What is an Air to Water Heat Pump?

The air to water heat pump is a refrigerant based system that transfers heat from the air outside your building to a liquid and passes this fluid through an indoor coil to distribute heating to your home.

The technology is able to provide extreme low ambient performance at temperatures as low as -8°C (22°F). This system can also be used in a cooling mode creating chilled fluid and passing this through an indoor air coil to cool your home or building.

Energy Efficiency

Air to water heat pumps, which transfer the heat from outside air to a hot water cylinder for domestic hot taps and showers, are one of the most energy efficient heating systems available. These systems use a condenser, heat exchanger and refrigerant to extract more energy from the air than they consume in electricity.

This means that they can be up to seven times more efficient than a traditional boiler, which also uses gas for its heat output. In addition, they can help to reduce the amount of carbon emissions that you produce.

As with any type of modern heating system, an air to water heat pump requires a lot of insulation and a well-insulated house to work at its best. If the home isn’t well insulated, it will be harder to achieve high performance, meaning that you’ll need to upgrade the heating system if you want to keep your bills as low as possible and make the most of the energy efficiency that an air to water heat pump has to offer.

Using a liquid refrigerant (which can also be made from gases) in its indoor and outdoor coils, an air to water heat pump absorbs the heat from the air around it. This latent heat is stored in the refrigerant as a gas. When the temperature of the air gets too hot, it causes the gas to change to a liquid and to boil, which then transfers that latent heat to the water.

While most air source heat pumps are very efficient all year round, they lose some efficiency as the temperature of the outside air decreases. This makes them less effective at generating useful heat at lower temperatures, requiring the use of a supplementary thermal energy source.

At colder outdoor temperatures, air to water heat pumps can still be effective in providing thermal energy if the temperature of the outdoor section is at least 5 degC warmer than the internal room temperature. However, they often ‘frost up’ during these periods and may need to be switched to a ‘defrost mode’ in order to prevent the outdoor section from freezing.

Comfort

In the world of air to water heat pumps, one company stands above the rest: ClimateMaster. Their HB Compact series raises the bar on the watts and gallons of water required to keep your home or business cool and cozy.

They also happen to be one of the most cost effective, energy efficient ways to heat and cool your air to water heat pump home or business. The best part is that you don’t have to sacrifice comfort for efficiency. In fact, many of these systems can be designed to operate in conjunction with your existing heating and cooling system.

For example, if you already have zoned heating and cooling in place, these units can work in tandem to optimize the way you use energy. This can be a win-win situation for you, as well as your utility provider.

There are several different types of air to water heat pumps available on the market, including monobloc, multi-zone and split systems. The most important thing to remember is that any new system you install must meet a few guidelines. The most important of these is to choose a qualified installer. Luckily, the Efficiency Excellence Network can help you locate a professional to help. To get started, simply click here to request a free quote or give us a call at (802) 634-9021.

Maintenance

An air to water heat pump, also known as a WSHP, is a great way to heat and cool your home without the costs of gas or oil. These systems can last for 20 years or more if you take care of them properly.

These heat pumps work by using a compressor to pull in outdoor air and convert it into usable heat. Then the indoor unit uses a fan to push the heated air into the building.

Like any other heating and cooling system, an air to water heat pump needs routine maintenance to ensure that it operates at peak performance and efficiency. Having a qualified service professional perform regular inspections can help you identify any issues and fix them before they become expensive repairs.

For the best results, you should have your heat pump serviced once a year to check it for damage and deficiencies. This can be done in-house, or you may want to hire a technician who is trained to work on heat pumps.

Your technician will inspect the coils and filter, as well as your fan. They will look for obstructions and blockages air to water heat pump that could cause performance to suffer. They will then clean or replace the filters.

They will also check the refrigerant level and perform any necessary repairs if needed. Low refrigerant levels can have a serious impact on your system’s performance.

If the refrigerant level is too low, your air to water heat pump will be unable to move heat and may become sluggish and ineffective. You will need to have the refrigerant replaced as soon as possible to avoid a major breakdown and potential costly repairs.

Another important part of your air to water heat pump is the condenser. The coils of your system can become blocked with debris and dirt. You should regularly brush these coils to keep them free of obstructions.

You should also make sure that your unit is not sitting underneath a leaking gutter during the winter. This can drip on the coils and cause them to freeze solid. This will restrict access to the unit’s air source, and can potentially void the warranty on your heat pump.

Installation

Air to water heat pumps use the same basic principle as a central air conditioner, which is that they extract heat from the outside air and transfer it inside. This process requires a closed system, which consists of an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, each of which is connected to ducts in your home.

This type of heat pump can be used to replace a boiler, but is typically installed as part of a complete central heating system. Unlike traditional systems, which are limited to the hot water side of things, air to water heat pumps can also provide heating for your radiators and even underfloor heating.

It’s important to have your air to water heat pump installed by a professional, as they will know how to install the proper equipment and ensure that everything is working correctly. They may also be able to help you with the electrical requirements of the system.

A qualified contractor will need to do an energy load calculation and make sure that the air to water heat pump is sized properly for your home. They should take into account your home’s insulation, the type of heating system you have, and other factors to determine how much air you will need to warm or cool your home.

After the heating and cooling calculations are done, your contractor will need to design a system that can work for your space. This can include a piping schematic that will connect your home’s radiant panels and small air handlers to the heat pump.

For your installation to be effective, you need a good flow of air through the ductwork and air vents. The contractor will need to set up a connection between the air handler in your home and the outdoor unit, using either a mini split or a ducted system.

Once the ductwork is in place, your contractor will need to run a refrigerant line from the air handler to the outdoor unit, along with an electric line and a condensate drain line. These lines are necessary to circulate the air around your property and help the heat pump perform at its best.