Installation

Flexible and simple installation

Installation in a front garden

This is a common method of installation, as the AEROTOP® SX can be fitted close to windows facing the street. This ensures the unit remains a good distance away from neighbouring properties, as distances <3m to the house wall increase the sound level by 3 dB(A) compared to free-standing installation. (Please note: The air outlet of the heat pump should be at least 1m away from footpaths, especially public areas, such as pavements.) During cooler periods and in winter, the discharged air is cold and often moist - which can cause ice to form on the floor in front of the unit. In addition, people passing by should not be affected by any cold exhaust air.

Installation on a house wall between two buildings

It's important to check if the distances between two buildings can be maintained, as they are often relatively small. Plus, it is worth checking if any areas of an adjacent property require protection and whether reflections can occur that could possibly increase the sound level. Note: Distances <3m increase the sound level by 3 dB(A).

Planting

Since the AEROTOP® SX is already extremely silent by design, additional external noise reduction is not needed. Dedicated planting has no impact on noise reduction, and leaves can also have a negative effect on the operation of the heat pump if they contaminate the air intake area. A distance of at least 1m should also be maintained on the drainage side to ensure there is no build-up of condensate and to avoid any freezing issues.

Installation in your own garden against the house wall

Make sure any operating noise does not affect the key areas of your property. This includes the patio, because the heat pump will also be operating during the summer months to produce domestic hot water. In addition, the unit should not be placed underneath or close to windows in private areas, such as bedrooms.

Proximity to a building and a boiler room

The heat pump should be located as close as possible to the building, or near the boiler room, to avoid any heat loss in the pipework. The AEROTOP® SX outdoor unit operates at 400V and is also supplied via a bus line, which must also be taken into consideration.

Installation on a flat roof

Most common heat pumps are floor mounted, sometimes wall mounted and seldom on flat roof. They are rarely required to be installed on a flat roof. However, it is possible in principle but dependent on the wind loads that occur. It is also essential to prevent the heat pump from slipping or falling, so a structural engineer must be used to fix the heat pump unit to the roof.

Solid foundations

Heat pumps require a solid foundation and are usually mounted either on a surface or strip foundation. When designing the foundation, consider a height above ground (e.g. 150-200mm) in order to cover the standard snow heights in your region. This ensures the air inlet and outlet are maintained at all times. Sometimes heat pumps are also mounted on the wall; in such cases, care must be taken to minimise structure-borne noise. The AEROTOP® SX is designed for floor mounting.

Surface foundation

The surface foundation securely raises the heat pump unit from the ground. It is important to ensure the whole construction is decoupled from the building, with a recommended thickness of 150-200mm on a well-compacted substrate. The condensate drain pipework must pass the surface foundation into the frost-proof area and then into the ground.

Strip foundation

Strip foundations are another option for mounting air source heat pump units outside. These must be well levelled and extend into the frost-proof area. The height above ground can be freely selected and the condensate drain pipework can pass between the strips into the frost proof area and the ground.

Light wells

Due to the refrigerant used, the AEROTOP® SX must maintain minimum distances from light wells or other openings leading into the building that are lower than the heat pump.

Light wells close to the floor

The refrigerant R32 is heavier than air and will sink to the ground in the event of a leak. As a result, a minimum distance between the outdoor unit and light wells must be maintained outdoors. When the light wells are close to the floor, this distance is ≥1000mm.

Raised light wells

When an application has raised light wells (≥150 mm), the minimum distance between the outdoor unit and light wells must be ≥100 mm.

Control Unit

The ELCO control unit is located inside a property and is the main interface for the end user. Featuring a full graphic display for simple operation, the controller manages all aspects of the heating system. It can also be connected to additional devices, such as room thermostats and the REMOCON NET smart connectivity.

What does a heat pump system look like?

There are many similarities between a heat pump system and one with an alternative heat generator, such as an oil, gas, or pellet boiler. The main difference is that a heat pump is installed outside the property, while a boiler is traditionally installed inside a property. The diagrams below show two simplified systems, which both provide heating and domestic hot water.

Return buffer

If the volume of water in a heating system is relatively small, a buffer tank helps to balance the system and ensure the heat pump works efficiently. The buffer tank also facilitates the heat pump's defrost cycle without taking heat from the system's heat emitters.

Download schematic

Combi buffer tank

The buffer in this system is supplying heat to the heating circuit, as well as a fresh water station. Plus, in summer, solar PV panels can provide energy to the buffer, which can be used for domestic hot water.

Download schematic

Reasons to install a buffer tank

Optimisation

Run time optimisation, especially for non-modulating heat pumps

Defrost

Provide an additional volume of water for defrosting air/water heat pumps

PV-integration

Increased system volume for PV-integration or Smart Grid requests

System volume

System volume / energy for energy supplier interruptions

Alternative heat sources

Integration of additional heat generators, such as solid fuel boilers, solar thermal etc.

Decoupling

Hydraulic decoupling of generator and heat sink