How big is an air-source heat pump?#
An air-source heat pump is a square outdoor cabinet much like a cooling condenser, 28 to 39 inches on a side and 28 to 50 inches tall, but it works all year to warm and cool a home. The table below sorts the small, mid-size, and large units.
Air-source heat pump dimensions by configuration#
| Configuration | Width (in) | Height (in) | Depth (in) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small air-source heat pump | 28–32 | 28–36 | 28–32 | a small to mid-size home in a mild climate |
| Mid-size air-source heat pump | 32–36 | 34–42 | 32–36 | a larger home that heats and cools |
| Large air-source heat pump | 35–39 | 40–50 | 35–39 | a big home or a cold-climate system |
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Installation clearances for an air-source heat pump#
- Snow and grade clearance: 12–24 in in a heat pump sits above grade on a stand so defrost melt and snow drain away below it.
- Side clearance: 12–24 in in around a heat pump so it can pull air through the coil while it heats and defrosts.
- Overhead clearance: 48–60 in in above a heat pump, clear of eaves, so discharge air and defrost vapor rise freely.
- Defrost drainage: A heat pump makes condensate and defrost melt even in winter, so it needs free drainage under the raised base.
Will your air-source heat pump fit? Clearances and door swing#
This unit wants the same open surroundings as a cooling condenser, plus one winter-specific need: drainage. Perch the cabinet 12 to 24 inches off the ground on a stand so meltwater and snow shed away underneath rather than freezing at the base. Give every face 12 to 24 inches of daylight so the coil can breathe while the system runs its heating and defrost cycles, and hold 48 to 60 inches overhead, away from eaves, so exhaust and defrost mist climb off instead of glazing the soffit with ice. Since the machine sheds condensate and melt even at the coldest hours, the ground beneath that raised base must drain nonstop — a slab laid flat will pool and heave. Check the stand footprint and the side gaps against the widest point of the cabinet before you pour.
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Air-source heat pump sizes by type: small air-source heat pump, mid-size air-source heat pump, large air-source heat pump#
The three tiers follow capacity and climate. A small unit, 28 to 32 inches per side and 28 to 36 tall, fits a modest home in a gentle climate where the winter load stays light. The mid-size cabinet widens to 32 to 36 inches and rises 34 to 42, handling a bigger house that relies on it for both seasons. The large version, 35 to 39 wide and 40 to 50 tall, is the cold-region workhorse, carrying an oversized coil that keeps drawing warmth from bitter air. Pair the model to your home's demand and lowest temperatures, then lay out the stand and gaps around its tallest measurement.
Air-source heat pump dimensions: common questions#
How big is an air-source heat pump?#
Each side runs 28 to 39 inches, with heights from 28 to 50 inches. Gentle-climate models stay compact; cold-region systems fill the tallest shell.
How is a heat pump different from an AC condenser in size?#
The two share a similar boxy outdoor form, yet this one usually perches higher and labors through every season. That added lift on a stand lets defrost runoff and snow escape below in winter.
How high should a heat pump sit above the ground?#
Mount it 12 to 24 inches up on a stand so melt and snow drain out from beneath. A base set flush to the earth lets runoff puddle and freeze around it once temperatures drop.
How much clearance does a heat pump need?#
Hold 12 to 24 inches at every face and 48 to 60 inches above, well clear of eaves and limbs. That breathing room lets the coil harvest heat while running and vent mist while defrosting.
How tall is a cold-climate heat pump?#
The large cold-region model tops out at 40 to 50 inches, tallest of the trio. Its added stature houses a bigger coil that keeps extracting warmth from deeply chilled outdoor air.
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