Converting an air conditioner to a heat pump

 

How feasible would it be to convert a split air conditioner to a heat
only heat pump?  I still have too many projects to complete before I
could attempt to do something like this, but I find it interesting to
think about projects like that.  I realize that I would need a
refrigerant capture device and take an exam before I could buy
refrigerant.

 
Dan

 

desertcomfort had written this in response to
http://www.thestuccocompany.com/hvac/Converting-an-air-conditioner-to-a-heat-pump-38741-.htm
 :

dcaster@krl.org wrote:





dan. not sure what u mean by heat only heat pump. a heat pump can be in a
split or package unit. it cools and heat. the condenser has a reversing
valve that switches the flow of refrigerant to cool or heat. it would be
quit a project to turn ur straight cool condenser 2 a heat pump. the heat
pump needs a reversing valve, different refrigerant piping in the
condenser, metering device in condenser and in a coil, bi flow filter
drier, defrost timer, defrost relay, temperature sensors etc... recovery
machines and cylinders for refrigerant are expensive. as far as the exam,
u need a epa certification 2 buy refrigerant. a basic background in a/c
and recovering techniques help for the exam. most states supply houses
will not sell u refrigerant if u are not a contractor. let me know whats
up.
fadel
-------------------------------------
desert comfort
www.desertcomfortmechanical.com

 

On Oct 22, 2:42 am, info_at_desertcomfortmechanical_dot_...@foo.com (

By a heat only heat pump, I mean a system without a reversing valve.
But connected so that it will not cool the house.  It would only heat
the house.

I know that recovery machines are expensive and I also know that an
exam is required to get a epa cert.  But wanted this  thread to just
consider what would need to be done to change a cool only system to a
heat only system.  Not to discuss how impractical an idea this is.
For this discussion consider that a licensed HVAC tech with a complete
set of tools is going to do all the work.

                                                         Dan

 


On Oct 22, 2:42 am, info_at_desertcomfortmechanical_dot_...@foo.com (

By a heat only heat pump, I mean a system without a reversing valve.
But connected so that it will not cool the house.  It would only heat
the house.

I know that recovery machines are expensive and I also know that an
exam is required to get a epa cert.  But wanted this  thread to just
consider what would need to be done to change a cool only system to a
heat only system.  Not to discuss how impractical an idea this is.
For this discussion consider that a licensed HVAC tech with a complete
set of tools is going to do all the work.


---------------------------------------------

Get on usenet, instead of succo company, and maybe somebody will tell you
something other than your another idiot trying to reinvent the wheel. But if
you had a half a clue, its real easy to convert a straight a/c to heat only,
but why would you *want* to when there are so many other options already out
there for heating.

 

What you'd have to do, is to rearrange several tubing
connections. Have the high pressure go to the (formerly)
evaporator, and from there to the (what was formerly the)
condensor. I'm not sure the evaporator would take the higher
pressures, but maybe so. You'd have to also equip the
(formerly) condensor with some kind of freeze warning
device, and a defrost cycle.

In theory, it could be possible.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
  www.lds.org
.


How feasible would it be to convert a split air conditioner
to a heat
only heat pump?  I still have too many projects to complete
before I
could attempt to do something like this, but I find it
interesting to
think about projects like that.  I realize that I would need
a
refrigerant capture device and take an exam before I could
buy
refrigerant.


Dan