Heat pump covers and air conditioner covers: what is different

A heat pump cover and an air conditioner cover rest on the same principle: screen the unit from view, keep the back open and leave room for air to move. The construction and the technologies are shared. The differences come from the way a heat pump works and the way it is usually sited. Here is what to keep in mind.

What they have in common

Let us start with the similarities, because there are plenty:

• The same purpose. In both cases the point is to screen the unit without getting in the way of its work.
• An open back. The cover leaves the back exposed so that air has somewhere to come from.
• The same technologies. You can choose an aluminium slatted cover or a steel panel with a laser-cut pattern; both are powder coated.
• The same range of enclosures. From a full enclosure of the front with sides and top down to the front on its own, wall-mounted or free-standing.

So from the point of view of choosing a cover, the process is very much alike.

What makes a heat pump different

It works all year round

An air conditioner is mostly used in summer and runs in cooling mode. A heat pump also works in winter, in heating mode, taking heat out of cold air. That means the cover is exposed to conditions all year round, including low temperatures, ice and snow.

Condensate has to drain away

In heating mode a heat pump produces condensate, and in freezing weather frost and ice as well, which are periodically defrosted. The water has to be able to run off, so the cover should not obstruct the drainage or trap moisture at the base. It is worth taking this into account when choosing the mounting option.

The size of the unit

Outdoor heat pump units are often larger and heavier than typical air conditioner units, and they frequently stand on the ground on their own base. That affects the dimensions of the cover and the choice between wall mounting and a free-standing version.

More air moved

Heat pumps usually shift large volumes of air. Free airflow therefore counts for even more: an open back, a sensible gap between the slats and no solid panel in front of the air outlet.

What to bear in mind when ordering a heat pump cover

1. Give us the model of the unit. That way we can design the cover around its exact dimensions and airflow requirements.
2. Describe where it stands. Soil, paving, a plinth or a flat roof all influence the choice of the free-standing version and the design of the base.
3. Pay attention to drainage. Tell us if water collects under the unit or is carried away in a particular way.
4. Allow for winter conditions. If snow tends to lie where you are, it is worth choosing an enclosure that does not get in the way of clearing it and does not let drifts build up around the unit.

The common denominator: made to measure

Because heat pumps vary far more between models than typical air conditioners, a cover designed around the specific unit is all the more worthwhile. Instead of fitting the unit to a ready-made enclosure, the dimensions, the extent of the enclosure and the mounting method are matched to the real situation on your property. The ventilation principle stays the same as with an air conditioner: screen it from view, but leave the air a way through.

Looks and a place in the garden

A heat pump unit is more often in plain sight than an air conditioner, by the wall on the garden side, say, or next to the terrace. All the more reason to think about how it looks. A cover lets you settle the unit into its surroundings: aluminium slats sit well alongside fencing from the same family of profiles, and a patterned steel panel can become part of the garden scheme. You pick the colour from the RAL palette, so the cover can either blend into the facade or contrast with it deliberately.

Looking after a heat pump cover

Because a heat pump runs all year, its cover goes through more cycles of frost, damp and sunshine than one on a seasonally used air conditioner. Aluminium does not corrode and powder coating protects the surface, so upkeep is simple: clean off leaves, dust and grime from time to time and check that water drains freely and is not pooling at the base. In winter it is worth making sure that drifts do not build up around the unit and restrict the air supply. Access to the unit is preserved, so servicing and defrosting never call for taking the structure apart.

What about noise?

An open slatted cover or a panel with cut-outs is not an acoustic barrier and should not be mistaken for one. Its job is to screen the unit and protect it from damage, not to quieten the pump. Importantly, a well-designed cover with an open back should not make the unit sound any worse either, because it does not restrict the airflow. If noise reduction is what you are after, that is a separate subject, and it is solved mainly by where the unit is sited and which model you choose, not by the enclosure.

In summary

A heat pump cover uses the same technologies and the same range of options as an air conditioner cover, but it has to allow for year-round operation, condensate drainage, a larger unit and more air being moved. A made-to-measure solution, matched to the specific model and its position, works best. If you are not sure how to enclose your heat pump, describe the situation in your quote request.