It looks like I'm going to buy a Hayward 21404t Heat Pump to replace my broken propane heater. Thankfully, Hayward doesn't require approved / licensed installation for their warranty, so I'd like to do some of it myself. My father in law is pretty handy, he used to design and build houses in the Dominican Republic, so he'll probably end up doing most of the work lol. I have an electrician lined up for that part. My biggest question / concern right now is getting the base ready. The manual states:
"Mount the unit on a sturdy base, preferably a concrete slab or a set of blocks...The size of the base should not be less than 36” x 36""
My current heater is only 28" x 19" and has a base of about 30" x 21". Obviously, that won't work. What do you guys thing is the best way to do the base for the new heater? My priorities are maintaining the warranty, low cost, and ease of installation.
As a side note, man that's a big heat pump! It's bigger than the A/C unit for my house!
"Mount the unit on a sturdy base, preferably a concrete slab or a set of blocks...The size of the base should not be less than 36” x 36""
My current heater is only 28" x 19" and has a base of about 30" x 21". Obviously, that won't work. What do you guys thing is the best way to do the base for the new heater? My priorities are maintaining the warranty, low cost, and ease of installation.
- Extend the existing base with additional concrete on 2 sides? I've read this will require drilling holes horizontally and installing rebar to secure them. The whole drilling sounds like it could be difficult and time consuming, and I don't have an appropriate hammer drill, so I'd have to rent (or purchase) one.
- Extend it with blocks?
- Trash the existing slab and create a new one in the same location?
- Use just blocks? I could put them around the slab, or trash the slab and replace it with blocks.
- Buy a pre-built Hurricane Pad like the one my A/C is installed on. I'm having more trouble finding them than I expected though.
As a side note, man that's a big heat pump! It's bigger than the A/C unit for my house!