Quicker Defrost Cycle

[samandlillie]

My 15 RLQ Fujitsu ductless heat pump,seer of 21 and EER 14.5 operates as low as 5 degrees F(-20 C). However it does go thru the defrost cycle of around 5 min. when it is very damp outside . Any suggestions on how one could speed up the process?Could one use something like electric pipe wrap or some cable . My neighbour has a built in crankcase heater in his UTL outdoor unit and I never see any ice or condensation under the unit. his SEER is 15 and EER is 12. My unit always has ice build up on the ground under the unit. A quick blast of warm air would melt the frost a lot faster.I only run my XXV pellet stove on rare occasions. I have replaced over $1200 of pellets with about $300 of electricity.
Wayne in NS.

 

[benjamin]

I have replaced over $1200 of pellets with about $300 of electricity.
Wayne in NS.

Whatcha whinin about? I got a brother that's into UFC but I don't mess with any Fujitsu stuff.

Whether this defrosts with a reversing valve or resistance heater, I doubt you could improve it easily. The only possibility is if you had an alternative heat source, as in ground water. Hook up the defrost timer to turn on a high volume spray nozzle aimed at the coils, heck leave the nozzle on all the time and you've just converted your heat pump to geothermal.

 

[benjamin]

I don't know what UTL is either, but I'd guess the reason that the neighbors unit doesn't have ice under it has a lot to do with the lower efficiency. It's either using more resistance heat in those conditions or it's melting the water away somehow.