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Thread: Heat Pump?

  1. #1
    David Banks's Avatar
    David Banks Guest

    Default Heat Pump?

    Large multi story Condo complex. Maintenance man brings me to roof. No individual unit condensing units, just one large one that appears to be for all units. Interior unit says Heat pump. So does exterior unit. Trouble is I see no refrigerant lines on interior or exterior. Maintenance man knows nothing just says heat and AC are Electric.
    Thermostat has no emergency heat mode. Do you think the monster on the roof is not used any more and the interior unit is a packaged unit-compressor evaporator all in one?
    What am I looking at?

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  2. #2
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    Default Re: Heat Pump?

    That a/c on the roof is likely a PAC unit and is for the common areas.

    The individual a/c units are likely connected to a chiller someplace. There would be no refrigerant line inside, just water lines to and from the heat pump in that closet.

    Your photo angle does not show if there are, or are not, water lines there.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  3. #3
    David Banks's Avatar
    David Banks Guest

    Default Re: Heat Pump?

    Jerry. No water lines. I was looking for that. Did not see any cooling tower or water chiller. I did not get behind the building due to restrictions. Could the water lines come in through the back of the interior system behind the gypsum board. Newer interior unit. Friedrich. Model VHA18K50RTG-3
    Serial LDEV00071
    No safety pan.
    What is PAC unit? Thanks for any ideas. I am stuck on this one.


  4. #4
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    Default Re: Heat Pump?

    "Could the water lines come in through the back of the interior system behind the gypsum board."

    Yes, and I considered that, but, they should not. the water hoses and valves should not be *in* the cabinet, but they 'could be', and very well might be.

    PAC units is what Package A/C units are referred to.

    They could also be referred to as RTU for Roof Top Unit.

    Many times in plans you will see ducts labeled as RTU1, meaning that they go all the way up to the Roof Top Unit 1, and then the 'RTU' is labeled PAC1. No consistency in labeling.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  5. #5
    David Banks's Avatar
    David Banks Guest

    Default Re: Heat Pump?

    I suppose my interior unit could be a packaged unit? I did see one in a Condo unit a while back.


  6. #6
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    Default Re: Heat Pump?

    Quote Originally Posted by David Banks View Post
    I suppose my interior unit could be a packaged unit? I did see one in a Condo unit a while back.
    In a sense, it is, if it is using water from a chiller and the compressor is located in the unit (like most of those are).

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  7. #7
    David Banks's Avatar
    David Banks Guest

    Default Re: Heat Pump?

    Jerry. Found it! Packaged unit that is heat pump with electric heat. Serial number indicated this one is also a heat pump. VHA.

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  8. #8
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    Default Re: Heat Pump?

    I need help here.

    That is a completely self-contained package unit. No chiller lines either.

    Okay, that I understand.

    What I do not understand is that, well ... here is an example:

    You take a refrigerator, open the door, now, how long will it take that refrigerator to cool the room it is in?

    See my problem?

    How does that work? I don't see a way to discharge the hot air created by its cooling, or discharge the cool air created by the heat pump.



    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Heat Pump?

    It's a wall-plenum unit, has to back up to an exterior wall.


  10. #10
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    Default Re: Heat Pump?

    Jerry,

    Sounds like a typical through-wall A/C system:

    The instructions state the unit must be mounted on an exterior wall.


    VERT-I-PAK ® units must be installed on an outside wall.

    It also describes, in great detail, the condensate removal system:



    13) Condensate Disposal System


    The internal drain connections are 3/4" FPT fi ttings on the right, left
    and outdoor side of the unit. See Figure 10 on page 12. The chassis
    is designed with a condensate drain system that has 3 parts. The
    three parts work as follows:

    Part 1: The system’s first stage increases energy efficiency
    utilizing a factory installed fan that slings the cold
    condensate onto the hot outdoor coil.


    Part 2: When high outdoor humidity prevents the slinger from
    disposing of all the condensate, the excess condensate overflows
    into the internal drain connection.


    Part 3: If Parts 1 & 2 fail for any reason, excess condensate

    overflows from a spillway directly into the wall plenum
    to the outside of the building. IF THIS OCCURS, THIS
    IS YOUR WARNING THAT THE CHASIS OR DRAIN
    NEEDS SERVICING.



























  11. #11
    David Banks's Avatar
    David Banks Guest

    Default Re: Heat Pump?

    Dom. That is interesting because I am recommending a safety drain pan. Maybe with the stains on the exterior wall it is not needed? But who the hell will see it at the back of the building on the 5th floor?


  12. #12
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    Default Re: Heat Pump?

    That drain system sounds like it meets the intent of the IRC condensate disposal method. (I know the IRC is the RESIDENTIAL code) And since it is an engineered system, I would hesitate to recommend another pan. Seems like it is a pretty well thought out system.
    Typical through the wall system except it blows through ductwork.
    Jim

    Jim Luttrall
    www.MrInspector.net
    Plano, Texas

  13. #13
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    Default Re: Heat Pump?

    Oops ...

    I read through that thing probably 4-5 times and missed that every time????

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  14. #14
    David Banks's Avatar
    David Banks Guest

    Default Re: Heat Pump?

    Jerry's Human!
    Thanks all.


  15. #15
    Tim Moreira's Avatar
    Tim Moreira Guest

    Default Re: Heat Pump?

    My first thought was similar to Jerry, Chilled water system with a chilled water coil in the condo.

    Second was when I read it was a Friedrick unit I thought the same as Dom stated, a through wall system.


  16. #16
    Chris Ethridge's Avatar
    Chris Ethridge Guest

    Default Re: Heat Pump?

    actually a pac unit just means that the heat and a/c is created in one unit. they could be package gas, or package heat pump, ANY THING ELSE HAS ITS OWN NAME.


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