EcoRenovator  

Go Back   EcoRenovator > Improvements > Geothermal & Heat Pumps
Advanced Search
 


Blog 60+ Home Energy Saving Tips Recent Posts Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-23-21, 06:30 AM   #1
ecomodmonster
Lurking Renovator
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: England (stoke)
Posts: 14
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Default defrosting a heat pump -are there any tricks?

Hi

i have a portable heat pump air conditioner which i am using to heat my house.
when its really cold it spends half the time switched off and defrosting.

i was wondering if the more expensive heat pumps have any advanced features for defrosting?
my heat pump just switches the compressor off to defrost and waits for the frost to melt.
do any heat pumps use water to defrost? or electric? or would that be heating the outdoors and poor efficiency?

ecomodmonster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-23-21, 11:42 AM   #2
Acuario
Apprentice EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Tortosa, Spain
Posts: 221
Thanks: 2
Thanked 81 Times in 46 Posts
Default

The normal method is a hot gas defrost. Basically the refrigerant flow is changed so hot liquid refrigerant flows to the condenser instead of cold liquid, this then defrosts the condenser in 'super quick time'. Normally it is a fixed time defrost that is run when a designated temperature is reached or exceeded for a set period of time.

The split type a/c units turn off the interior fan while defrost is active so the user doesn't suddenly get a blast of cold air.

On my own controller I monitor the temperature of the condenser so can cut short the defrost cycle if necessary.
Acuario is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-27-21, 05:23 PM   #3
ecomodmonster
Lurking Renovator
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: England (stoke)
Posts: 14
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Default

are there any portable heat pumps with that feature?
ecomodmonster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-21, 09:24 PM   #4
Xringer
Lex Parsimoniae
 
Xringer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Woburn, MA
Posts: 4,918
Thanks: 114
Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts
Default

When it's really wet and then gets down in the 20s F, my heat pumps will go into defrost mode.
The heating mode switches to cooling mode, but the indoor air handler fan will be off or very low. So as not to cool off the house.
That works really well when the ice isn't too thick..

So sometimes, when there is a lot of ice on my main house unit, and I want get rid of the ice faster. I'll change to mode to Cool the house! The living room gets pretty cool, (we wait in the den, where it's warmer). After 10 or 15 mintues, I turn if off, and wait for more melting.
Many times, I'll watch the ice on a security cam located in back of the outdoor unit.
I leave the unit off until the ice is pretty much gone off the warm HX coils, and return it to heating mode (66 or 67F) and go to bed..

__________________
My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits
EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..
Xringer is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:43 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Ad Management by RedTyger
Inactive Reminders By Icora Web Design