Heat pump fan coil in a small closet

[gooutandgetem]

I have a 16" wide by 22" deep heat pump fan coil unit (upflow). I want to intall in a closet with a 24" door. The closet is 36" wide and 26" deep.

My thougt is to place the units left edge at he left edge of the door, so the control panel can have clear access. The line set connections can be connected at the coil in the front and the power would be on the right side (leaving 8" between side power access hole and side wall).

Then I would just undercut the door and install a side return filter grille on the side of the unit.

What do you guys think, it is tight but doagble (I think).

 

[sspeare]

Have you convinced yourself that you'll get enough return air through the undercut at the bottom of the door? What is your return air CFM? Can you get that CFM through the undercut opening?

 

[walkes]

There are other models of heat pumps that are designed for closets or corner installations for condos/apartments. An example can be found at

http://www.skymarkinternational.com/images/resources/166.pdf

(I have no knowledge of this manufacturer, but the units are pretty common)

 

[willard3]

Air-to-air heat pumps are not very green in cold climates.

 

[gooutandgetem]

Thanks for your help, acually I will put a return air grill in the closet door to make sure I have the correct clear area. I was thinking of lower CFMs (toilet exhaust) for the door under cut.

And we are the south so the heatpump should be a good solution.

Thanks for your help all.

 

[Shophound]

To clarify, you want the undercut of the door serving the closet that contains the heat pump air handler to serve as the return air path? Or are you talking about door undercuts used as return paths throughout the rest of the conditioned space?

If it's the closet door, you can't undercut it enough to get the return air required without basically defeating the reason for having a door in the first place. If out in the building, door undercuts seldom allow enough return air when the doors are closed, resulting in pressurized rooms and possible depressurization elsewhere in the structure. Transfer grills or jump ducts are better options in this instance.