ᐅ Heat Pump Foundation Too Close to Garage: Repair or New Construction?

Hello everyone,

Our site manager knowingly allowed the foundation for the external unit of the air source heat pump to be poured with only an 11 cm (4.3 inches) gap from the future garage wall. The air source heat pump’s manual states that there should be at least 20 cm (7.9 inches) clearance.

Now the plumbing specialist has already noticed that it is very close to the garage foundation and has positioned the external unit as far towards the end of the heat pump foundation as possible, to leave as much space as possible. (I assume he didn’t know that the garage extends 30 cm (11.8 inches) beyond the garage foundation on each side.) However, one corner of the heat pump foundation broke off during this process.

In any case, the site manager believes he can repair the break and simply extend the heat pump foundation by 20 cm (7.9 inches), thus achieving just over the required minimum clearance.

Is it possible to repair the break without any issues and extend the heat pump foundation, or is this a substandard, cheap fix? I definitely do not want the foundation to crumble during the next frost. Should I insist on a new foundation?

Thanks for your help.

Best regards,
Snowside

Hello,

we had a similar issue. We didn’t want to see the foundation base, so we planned to install a fence with privacy panels and ventilation gaps in front of it. After 9 months, the pump broke down, and the plumber said, “Hold on, the fence is too close to the pump, such and such, and so on.” But they agreed to cover it as a goodwill gesture. We also ended up rotating the pump in a different direction.

What I want to say is: have it relocated during this phase. It will save you stress if something happens to the pump later on. Moving it by 8cm (3 inches) won’t hurt, especially if the replacement costs around 3,000 euros.

Hello snowside

patching the foundation is poor workmanship and won’t last long. At the first frost, the corner will break off again. It also wasn’t a good idea to drill so close to the edge.

Steven

Just patching the corner won’t work, but the site manager wants to extend the foundation. If this is done properly according to the relevant standards, it’s not a problem.

Hello everyone,

First of all, thank you for the responses.

There has been some progress since then. My site manager has now suggested a solution, as shown in the attached pictures. I even had to laugh a little.

I politely declined and am actually very curious to see what comes next.

Congratulations! You seem to have a highly competent construction manager.