Why would it void the warranty if the heatpump is relocated into the garage?

Posted By docjenser on 13 Apr 2013 12:31 PM
Why would it void the warranty if the heatpump is relocated into the garage?

I think he's planning on relocating the compressor and leaving everything else where it is, the way I read it.

That's a good wuestion, but I'm told once you intentionally alter the Bosch "system" and their "engineering", it's voided.
It's not like I want to do this or that I'm going to inform them.
It's either move the compressor or toss the system, which would be a lot more expensive.

Thanks for your reply.
Yep, not happy about voiding the warranty.  But I can't replace/enlarge my existing ductwork, and I can't live with the low throbbing pulse throughout the house.  I've been unable to contain it in the furnace room despite lots & lots of sound deadening products.  So, I'll just hope Bosch's other parts run well for 10 years.  Like I said before, most warranties last just long enough, and after they expire, the parts die. 
David

If you are only moving the compressor there?.....You really need to rethink that. Much longer refrigerant lines come to mind. Control board might sense different pressures and temps. Very bad idea.

Posted By docjenser on 13 Apr 2013 04:20 PM
If you are only moving the compressor there?.....You really need to rethink that. Much longer refrigerant lines come to mind. Control board might sense different pressures and temps. Very bad idea.

Yep

I will second the statement Doc made about refrigerant lines. If I understand you right ,you are only thinking of moving compressor only. 50 Feet of added refrigerant lines, plus all the 90 degree elbows and other fittings make for really long refrigerant lines.The suction line must be carefully engineered for proper velocity and pressure drop to insure proper oil return to compressor. You risk a big chance in compressor failure from lack of lubrication and high superheated refrigerant not being able to cool compressor windings.The discharge line must be insulated to insure that the refrigerant gas doesn't condense prematurely. Are you sure your installer has the knowledge to do such a modification.One more thought, by adding 50 feet , you will more than likely loose some capacity in total system tonnage . You will also void the UL or CSA listing of the product and in the event of a fire or damage to your property, the likely hood of your insurance carrier honoring the claim would be nullified.

Consider selling your system and buying a split system

Hello Joe:
Thanks for the advice. I already spoke with Bosch. They said I'm out the $6,000 for the model I've got, but they'd give me $750 off the price of a split system. Mighty bog of them, don't you think? Anyway, we considered a split system initially, bit is doesn't fit. So we've moving ahead and creating our own split system by moving the compressor to the garage. It's not like I've got a lot to lose, and maybe it'll be just fine. Thanks again for your time and consideration.
David

Posted By djg61 on 17 Apr 2013 04:43 PM
Hello Joe:
Thanks for the advice. I already spoke with Bosch. They said I'm out the $6,000 for the model I've got, but they'd give me $750 off the price of a split system. Mighty bog of them, don't you think? Anyway, we considered a split system initially, bit is doesn't fit. So we've moving ahead and creating our own split system by moving the compressor to the garage. It's not like I've got a lot to lose, and maybe it'll be just fine. Thanks again for your time and consideration.
David

So a small air handler for a split system does not fit, but a packaged cabinet without a compressor fits?

Take the $750 and whatever you can get for yours.

Yes, that's correct.  A split system won't fit.  It's a confined space which has room for one but not the other.  We measured before we moved forward initially. 

Well, Joe, the way I see it is this.  If I do that, I lose the $6,000 that I've already spent plus the labor, which is considerable, and then spend another $6,250 ($7,000 for a new unit less the $750 discount) for a unit that I need to put in my workshop which is on the far end of the house and the only place a split system will work.  Seems to me, I've already in the soup for the first purchase, so may as well try this for about $2,000 and keep my fingers crossed.  If it doesn't work, I"ll probably just put in a propane furnace like I had.  What a bookowzuu (Italian for FUBAR).

Thanks for your concern and advice.  Like I said, I'll let you know when we're done how it went.

David

Posted By djg61 on 18 Apr 2013 08:52 AM
Yes, that's correct.  A split system won't fit.  It's a confined space which has room for one but not the other.  We measured before we moved forward initially. 

With a split they don't have to be in the same room. I think you should get a second opinion. If you are prepared to spend 2k already, sell your old unit and spend the 2K on propane. I'm concerned about the professional advice you are getting.

OK, guys. We're home now and the geothermal is working fine (so far) with the compressor 45' feet away in the garage. But....and it's a big but.....the 45' of copper tubing is still vibrating like a SOB, practically singing, and transferring all the vibration & throbbing from the compressor back into the house. We installed Parker Hannifin (PH) vibration "eliminators" on the copper lines and they don't seem to do much of anything.
I just got off the phone with a tech from PH and he said we should put a muffler on the discharge line leaving the compressor and that will dramatically reduce the vibration.
What do you think?
David
PS - My wife's ready to just yank the thing. I'm not ready to quit just yet.

Posted By djg61 on 23 Apr 2013 10:49 AM
OK, guys. We're home now and the geothermal is working fine (so far) with the compressor 45' feet away in the garage.

Why copper? My system uses PVC pipes, I used to have issues with it when it turned off, but other wise it's pretty quite.

"Why copper?"

They are refrigerant lines not water pipes,

Hey is it possible you need to remove the shipping bolts.. LOL.. I know you have said they are removed several times now.. but let tell you I learned the hard way to not believe everything someone tells you.
So far on my Bosch GEO i have had 6 different technicians tell me they removed the shipping bolts... 6 bold faced lies.. I suppose they were so embarrassed that they could not find them that they did not want to admit so they simply told the dumb assed home owner (me) they had removed them.... you should have see the face of the last tech when i asked him to show me the bolts he removed... WOW.. worth its weight in gold.
If you know how to jiggle the compressor using a single finger the compressor should easily move a tiny bit.. if it feels like its bolted to the frame it is... trust me... I have had 3 different systems installed in the last year and not one had the shippling bolts removed until I forced them to do it.. but this last one has been a doozy... not able to determine which is the shipping bolts.. I have a Bosch install video but they point it out so quickly you cannot determine if its a physical bolt as it normall is or simply to back off the compressor bolts to release... never seen a need to back off the compessor mounting bolts but it does look like what he did.. any way do a jiggle check on the compressor and that will tell you for sure if someone is lying to you..