Protecting heat pump refrigerant lines

[600SL]

Hello

I am installing a heat pump in my garage and I could use some suggestions on protecting the refrigerant lines. I have a steel building with steel interior walls. Removing the steel interior wall panels to get behind them is not a reasonable option at this point. The lines have to come down a 10' wall where they will be exposed in the shop environment.

I'm considering putting the liquid and suction lines in to separate PVC pipes for protection a 2" PVC for the 1 1/8" insulated suction line and a 3/4" CPVC for the liquid line. The suction line will be 1 7/8" diameter with the insulation. Not sure if I can straighten the coil enough to feed it into the 2" PVC.

Anyone try this or have alternate ideas. You can see my link below for pictures of the interior.

 

[Ohmthis]

How do plan to transition from the pipe to outside? Meaning will you go from vertical pipe into a sweep 90 and outside. Or would you do something else. If you take your time you can tape up the control wire, liquid line, and suction together and push them into a 2". I don't see it going through a 2" 90 without some careful manipulation of the copper. Use a bigger pipe and only use one, there is no need to separate the lines.

 

[600SL]

How do plan to transition from the pipe to outside? Meaning will you go from vertical pipe into a sweep 90 and outside. Or would you do something else. If you take your time you can tape up the control wire, liquid line, and suction together and push them into a 2". I don't see it going through a 2" 90 without some careful manipulation of the copper. Use a bigger pipe and only use one, there is no need to separate the lines.

The suction line is 1.125 with 3/8" insulation making it 1.875 diameter. No way am I going to get that into a 2" PVC together.

The instructions do say to keep the lines apart. I have run them together on R22 AC installations in the past but this is the first time I read that. In any case a 2" PVC with a 3/4" CPVC is more desirable than a 3" PVC. Also PVC wont take the heat of the liquid line. Not sure if CPVC is available in 3".

To make the bend where it comes out I would slot the last 6"

 

[Brian_WK]

They have pipe chase covers. Might make your life a little easier they will fit the linesets.

Otherwise you can cut a 90 PVC on the seam work well. If you tape wrap the Lineset with duct tape and "lube' with baby powder it will slide through the 2 inch PVC and not shred the insulation. The bare liquid line can be in the same pipe as the insulated suction.

Brian

 

[Brian_WK]

PVC will be fine liquid line should never be above 120f if it does the unit is shutting down on high head anyways. The PVC is in no danger.

Brian

 

[toyotadriver]

I know this isn't exactly what you are asking but this is how I sealed up where the AC lines exited the house on my metal sided house.

 

[Git]

Just buy some sort of 'line hide'. Two pieces - you attach the back piece to the wall run your lines and snap the front piece over it

Here is the Mitsubishi Version - they have different sizes
http://www.ecomfort.com/Mitsubishi-CD-75/p30651.html

Cover for where the line exits the wall
http://www.ecomfort.com/Mitsubishi-NW-100/p30623.html

 

[600SL]

They have pipe chase covers. Might make your life a little easier they will fit the linesets.

Otherwise you can cut a 90 PVC on the seam work well. If you tape wrap the Lineset with duct tape and "lube' with baby powder it will slide through the 2 inch PVC and not shred the insulation. The bare liquid line can be in the same pipe as the insulated suction.

Brian

Thats perfect Thanks

With that in mind I would prefer to have the line set rise outside.

http://www.supplyhouse.com/DiversiT...AGe6gKYaan7aZSSZSHnFs5piGZcdq6QPlEaAkjg8P8HAQ

 

[600SL]

Just buy some sort of 'line hide'. Two pieces - you attach the back piece to the wall run your lines and snap the front piece over it

Here is the Mitsubishi Version - they have different sizes
http://www.ecomfort.com/Mitsubishi-CD-75/p30651.html

Cover for where the line exits the wall
http://www.ecomfort.com/Mitsubishi-NW-100/p30623.html

What kind of radius bend will go through that elbow. My tubing bender will be putting a 6" radius bend on 1.125" suction line.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Picture of lines inside shop?

 

[justinjoyal]

Why not run the lineset on the outside rather than on the inside?

Then have a color-matched lineset cover made out of aluminum.

3" wide by 3" deep is what we use most of the time.

You can tie the control wire and both pipes together, no problem.

 

[600SL]

Why not run the lineset on the outside rather than on the inside?

Then have a color-matched lineset cover made out of aluminum.

3" wide by 3" deep is what we use most of the time.

You can tie the control wire and both pipes together, no problem.

That's the route Iv'e chosen. Outside using white PVC cover.

Thanks for all the replies. Will post pics when done.

 

[600SL]

Thanks to the help I received here I found a great solution. I ran the lines down on the outside using one of those plastic covers mentioned here. I has to cut a pretty long slot in the penetration to allow the 1 1/8" low side line to make the bend. I spit a piece of small rubber hose to and glued it to the edge of the hole to protect the line set. I also clamped a slit piece of 2" PVC over the line set where it passed through the other side. I only with the cover was just a foot longer. I feel like buying another one just to get the last 1 foot covered.