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Complete our online training course. Note this will take about 30 min on average to complete.

Read all the topics carefully and answer the below given questions. You can only proceed to next topic after selecting the correct answer.

Buffer Tanks

The heat pumps are designed to operate with one or more buffer tanks.

  • The tank is often referred to as the “battery”. It stores energy which is available for space heating, cooling, or DHW heating.
  • The tank also serves as a hydronic separator as the flow rates between the heat pump and buffer tank, and various methods of distribution and the buffer tank, can differ greatly.

One Tank System

One Tank System

The heat pump can maintain a hot tank in the colder months, and a cold tank in the warmer months.

  • Powerful yet simple design… uses less additional components than a two-tank system.
  • Works for most installations. A single water temp is maintained for all distribution sources.
  • When combined with outdoor reset, the perfect water temperature can be maintained for maximum efficiency.

Two Tank System

Two Tank System

The heat pump will maintain a separate hot tank and cold tank.

  • The hot tank is maintained year-round providing the benefit of heat being available at any time of the year for domestic hot water pre-heating.
  • In a more complex installations, distribution in different zones can call for heating or cooling from each tank simultaneously.
  • Requires additional components (several 3-way valves) making the installation more complex.

Heat Exchanger: It is not recommended to connect the heat pump directly to a heat exchanger. The loop is often short and will heat/cool too quickly resulting in short cycling of the heat pump. 

Hydronic Separator: A separator can be used in place of a buffer tank, but only in large single zone setups such as a garage, warehouse, hanger, etc….

Hydronic Separator

 

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Pipe Sizing – Heat Pump to Buffer Tank

Pipe size must be considered to reduce head loss which can result in insufficient water flow. General pipe size between the heat pump and buffer tank should be 1” copper, however there are exceptions to consider.

Increase piping size to 1.25”

  • When the system uses Arctic’s 5-ton 060ZA/BE R32 heat pump
  • When the heat pump (any model) is further than 75’ away from the buffer tank (each 90° elbow adds 2.5’ of equivalent pipe length)
  • Two tank systems with a 3-way valve

PEX: Pex has a smaller inside diameter than copper.

  • 1” PEX should only be considered on the smaller models of heat pumps with short piping distance.
  • 1.25” PEX can substitute for 1” Copper

Multiple Heat Pumps Require a Header

When using multiple heat pumps, the shared header should be 2” or larger depending on the number of heat pumps. Each heat pump would then connect to the header based on the piping guidelines above.

Multiple Heat Pumps require a Header

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Electrical

Arctic Heat Pumps require 240v single phase power, they will not work with 3 phase power.

  • 240v is ideal, there is tolerance between 180v & 260v
  • The heat pump will operate with 208v service, providing it is single phase.
  • Below 208v performance will degrade
  • NOTE: The high temp (2 stage) heat pumps must have 240v (+/- 5%) to operate to spec. At 208v the high temp heat pump will not be able to reach its highest temperature.

Each heat pump must be wired to an outdoor disconnect installed by a licensed electrician.

Breaker Sizes:

  • 035ZA/BE (R32) - 30A
  • 050ZA/BE (R32) - 40A
  • 060ZA/BE (R32) - 40A

Primary Power

  • L1/L2/GND are required
  • Neutral is only required if a 120v circ pump is used between Arctic heat pump and buffer tank.

Primary Power

Circulation Pump & 3 Way Valve Output

  • The circulation pump will connect to the Arctic Heat Pump “Circ Pump” output. This is 240v (L1/L2/GND) or 120v (L1/Neutral/GND). 14awg wire must be run to the mechanical room from the heat pump.
  • If the installation includes a 2-tank setup you will also require the 240v 3-way valve output. 14awg wire will be run to the 3-way valve in the mechanical room.

Circulation Pump 3 Way Valve Output

Control Wires

  • A controller cable is included in the heat pump. This is already connected in the heat pump and must be ran to the controller in the mechanical room. This cable can be extended with 18awg control wire if required
  • A tank sensor and cable are included with the heat pump. This is already connected in the heat pump and must be run to the hot tank sensor in the buffer tank. This cable can be extended with 18awg control wire if required
  • If using a 3rd party controller, you may also utilize the “REMOTE ON/OFF” and “MODE” connections in the heat pump. Each connection requires a pair of 18awg control wire to be run to the control room.

Control Wires

NOTE: All power (240v & 120V) wires must be run separate from the Control Wires.

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Glycol

A glycol mix is required for any location where freezing is possible. Although the heat pump has built in freeze protection, and will circulate the glycol if it gets too cold, that will not help in the event of a complete power failure.

  • Propylene glycol should be used in an appropriate ratio corresponding to the lowest possible ambient temperature (see table below). We would normally recommend a 20% - 40% mix for burst protection.

    Propylene glycol chart
  • System pressure drop will increase by 25% with 35% water to glycol mixture so this must be considered when sizing circulation pumps.
  • WARNING: DO NOT EXCEED 45% GLYCOL AS THE FLUID WILL BE TOO VISCOUS AND PREVENT THE CIRCULATION PUMPS FROM WORKING.
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Piping Layout

The piping layout between the heat pump and buffer tank is very important for optimal performance.

  • Adequate pipe sizing should be adhered to as discussed in a previous section.
  • Distance between the heat pump and buffer tank should be kept as short as possible.
  • 90-degree elbows should be used sparingly… as each elbow adds the equivalent of 2.5’ of pipe length.
  • All outdoor piping should be adequately insulated.
  • If using for cooling, all indoor piping should be insulated to prevent condensation.

Piping Layout

Piping layout between the heat pump and buffer tank

Arctic Heat Pump – Installation Video

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Stand

A stand is required when installing the heat pump in freezing climates.

Stand

  • The stand should be 18” – 24” tall
  • The stand should be installed at least 1’ from the wall
  • This helps to prevent rodents from accessing the heat pump.
  • This prevents snow from accumulating around the heat pump.
  • During defrost operations, large amounts of condensation will drop to the ground from the drain spigot at the back left corner of the heat pump, and in freezing temperatures it will turn to ice. If the heat pump was not on a stand, this ice would plug the drain hole which would result in ice encapsulating the heat pump, potentially causing damage.

Installation

  • The stand should be securely installed on pad, approximately 2’ x 4’
  • The heat pump will mount to the stand using the included isolation pads to prevent/minimize vibration & noise.

Please see this video on how to assemble an Arctic Steel Stand

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Engine vs Distribution

At Arctic Heat Pumps, we view the overall installation as two separate sections… with the buffer tank(s) acting as the separation. This distinction is most important when troubleshooting an installation, or any problem that has developed at a later time.

The ENGINE
This refers to the heat pump, backup boiler, buffer tank(s), and optional HBX ECO-0600 controller. The purpose of the engine is to maintain a desired temperature within the buffer tank.

Engine vs Distribution

The Distribution
The Distribution This refers to the components that heat/cool the air in a building. It is the radiant floors, fan coils, air handlers and any pumps/accessories/controllers associated. These components draw from the buffer tank to provide heating/cooling to the building air.

The Distribution

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Controller

Your Arctic Heat Pump controller is a very important piece of equipment, even if you are controlling the system with a 3rd party controller.

The heat pump controller must be connected and should be installed in the mechanical room.

Touch Screen Controllers (R32)

The primary controllers as of 2025 are the touch screen models that ship with the R32 series heat pumps.

Adjusting the Temperature
When viewing the controller, the temperature in the circle is the current water temp, the temperature on the right side is the SET point.  Press the + or – buttons to adjust the temperature.

Touch Screen Controllers

Celsius to Fahrenheit

  • Press “Menu > Program > User Settings”
  • Page down to the last item on the last page. (59 TEMP)
  • 0 = Celsius
    1 = Fahrenheit

Heating / Cooling

  • Press “Mode” on the home screen
  • Your options will appear on the screen that appears… (your options may differ from this image)
  • Simply choose the heating/cooling mode you would like.
    NOTE: In an EVI system, DHW = Heating Mode

Touch Screen Controllers heating cooling

Checking your DELTA T Across the Inlet and Outlet

  • Press “Menu > Program > State”
  • Page down to find both the “Inlet water temp”
    and the “outlet water temp”.
  • The difference between those temperatures is the current Delta T

Check for Recorded Error Codes

  • Press “Menu > Errors”

If the system has encountered any errors, they will appear in this list.

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Equipment Location

Outdoor

  • Heat Pump(s) Outdoor disconnect
  • Snow Stand(s)

Equipment Location

Mechanical Room

  • Buffer Tank(s) heat pump tank sensor
  • Heat Pump Circulation Pump
  • 3-way valves (when applicable)
  • Backup boiler
  • Heat Pump Controller
  • 3rd party heat pump controllers
  • Zone controllers (when applicable)
  • Zone circulation pumps (when applicable)
  • Air handler (when applicable)
  • Radiant manifolds (when applicable)

 Control Room

Individual Rooms/Zones

  • Zone thermostats
  • Fan coils (when applicable)

Individual Rooms Zones

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Limitations of the System


Heat Pump in Heating Mode

  • Maximum outlet water temperature of 60C/140F
  • The heat pump will not operate below -35C/-31F
  • In cool/humid conditions, defrost cycles will be routine which affects heating efficiency.
  • Declining efficiency as outdoor temperatures drop and water temperature increases.

Limitations of the System

Heat Pump in Cooling Mode

  • Minimum water temperature of 5C/41F
  • The heat pump will not operate above 45C/113F
  • The heat pump will not provide cooling below 1C/34F outdoor temperature.
  • Declining efficiency as outdoor temperatures rise and water temperature decreases.
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Backup

A backup is required for most installations. It is mandatory for installations in colder climates.

  • During shoulder seasons the heat pump may enter defrost mode frequently… the backup is required to assist.
  • In the coldest months, the heat pump’s efficiency will decline, so the backup may be required to keep the temperature consistent.
  • At -35C/-31F the heat pump cannot run so the backup will be required.

Backup heaters can be electric, gas, propane, or oil.Almost all existing backup heaters can be integrated.

Backup

When connected to the heat pump, the backup will run under the following conditions:

  • If the heat pump enters an error state.
  • The temperature outside drops below a set temperature (-35C/-31F is default)
  • If the heat pump cannot raise the temperature of the buffer tank by 2C over a 30-minute period.

When connected to a 3rd party controller, we can adjust the backup stages with more precision.

  • If tank temp is not reached in specific time frame.
  • If the differential between the tank temp and set temp is more than a specific amount.
  • If the tank temp is below a set temperature.
  • If the outside temp drops below a set temperature.
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Declining Efficiency Curve

Arctic Heat Pumps output and input specifications/ratings are not constant; therefore, when sizing the heat pump, it is important to consider the efficiency as the temperature drops.

For example, an 060ZA/BE R32 is often referred to as a 5 ton, but it’s not that simple.

  • At 8C/46F the 060 produces 61,418 BTU/HR which is spec for a 5 ton.
  • At -20C/-4F the 060 produces 40,945 BTU/HR

Declining Efficiency Curve

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Heat Pump Defrost Cycle and Adequate Drainage

When heating with a heat pump, the external coil will be colder than the outside air. This will cause condensation to form on the coil, and in freezing weather conditions, cause ice to build up on the coil. Because of this, heat pumps will run a defrost cycle to melt this ice and keep the coil clear for adequate air flow.

Heat Pump Defrost Cycle and Adequate Drainage

  • The defrost cycle is activated based on parameters which monitor the outdoor temperatures and refrigerant temperatures
  • Once the defrost cycle is activated, the heat pump runs in cooling mode to heat up the external coil and no heat is produced via the heat pump for space heating.
  • The frost/ice that had built up will melt and the remaining water will drip down into the heat pumps drain pan and exit via the drain hole at the rear left corner of the heat pump. The drain pan heater ensures the water does not freeze in the bottom of the heat pump during moderately cold weather.
  • This drain should be directed away from the unit and any walkways/doorways.
  • In freezing conditions, the heat pump needs to be elevated as the water runoff from the defrost cycle can create a large ice mound below the unit and plug the drain hole.
  • If you direct the defrost water away from the unit, make sure to insulate and possibly heat the drainpipe with a heat tape as otherwise the pipe will freeze and plug up the condensate drain system leading to ice buildup on evaporator coil.

defrost cycle   defrost water

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WI-FI Details

The heat pump controller connects to the internet via the SmartLife app which is available via the app store for both Apple and Android devices.

  • This app will give you full control over the new R32 Arctic Heat Pumps.
  • You will be able to change temperature set points and switch between heating and cooling modes remotely, as well as view and change all parameters.
  • Error codes will also be sent to the app as well as all sensor readings so the heat pumps refrigerant, electrical, and water systems can all be monitored.
  • The WI-FI connection only works on a 2.4g network (no 5g).
  • The heat pump controller needs to be located close enough to the router to pick up the network.

Smart Life App QR code

Smart Life App QR code

 Smart Life App

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Heating & Cooling with a Heat Pump

An Arctic Heat Pump can be used for both heating and cooling. However, we can only either heat or cool at any given moment. We cannot do both at the same time.

  • The distribution system should be switched between heating or cooling seasonally and all at once (even if the system is zoned).
  • Some zones cannot be heated while others are cooled without special considerations.
  • Using a dual tank system can allow one tank to be used for heating while the other is used for cooling. However, as stated above the heat pump can still only supply one tank at a time.

Heating mode or cooling mode needs to be given priority. If heating is priority the heat pump will not cool unless the hot tank set point is satisfied.

heating mode

 

cooling mode

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Multiple Heat Pumps

Multiple Arctic Heat Pumps can be piped together in parallel reverse return to add additional capacity to larger projects.

  • The separate heat pumps will act as additional “stages” triggered by a time delay.
  • We use advanced staging controllers to rotate the stages, so each additional heat pump stage gets the same amount of run time over the year.
  • Each individual heat pump will require its own circulation pump, tank sensor, and internal controller.

Multiple Heat Pumps

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HBX ECO-600 Controller

The HBX ECO-0600 is a heat pump staging controller that can control up to 4x heat pump stages plus a backup stage. Some key features are:

  • Heat pump and backup staging is expandable up to 16 stages
  • Programmable outdoor reset
  • Warm weather and cold weather shut down settings for cooling/heating switch over
  • Advanced backup activation parameters
  • Thermostat demand activation
  • Backup only mode to heat the tank to a higher temperature than the heat pump will allow (run with outdoor reset).
  • Full WI-FI support via the HBX SensorLinx app

 

HBX ECO 0600

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The HBX ECO-0600 controller is used when?
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Warranty

Each R32 Arctic Heat Pump comes with a 4-year compressor limited warranty, and a 2-year parts limited warranty. For a system package (heat pump + tank + distribution and all parts) there is a 5-year limited warranty for all parts included in the system.

  • This warranty protects your equipment against manufacturing or shipping related defects.
  • This warranty is only available to the original equipment owner, and only if the product is installed at the original installation site.
  • This warranty does not cover any issues related to the freezing system if the recommended glycol mixture was not used.

 product warranty

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How to Control the Heat Pump Externally

Each Arctic Heat Pump comes with low voltage dry contact connections for remotely controlling the heat pump ON and OFF and between heating and cooling mode.

  • The heat pump has a dedicated low voltage connection block.
  • “Remote On/Off (Closed)” come with a preinstalled factory wire to close the contact as it is always active.
  • “Mode Switch” needs to be activated and will run the heat pump in heating mode if it is OPEN and cooling mode if it is CLOSED.
  • The contacts are 5 vdc to be wired to dry contact relays.
  • A 24vac thermostat needs to be wired to a relay before being wired to the heat pump’s switches.

dedicated low voltage connection block  24vac thermostat

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Tank Sensors

Each heat pump will come with a tank sensor that needs to be installed into the tank’s sensor well.

  • Additional sensors may be required if using staging controllers.
  • On multiple heat pump systems each heat pump needs its own sensor installed into the tank’s sensor well.
  • Arctic Heat Pump tank sensors are 5k ohms.
  • HBX tank sensors are 10k ohms.
  • When multiple sensors are used the “main” sensor needs to be determined and installed deepest into the sensor well for the most accurate readings.

Tank Sensors

Closeup of multiple sensors in one sensor well

Closeup of multiple sensors in one sensor well

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Domestic Hot Water

The heat pump can be used to preheat domestic hot water through a coil in the tank.

  • A booster should be utilized after the buffer tank’s DHW preheating coil to ensure hot water demand is met.
  • A DHW coil in the hot tank usually produces about 43°C (110°F) water from a tank heated to 49°C (120°F).
  • A standalone hot water heat pump is the preferred solution when space cooling is required in the summer.

 Domestic Hot Water Tanks

Using a standalone hot water heat pump will produce cold air that can assist in cooling and dehumidifying the building during the summer?*
Using a standalone hot water heat pump will produce cold air that can assist in cooling and dehumidifying the building during the summer?
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Energy Flow of the Heat Pump

Each air to water heat pump works similarly.

  • In heating, heat energy is moved from the outside air to the refrigerant system and then to the water system. This is because of temperature differentials between the different mediums and the fact that energy moves from hot to cold.
  • In cooling, the system works in reverse. The energy from the hot air inside the house is transferred into the cooled water system which then moves the heat into the heat pump’s refrigerant system and finally disperses it into the outside air.

Energy Flow of the Heat Pump

energy conservation

True or False: In heating mode the heat pump takes the energy from the house and dissipates its outside using the fan and evaporator.*
True or False: In heating mode the heat pump takes the energy from the house and dissipates its outside using the fan and evaporator.
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EVI

Arctic Heat Pumps come with “Enhanced Vapor Injection” technology or “EVI” technology.

  • Some of the refrigerant leaving the condenser is diverted off the main refrigerant flow through a solenoid valve.
  • This refrigerant moves through the EVI expansion valve which lowers its temperature.
  • The cooled refrigerant is then sent through a plate heat exchanger or “sub-cooler” which pulls heat from the main refrigerant line.
  • This allows the refrigerant moving through the main EEV to become very cold which lowers the temperature of the evaporator and increases performance at low ambient temperatures.
  • The heat that was moved to the EVI loop is then injected back into the compressor to increase efficiency.

EVI

 

Enhanced Vapor Injection

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