This has been a  nightmare! I have been having constant problems since the unit was installed 2 1/2 years ago. With the exception of a few days, I have never had heat other than emergency heat, and no a/c. Hallowell is guessing its an installation problem, and the installer is guessing its an equipment problem, and I'm the one paying the bills. I am at the end of my rope! Is there anyone out there in Canada who is thinking legal or class action suit?? If so, please respond. Thanks.

I'll be interested in hearing responses from anybody with first hand experience with these units. On paper, they look very interesting. I did a lot of reading on them last year and one consistent thing I heard was that installers had a lot of problems due to wiring. Apparently the unit uses more wires (well, it should since it's got several stages!) and that confuses people.

It's unacceptable regardless that the system has been running only on emergency heat for 2 1/2 years. That's not an inexpensive system either. Any competent installer should have been able to diagnose the system in a few visits to the point of determining whether it was an installation problem or a system problem. So at the very least, you've likely got an installer who isn't qualified to be installing these systems.

Posted By tinoue on 11 Jul 2010 05:31 PM 
So at the very least, you've likely got an installer who isn't qualified to be installing these systems.

There are systems that are irrepairable even by seasoned and expert installers. Not saying that's the case here, but I wouldn't be so quick to judge.

I would be interested in more enduser commentary as well. Our GSHP category is likely off-putting to ASHP owners and shoppers. I think with improvements in the air-source heat pump biz, it might be time to include them in "GreenBuildingTalk."
Joe

I agree - many of the principles we push here (load calcs, duct considerations, contractor selection) apply to high end ASHP projects.

(I know they apply to ALL systems but aren't normally part of low bid coupon magazine 3 ton changeout for $2395 - type projects whose customers don't typically wash up on our shores)

Daikin claims useful COPs for its minisplit ASHPs down to single digit temps, so I have no doubt an ASHP can be made to work up north, but I don't yet have a sense that the Acadia is ready for prime time.

Joe, I 100% agree that "There are systems that are irrepairable even by seasoned and expert installers." However, please note that I didn't say they should have been able to repair the system. I said they should be able to "diagnose the system in a few visits to the point of determining whether it was an installation problem or a system problem" I'm sure you wouldn't have had any difficulty doing so. Would you let any of your clients go 2 1/2 years without a definitive answer as to whether the system was bad or you botched the install? I stand firmly by my statement, and you should be supporting that. The original poster's installer is probably the type of competition that underbids you then does a hack job on installation, and then points fingers at the manufacturer rather than actually solving the problem.

Posted By r norton on 11 Jul 2010 09:40 AM
Hallowell is guessing its an installation problem, and the installer is guessing its an equipment problem...

Is it possible to get them both out at the same time so they can try to resolve this for you?

From what I am reading, a lot of installers do not have enough experience to install Acadia heat pumps correctly. Acadia needs to ensure that those who install their units know what they are doing. It is giving them a bad name. I was thinking of buying an Acadia, but I don't want to live through one of these installation nightmares.

Tinoue,
Anyone in the contracting business can imagine a scenario where you might drink the wrong koolaide and suddenly your butts in a crack where you have to do a juggling act between the following comments.....
1) "the crap I sold you is junk...I thought it was cutting edge but they sold me a bill of goods too"
2) "there's nothing I can do to fix this"
3) "no really, I know what I'm doing"
I once had a gshp with what appeared to have been migratory debris in the refrigeration circuit (causing intermittant lock outs). Thanks to a distributor it was finally swapped out after several shot in the dark repairs (and months of aux heat). Manufacturer "never" authorizes replacements. I personally compensed customer for months of aux. coil. I no longer carry that very popular brand.
Not my fault.....rock and a hard place. If I had an extra 6k I'd have made the change without distributor support.
If this happened simultaneously on several units, I fear I could not have satisfied my customers.
So I stand by my statement that I would not be so quick to judge.
j