Which way does the fan on your ASHP face?

[low_and_there]

We've finally had our ASHP installed. Total nightmare, turned out the installers really did not know what they were doing with the heat loss calcs, nor tbh, much about heat pumps, despite being an 'MCS' outfit. But anyway, here we are.

 

Due to the various sagas since install I've not actually noticed before that the ASHP unit outside pushes air out towards the garden, rather than against the wall, which is what I expected... I've drawn a diagram, attached, showing what I mean. I'm curious if this is to be expected and how other people have their heat pumps installed?

 

Thanks in advance

 

[Conor]

Thats correct. Draws air from behind, expels to the front.

[S2D2]

Yes, this is correct.

[low_and_there]

thanks both, at least they did that bit right

[G and J]

Hmmm, we’re planning a similar installation.  Is there much difference in the noise level between standing to the side of the unit and in front of the unit (i.e. with the airflow coming towards you)?

[ProDave]

3 minutes ago, G and J said:

Hmmm, we’re planning a similar installation.  Is there much difference in the noise level between standing to the side of the unit and in front of the unit (i.e. with the airflow coming towards you)?

The noise will obviously be more if standing in the air flow, and of course you will be blown by cold air.

 

It is a theoretical question really.  The ASHP won't be on doing heating when you are trying to sit in your garden, and if it happens to come on to heat the hot water while we are in the garden, I go and turn it off, the hot water can wait.

[Chanmenie]

I have a 4KW Veismann ASHP and can’t hear it even when standing quite close, I actually need to look at the fan to see if it’s running 

[G and J]

5 minutes ago, ProDave said:

The noise will obviously be more if standing in the air flow, and of course you will be blown by cold air.

 

It is a theoretical question really.  The ASHP won't be on doing heating when you are trying to sit in your garden, and if it happens to come on to heat the hot water while we are in the garden, I go and turn it off, the hot water can wait.

Ours will, I hope, cool as well so it might be going when we are in the garden.  
 

2 minutes ago, Chanmenie said:

I have a 4KW Veismann ASHP and can’t hear it even when standing quite close, I actually need to look at the fan to see if it’s running 

Hmmmm, so if there’s little noise anyway then there can’t be much if a difference.  So sitting in the garden when it’s running hopefully won’t be too bad.

[sharpener]

12kW Vaillant is almost imperceptible from the side and not very noticeable from the front unless putting out 10kW or more which is rare. Sucks from back (only 200mm rear clearance, 250 if for cooling) and blows v cold air out from the front.

 

Visitors (who have to walk past it) have remarked on the cold rather than the noise.

[JohnMo]

2 minutes ago, G and J said:

Hmmm, we’re planning a similar installation.  Is there much difference in the noise level between standing to the side of the unit and in front of the unit (i.e. with the airflow coming towards you)?

Yes - most the noise is pushed forward by the fan. You don't want to install with air pushing towards a wall. You get air recycling of cold air coming back round and that reduces CoP and changes the defrost onset temperature for the worse

[kandgmitchell]

Our vaillant emits so little noise it's hard to know it's running. The way to tell is to walk past it - the cold air flow is very cold!

[Michael_S]

4 hours ago, G and J said:

Ours will, I hope, cool as well so it might be going when we are in the garden.  
 

Hmmmm, so if there’s little noise anyway then there can’t be much if a difference.  So sitting in the garden when it’s running hopefully won’t be too bad.

I was advised that air to water doesn't really work for cooling because you get condensation on the rads

 

If the fa blew at the hose it would probably freeze the wall - when it is cold outside the heat pump puts out a majorly icy blast - or 'refreshing' as my teenage son puts it.

[JohnMo]

18 minutes ago, Michael_S said:

advised that air to water doesn't really work for cooling because you get condensation on the rads

You need UFH or fan coils