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Heat Pump Replacement

Installed correctly, a new heat pump can cut utility expenses while improving comfort.

Systems for heating and cooling your home uses more energy and cost more money than any other system in your home—typically over 50% of your utility bill. High-efficiency heat pumps such as variable-speed systems save energy and last longer. However, a quality installation is integral to a well-performing system. Nearly half of all heating and cooling systems in U.S. homes are not installed to manufacturer’s instructions and therefore perform below rated capacity and efficiency.

Checklist

This U.S. Department of Energy checklist includes important specifications that can contribute to a complete and quality installation. All work shall comply with these specifications, all relevant codes and standards, and all manufacturer installation instructions. The contractor shall check each box on the checklist below and sign and date at the bottom to certify the work is completed.

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Preparation


All exposed ducts (e.g., attic, basement, and crawlspace) shall be inspected; all damaged or disconnected ducts shall be repaired or replaced, and all visible leaks shall be sealed with UL 181 tape and/or mastic.

A room-by-room load calculation shall be performed in accordance with the Air-Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) Manual J.

The heat pump selected shall be ENERGY STAR certified and sized in accordance with ACCA Manual S based on ACCA Manual J load calculation results.

The system shall be evaluated to determine if the supply and return air flows are balanced and if ducts are properly sized. Recommendations shall be made to the homeowner if the ducts are not the right size.

Installation


The heat pump shall be installed in accordance with ANSI/ACCA Standard 5 HVAC Quality Installation Specifications.

The air filter shall be replaced with a MERV 8 or higher filter selected for appropriate air flow across the coil.

If the air filter is installed in a filter media box attached to the air handler, the access panel for the filter should be fitted with a flexible, air-tight gasket to prevent air leakage.

Where a new thermostat location is provided, it shall be located on an interior wall away from heating or cooling registers, appliances, lighting fixtures, exterior doors, skylights, windows, and areas that receive direct sunlight or drafts.

Commissioning


Proper refrigerant charge shall be verified in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Pressure balance testing (pressure pan and/or flow hood) for proper room-to-room air flow shall be performed and adjustments shall be made to address any imbalances.

Air flow across the coil shall be tested following procedures approved by ANSI/ACCA Standard 5 QI-2015 to verify it is within the CFM range specified by the equipment manufacturer. If it is not, adjustments shall be made as required.

The home shall be inspected for the presence of a whole-house ventilation system. If one is present, the actual air flow shall be tested and verified to meet or exceed a target ventilation rate based on house size as follows: 50 cfm for up to 1,500 ft2, 70 cfm for 1,501 to 2,500 ft2, and 100 cfm over 2,500 ft2, per ASHRAE 62.2-2013. Recommendations shall be made to the homeowner for either installing a new whole-house ventilation system compliant with the target rate if one is not present, or repairing an existing system to be compliant with the target rate if airflow is not adequate.
Heat Pump Replacement

Tips to Sell Quality Installed Home Improvements

Home Improvement Expert is a valuable tool for organizations committed to quality installed work. The following tips help optimize the value of this tool when selling home improvements:

Trust Matters: Inform homeowners how your work conforms to this world-class expert guidance. Recommend they visit the DOE website as evidence these are indeed official best practices.

Knowledge Matters: Take advantage of the Building America Solution Center as a resource for becoming an expert on these projects.

Clarity Matters: Tell prospective clients to contrast your expert-recommended best practices with other contractors.

Value Matters: Advise prospective clients to insist other bids also include these checklists to ensure equivalent quality work.

Message Matters: Showcase on your website and marketing materials that your company uses the highest quality best practices specified on HIE Checklists.

Experiences Matter: Provide visual evidence contrasting the difference between poor and high quality work such as infrared images; pre- and post-energy bills; short and long warranties; and simple charts and graphics depicting performance advantages.

Related Guides

Guide:

Pre-Retrofit Assessment of Existing HVAC Systems

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Information guide describing options to consider when retrofitting or upgrading a home's HVAC system.
Guide:

Traditional Split Heat Pumps

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Guide describing the split system heat pumps used for central forced air heating and cooling.
Guide:

Ductless (Mini-Split) Heat Pumps

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Guide describing ductless heat pump systems used for single-room or whole-house heating and cooling.
Guide:

High-MERV Filters

Description
Guide describing the uses, selection process, and specification of high-MERV filters.

Disclaimer

This content is a work created with funding provided by the United States Department of Energy under Contract no DE-AC05-076RL01830 for the operation of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The information and guidance provided by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in the content are intended solely for educational purposes only and do not constitute formal training or certification. It is provided with the explicit understanding that neither the United States Government nor the United States Department of Energy, nor the Contractor, nor any or their employees, nor any jurisdiction or organization that has cooperated in the development of these materials, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness or any information, apparatus, product, software, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof, or Battelle Memorial Institute. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Viewers assumes full responsibility for all actions that they may take from information provided in this content including ensuring the safety, code compliance, and proper functionality of any products they choose to install. Installation and use of such products should be performed in accordance with local regulations and manufacturer instructions.