. The compressor/condenser unit should be located about 10 inches from the home’s wall with the connections facing the structure. Allow for at least 18 inches of clearance for service access at the back corner and 36 inches of clearance on top. Pay careful attention to landscaping that is near the
unit to ensure it won’t interfere with the heat pump’s operation and maintenance needs. - Mount the interior unit. The air handler/evaporator unit should be installed in an easily accessible space. Your technician will help you determine the proper placement. If it’s more than 15 feet from the outdoor unit make sure the liquid and suction lines aren’t too high.
- Insulate the vapor line. The entire length of the vapor line tubing should be insulated with half-inch think insulation. The end of the tube where insulation begins should be completely covered to prevent debris from entering the tube.
- Connect the two components. The copper tubing at the connection point should be round and clean. Once the valve cap from the exterior unit is removed, the valve’s body should be opened with an Allen wrench. The technician will insert the copper tubing and carefully replace the valve cap. It should then be tightened and sealed to ensure a proper fit.
Installing a heat pump is a big investment, and you should take your time choosing a heat pump contractor. The professionals at Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company are proud to serve Yuma area homeowners. Contact us today for more information about the proper installation of residential heat pumps.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Yuma, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about heat pump contractors and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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