Did you know that according to statistics, approximately 80% of a household’s energy costs are due to heating and hot water heating? Do you want to optimize these costs in a way that is easy and environmentally friendly? This is possible thanks to air-to-water heat pumps.
If you are about to build a new heating system or are considering replacing your old inefficient one with a new economical one for your home, carefully consider the heating solution with the innovative MHI air-to-water heat pump. It will help you say goodbye to high heating bills, while providing you with a healthy and comfortable living environment.
Recently, more and more often our customers ask us about these systems, so we requested our specialists to answer some of the most frequently asked questions on the subject.
What are heat pumps?
These are refrigeration machines that transfer heat from one place to another through the refrigerant. In other words, the basic principle of heat pumps is to extract heat from the outside air and then release it to the premises of your home. In its greater variety, heat pumps are bidirectional, e.g. they can both heat and cool the rooms in which they are located. In order to function, they use renewable natural resources – air, water and soil, without polluting them.
Heat pumps are an extremely suitable and environmentally friendly solution for heating and cooling, and in heating mode, they can be up to 8 times more efficient than other electrical appliances used for heating during the cold months.
Heat pump operation scheme:
Condenser 2. Throttle valve 3. Evaporator 4. Compressor
Source: Wikipedia.org
What types of heat pumps are on the market?
There are several types of heat pumps that differ in the source from which they draw the energy needed for their operation. There are four main types: “air – air”, “air – water”, “water – water” and “soil – water”.
The most common and widely used type of heat pump in households is air-to-air. These are the well-known household inverter heat pump split systems or in short – household air conditioners.
The second most common are air-to-water heat pumps. They use the energy of the outside air to heat the water passing through the heat exchanger of the heat pump with which you can supply your radiators, convectors or underfloor heating. Another advantage is the fact that they easily provide hot water for domestic use. In addition to their high efficiency and economy, this type of heat pump systems are characterized by the fact that they are compact and do not take up space in the home or office, and their installation is a relatively quick and easy process. The main components in the heat pump are a compressor with inverter control, an electronic thermostatic valve and two heat exchangers (evaporator and condenser). The principle of operation of the heat pump is based on a very simple and well-known Carnot cycle. Most household refrigerators work in a similar way.
Check out our offers for air-to-water heat pump systems from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
What are their advantages?
- Efficiency – As already mentioned, heat pumps are extremely efficient. Proof of this is the fact that when consuming 1 kWh of electricity, the device generates between 3 and 8 kWh of heating energy. A quality measure of efficiency can be found in the factor COP (coefficient of energy efficiency in heating), so if you are considering the installation of a heat pump, pay due attention. Practice shows that with quality heat pumps the COP usually varies between 4 and 6.
- Economy – Due to the fact that heat pump installations obtain free energy from the environment, electricity bills at the end of the month are significantly reduced. Various reports indicate that thanks to heat pumps we can reduce our heating bills by up to 70%.
- With care for nature – Heat pumps are designed with people in mind. Their units do not need fuel and do not emit harmful and dangerous oxides, the refrigerants used in them are environmentally friendly for both humans and nature. By using a heat pump, you halve the CO2 emissions from your home. In short, it uses the energy of the outside air to heat your home and provides domestic hot water in harmony with nature.
- Safety – Their contents and device are free of any hazardous materials and compounds. If so far there have been concerns that heat pumps can be flammable or explosive – we can definitely say that this is completely wrong. They are completely safe.
- Versatility – The use and convenience of installing an air-to-water heat pump are not limited to a specific period of the year, but on the contrary – their benefits are year-round. They provide us with hot water in the household and help to achieve excellent temperature comfort – by cooling in summer and heating in winter. They can be adapted to an existing heating system, as well as used with different types of heating – for example with radiators, fan coils, underfloor heating.
- Wide operating temperature range – Smooth operation of the system is possible in a wide air temperature range from -20 ° C to 48 ° C.
- Long-term operation – Heat pumps are designed for long-term operation, so you can relax and enjoy cost-effective, trouble-free heating for many years.
Did you know that…
“If air-to-water heat pumps are installed in approximately one million new houses built in Europe each year, we could reduce carbon emissions by approximately 3,600,000 tonnes a year. That’s the equivalent of removing about 1 million cars from the road! “
What else do we need to know about air-to-water heat pumps? Under what conditions are they most effective?
Although at first glance it seems that the investment is a little more expensive, it pays off many times over in the long run. With constantly increasing energy prices, you will hardly regret the decision.
In order to achieve maximum efficiency, you need to make sure that your home is equipped with quality insulation. In this way heat losses are minimized.
Also, air-to-water heat pumps can be combined with an additional energy source for even more favorable results by achieving perfect temperature comfort and reducing energy consumption. Solar collectors are an excellent option for this.
Air conditioner or air-to-water heat pump – what to choose?
A number of factors influence the right decision regarding the installation of an air-to-water heat pump or the purchase of an air conditioner.
Most often it is about the size of the room you want to air condition. Heat pumps are usually used for larger spaces, such as around and above 100 sq.m., while for spaces below 80 sq.m. the use of air conditioning is recommended. There are other factors – such as the type and exposure of the home, the availability of other heating appliances and other individual characteristics.
If you are considering purchasing a heat pump installation for your home or office and have questions, contact us via our contact form or on our Facebook page. Our specialists will be happy to give you a free consultation and precise assessment, according to your individual needs and requirements.
