Project details
Skill
5 out of 5HardRequires licensed HVAC contractor and electrician
Cost
$1,000 and up, depending on size of heat pump
Estimated Time
4 to 6 hours
In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and host Kevin O’Connor install a ductless heat pump to heat and cool a room.
Steps:
- Calculate the heat and cooling load of the space, then order the appropriate size heat pump.
- Mount the bracket for the indoor air handler to the room wall.
- Use a hole saw to bore a 2⅝-inch-diameter hole through the exterior wall.
- Insert the plastic sleeve through the hole in the wall.
- Attach plastic conduit to the outside of the house to conceal the refrigerant lines and electrical cable.
- Attach the metal bracket to exterior of the house for mounting the condenser unit.
- Run an electrical cable from outside through the wall and into the room. Connect the cable to the air handler.
- Lift the air handler up to its mounting bracket, and feed the refrigerant lines and cable through the sleeve to the outdoors.
- Hook the air handler onto its wall-mounted bracket and secure with screws.
- From outside, connect copper tubing to the two refrigerant lines.
- Run the refrigerant lines and electrical cable through the plastic conduit and down to the metal bracket installed in Step 6.
- Snap the cover onto the conduit to conceal all the lines and cable.
- Use a tubing bender to bend the copper refrigerant lines, as needed, to reach the condenser’s mounting bracket.
- Have an electrician run a new circuit from the main electrical panel to the outside of the house right beside the condenser.
- Connect the electrical cable to the condenser.
- Bolt the condenser to its mounting bracket.
- Connect the refrigerant lines to the condenser.
- Use a remote control or wireless clock thermostat to operate the air handler, which will provide cool air in summer, and heat in the winter.