Best base for 6kW Ecodan heat pump external unit
What is everyone's thoughts on installation of a unit on earth/ground - seems to be a few schools of thought, around:
Base materials:
- level poured concrete - either of:
- one base
- two separate bases/'plinths'
- paving slab
- gravel
Beneath unit's feet:
- nothing - feet sit on concrete/slab
- 'flexi foot' (e.g. 600mm longh) with struts
- anti-vibration mounts under each foot
Securing:
- feet bolted directly to concrete/slab
- feet bolted to flexi foot and either of:
- flexi feet sat unsecured on top of concrete/slab/gravel
- flexi feet bolted / strapped to / otherwise secured to concrete/slab
- feet bolted to mounts, mounts bolted to concrete/slab
Mitsubishi installation manual says two concrete plinths with feet bolted directly to them.
It feels to me that two concrete plinths with unit feet secured to rubber and then rubber secured to concrete is best - the thinking with the last part: to avoid any small unit movements which may impact balance / create internal vibrations or cause small pipework vibrations downstream (unless flexi hoses always cancel this out?).
Do people think securing the rubber to the plinths would bring any benefits (even if small), and if so, which way would you go if you were doing a fresh install?
I would say always always always mount on thick rubber anti-vibration grommets in any domestic setting. You do not want to go through it all to find bzzzzzzzzz through your home. I think the new MIS3005 might give some advice on this when released after the consultation as, presently, anti-vibration mounting is required on installations by MCS but a worrying loop hole is the there is zero guidance on what is appropriate. You could literally put something for the weekend 'twixt the unit and concrete base/wall bracket and could pretend that is the anti-vibration mounting.
Ahh I might be wrong about there being a requirement for AV grommets if the manual says bolt directly to a concrete base. The requirement in MIS3005 is "4.4.4 Anti-vibration pads/mats/mounts and flexible hose connections should be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions to reduce the effects of vibration on the building structure." This mixes the expectation there should be AV grommets with the requirements in the installers manual, and if no requirement specified then I supposed they are not strictly required under MCS.
Posted by: @eltonI would say always always always mount on thick rubber anti-vibration grommets in any domestic setting. You do not want to go through it all to find bzzzzzzzzz through your home. I think the new MIS3005 might give some advice on this when released after the consultation as, presently, anti-vibration mounting is required on installations by MCS but a worrying loop hole is the there is zero guidance on what is appropriate. You could literally put something for the weekend 'twixt the unit and concrete base/wall bracket and could pretend that is the anti-vibration mounting.
I have found that 'something for the weekend' doesn't actually normally stop 'vibration'. 😋
@rhh2348 here's what we did with our heat pump. We secured our heat pump (weighing around 180kg) by placing four levelled concrete slabs side-by-side for a stable base.
Get a copy of The Ultimate Guide to Heat Pumps
Subscribe and follow our YouTube channel!
Posted by: @eltonI would say always always always mount on thick rubber anti-vibration grommets in any domestic setting.
Can you give an example or two of such items, and explain why those?
You do not want to go through it all to find bzzzzzzzzz through your home.
Indeed - hence the thread question 🙂
Posted by: @eltonAhh I might be wrong about there being a requirement for AV grommets if the manual says bolt directly to a concrete base.
I did think it odd, particularly as my install came with flexi feet! Also, Mitsubishi do list those feet in their accessories.
The requirement in MIS3005 is "4.4.4 Anti-vibration pads/mats/mounts and flexible hose connections should be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions to reduce the effects of vibration on the building structure." This mixes the expectation there should be AV grommets with the requirements in the installers manual, and if no requirement specified then I supposed they are not strictly required under MCS.
Understood, however I am looking for the optimal approach. What have you done / what would you do again if you did afresh?
Posted by: @editor@rhh2348 here's what we did with our heat pump. We secured our heat pump (weighing around 180kg) by placing four levelled concrete slabs side-by-side for a stable base.
-- Attachment is not available --
-- Attachment is not available --
Wow!
Are they on earth below?
What's the layers between your ASHP and the slab? (e.g. I think I can see rubber feet under the cabinet / enclosure)
@rhh2348, yeah on earth below, but the area was very heavily compacted so even trying to burrow them in was quite hard.
Not a huge gap bewteen the ASHP and the slab. It's running now and I'm out tomorrow but I can measure on Wednesday. It is standing in rubber feet. There is zero vibration noise from this unit. It's rock solid.
Base drawing from our manufacturer.
Get a copy of The Ultimate Guide to Heat Pumps
Subscribe and follow our YouTube channel!
Posted by: @editorIt is standing in rubber feet. There is zero vibration noise from this unit. It's rock solid.
Niiice. Which feet did you go for and (how) are they secured to the slabs and enclosure / unit?
@rhh2348 it's the way the heat pump arrived. It was literally taken off a truck, wheeled to the slabs and placed there. It's designed to stand (it's taller than me, and I'm over 6-foot), so no option of wall mounting. Because of it's tall design it's very well balanced, and even when running full tilt, it never reverberates or shakes. Prior to hearing form other homeowners we never even knew that reverberations were a "thing" when it came to heat pumps.
Get a copy of The Ultimate Guide to Heat Pumps
Subscribe and follow our YouTube channel!
Posted by: @editoryeah on earth below, but the area was very heavily compacted so even trying to burrow them in was quite hard.
This comment has me thinking whether adding concrete/slabs may introduce the possibility of vibrations, when some flexi feet (to raise off ground) on level compacted earth (maybe even sat within a 10mm recess with small drain channel out) may do the job as well if not better...
- 26 Forums
- 2,418 Topics
- 54.8 K Posts
- 328 Online
- 6,098 Members
Join Us!
Worth Watching
Latest Posts
-
R290 and Foundation Air Bricks
I am going around in circles. My property has foundatio...
By L8Again , 29 minutes ago
-
RE: Installer Fitted 9kW Instead of 11kW Heat Pump and Changed MCS Paperwork - What do I do?
Another good bout of cold weather should test whether t...
By JamesPa , 45 minutes ago
-
RE: Recommended home battery inverters + regulatory matters - help requested
Thanks. The frogstar is the one Im potentially looking...
By JamesPa , 56 minutes ago
-
RE: How to use my Hanchu battery storage for home without it feeding back into the grid?
Mine is the same as @skd i have luxpower inverters and ...
By IRMartini , 1 hour ago
-
RE: Setback savings - fact or fiction?
@cathoderay Re defrost systems, i asked the engineer...
By MikeF , 1 hour ago
-
RE: Ecodan Pump Issues… Circulation pump turns off when heat pump compressor turns off
@ashp-bobba I agree. I think I'll simplify the system j...
By Patch321 , 4 hours ago
-
Is it normal to use power from the grid when running off the battery?
I've recently had a Solis hybrid inverter fitted, with ...
By JohnnyB , 9 hours ago
-
RE: Reliable, easy to use home battery options
I have just had a my inverter and battery installed, ab...
By JohnnyB , 10 hours ago
-
RE: Samsung E101 Error Message and my ASHP Efficiency
@johnnyb amazing that the our forum is serving its purp...
By Mars , 13 hours ago
-
Best option for controller upgrade? - Grant Aerona
Fairly new heat pump owner - Grant Aerona 3 10kw - and ...
By Topher , 13 hours ago
-
RE: Daikin Wireless Thermostat
@toodles Yes. British Gas seems to have done an exce...
By Bash , 15 hours ago
-
RE: Is my Samsung gen6 outside air temp sensor missing a sheath/sleeve?
@papahuhu Mine is similar. Is your house not getting...
By bontwoody , 16 hours ago
-
Just a brief update to keep things transparent. Secti...
By DREI , 17 hours ago
-
RE: Ideal HP290 14kW ASHP - how to optimise
Sorry forgot about the three choices. It’s the 2nd one ...
By Davesoa , 18 hours ago
-
I continue to receive emails from homeowners sharing he...
By Mars , 18 hours ago
-
RE: Water outage in the the south-east
We think alike @editor ! All those bottles (and I expec...
By Toodles , 19 hours ago
-
RE: Say hello and introduce yourself
@mrfield, welcome to the forums. Please go here and ...
By Mars , 21 hours ago
-
RE: Octopus Cosy Heat Pump Owners & Discussion Thread
I did not hear back from the tech team. (Assume they ar...
By swwils , 22 hours ago
-
RE: Advice for a novice on Mitsubishi Ecodan 6kW
In the Home Assistant firmware the data points...
By F1p , 1 day ago
-
RE: GSHP WOES! Midland based engineer recommendations?
@johnbroome if it is not the pressure in the expansion ...
By ASHP-BOBBA , 1 day ago






