In new construction the Installer will find the attached documents will save a lot of time and money when it comes to putting in the Line-Set during framing. There are two main methods. Dealers should consider offering Solar-Ready or SunPump Line Set installs as a paid service in new construction. Line Sets are available from most HVAC or Plumbing suppliers. Purchase a month in advance to make sure you have the right size in hand, and avoid delays or paying a ransom for a bagged roll.
- Directly fastening two pre-insulated ACR copper pipes inside an interior wall stud cavity. The key here is to avoid moist air condensing on the cold copper and dripping inside the wall causing mold. Avoid using uninsulated copper pancake coil and adding 6-foot pieces of insulation onsite because the seams and joints only need a little shrinkage to cause condensation drips. Best bet is to stick with fully insulated rolls that have no seams or joints to sweat.
- PVC Conduits are used for Solar-Ready requirements as a more expensive alternative to the above Direct roll. Use 2-inch PVC, vacuum tube is fine, it need not be schedule 40 PVC with thick walls. Cap the top of the conduit in the attic and label it for SunPump. It takes 3 / 10 foot x 2" PVC to go from basement, past a floor and into the attic in a 12-15 foot vertical run. Plan for glue, primer, couplings, and air-sealing.
NOTE: Remember to include two 24-gauge 2-wire for the air sensor on a nearby wall, and the panel sensor. Tape the thin wire to the insulation as it goes through the roof flashing. Caulk any hole drilled through the envelope wall on the inside and outside to keep out moisture and avoid heat loss.
Both methods require attention to detail to air seal the envelope penetrations. Flexible tapes and pipe seals or boots need to be part of an installers supplies. Never leave holes into the attic that allow moisture and heat to escape for decades. Foam in a can, electrical putty, or roof-caulking are three materials to close those 2.25" hole gaps in the wood framing.
A 5" x 7" Washing Machine or Utility Box can serve to transition the Line-Set from the wall plane into the Mechanical room, as shown above. The 'Ox Box' allows a cover plate to make for a clean look and fit with the drywall surface. There are some cover plates open at the bottom to make it a simple screw on task without cutting. The ideal place is above the right side of the SunPump location. In the picture above that has 12 inches of space to the left, the box is about 40 inches to the right from the corner. (studs are 24" spaced in the scale image). The Line Set should be long enough to be in one piece from the side of SunPump to the middle of the Panel location. The average length is in the 25-45 foot range, so a 50-foot roll is reasonable or take measurements and allow extra for trimming.