Today, a heat pump is the most advanced way to heat a house. Its efficiency reaches 300% – 400%, that is, for every kilowatt of electricity consumed, 3-4 kW of heat is generated. In addition, such equipment does not burn fuel, does not emit exhaust gasses into the atmosphere, and takes heat from renewable sources. If you need a heat pump replacement or installation, then this article is for you. You will learn about the factors that should be taken into account when choosing a heat pump.
Types of Heat Pumps
The equipment does not produce heat but takes it from the air, ground, or water using a refrigerant. Then it concentrates it in the condenser and gives it to the air or water, which heats the house. Thus, depending on what the heat is transferred to, the pumps are divided into air and geothermal.
Air Heat Pumps
The evaporator heat exchanger is blown with air and warmed up to the outside temperature. Then the compressor pumps and compresses the refrigerant into the condenser, where its temperature increases.
Then the heat from the condenser heat exchanger is transferred to the air (air-to-air system) or water (air-to-water system). Air heat pumps can be made in one housing, that is, in the form of a monoblock, or consist of separate elements: an outdoor unit, a hydromodule, and a storage water tank, connected into a single system.
Geothermal Heat Pumps
Here the evaporator heat exchanger is immersed in a reservoir or a well to the depth of groundwater, and inside the house, the heat is also transferred to the air or water. Such systems are divided into:
- water – water;
- water – air;
- soil – water;
- soil – air.
Geothermal heat pumps are more stable since the temperature at a significant depth of the reservoir or underground is always positive. Due to the separation of the elements, geothermal heat pumps are not available in a monoblock design and are produced only as a system. Regardless of the choice of equipment, heating can be carried out both by air and by radiators or heated floors.
Factors Affecting the Choice of a Heat Pump
The choice of a heat pump depends on many factors and is almost always selected individually, taking into account the optimal type and configuration.
Choice by Power
First of all, the refrigeration capacity is taken into account, that is, how much heat the equipment can transfer to the house per hour. According to simple calculations, 1 kW of refrigeration capacity is required to heat 10 m². For example, to heat a house with an area of 160 m², you will need a heat pump with a refrigeration capacity of 16 kW. At the same time, its power consumption will be 3-4 times less.
In practice, such a calculation may not be very accurate, since the following indicators are of great importance:
- climatic conditions;
- availability of resources – the ability to drill a well or the presence of a reservoir nearby;
- length of the main line;
- the energy efficiency of the house (its degree of thermal insulation).
An accurate calculation is only possible based on an analysis of a specific object. To do this, you need to contact specialists and get more accurate advice from them.
Choosing a Heat Pump Type
The most budget-friendly option would be an air-source heat pump in a monoblock design. At the same time, this option is suitable for southern regions, where the outside air temperature rarely drops below zero. In northern regions, this option is ineffective, since when severe frosts occur, the air will not be a capacious source of heat.
A geothermal heat pump is better suited for cold climates. If there is a deep reservoir nearby, in which the water temperature at the bottom does not drop below +3 °C, using it as a heat source will be cheaper since there is no need to drill a well. At the same time, this option is rare, but you can also use a well.
The most expensive option is a geothermal heat pump of the ground-air or ground-water type, but even here, not everything is clear. Everything depends on the area, and more specifically on the depth of the groundwater to which a well will need to be drilled to lower the evaporator heat exchanger there. The deeper the well is needed, the more expensive the installation of geothermal heating equipment will be.
Advantages of heat pumps
The following deserve special mention:
- Efficiency. The efficiency can reach 400% or more. To obtain 5 kW of thermal energy, the unit consumes approximately 1 kW of electricity;
- Environmental friendliness. The use of the equipment does not entail any harmful or dangerous emissions. Equipment of this type is absolutely harmless to humans and nature, and this aspect is of utmost importance today;
- Safety. The absence of open flame and other sources of danger eliminates the slightest emergency and force majeure situations, and also eliminates the need to worry about arranging fuel storage facilities;
- Comfort. The pump itself operates almost silently, it is possible to automatically control the operating parameters and flexibly adjust them to the needs of a specific user.
If we talk about the disadvantages, then first of all it is necessary to pay attention to the following aspects:
- High costs of purchase and installation. Without the involvement of a team of qualified craftsmen, it is impossible to arrange a heating system based on a heat pump. The cost of the equipment itself should also be taken into account. A quick payback is out of the question.
- Limited service life. The service life of the unit is calculated for approximately 20 years. After that, you will have to think about carrying out major repairs, and this will cost a very large sum; another option is to replace a heat pump.
- Carrying out excavation work. When choosing a geothermal pump, it is worth considering the additional costs of preparing the well. Depending on the location of the facility and the characteristics of the territory itself, it may be necessary to coordinate drilling work.
Wrapping It Up
Heat pumps are a popular solution for heating and cooling your home. They are energy efficient and environmentally friendly. When choosing a heat pump to install or replace, there are several factors to consider, from the climate of your area to the specifics of your home. It is best to rely on professionals. Alpha Mechanical is a trusted provider of heat pump installation and replacement services.
