Abstract:

This Best Practices Guide provides designers and installers of variable capacity heat pumps (VCHPs) generic information to ease the selection and installation of this equipment and improve performance and comfort. The content is derived from five years of VCHP evaluations completed at three test homes in Stockton, CA.

These evaluations at the Central Valley Research Home (CVRH) test homes, sponsored by Pacific Gas and Electric and Southern California Edison, have explored many aspects of VCHP performance, including the impacts of sizing, refrigerant charge, and delivery method selection and design.

Though the typical HVAC contractor has many years of experience installing single speed or multistage centrally ducted systems, few contractors have extensive experience with VCHP units, which are inherently different. This Best Practices Guide reduces the learning curve for the installers so that the full value of the technology can be utilized.

Keyword Search:

Best practices, guide, heat pumps, variable capacity, VCHP, mini-split, minisplit, MSHP, equipment, design, installation, sizing, selection, planning, refrigerant, refrigerant charge, COP, performance, comfort, ACCA, Manual J, Manual RS, Manual D, homeowner, education, training, quality, verification, commissioning, retrofit, new construction, CVRH, central valley research homes, Mayfair, Grange, Caleb