An õhk vesi soojuspump is an efficient and economical way to heat your home. This type of pump works by transferring energy from the outside air into a liquid, usually water or glycol, which is then circulated through a system of pipes. The heated liquid can then be used to provide hot water for household needs such as showers, washing machines and dishwashers or it can be used to provide space heating in radiators or underfloor heating systems. In this comprehensive guide we will explain how an air-water heat pump works and explore the benefits that it can bring to your home.
What Is An Air Water Heat Pump?
An air-water heat pump (also known as an ‘air source heat pump’) is a device that uses energy from the outside air to warm up a liquid inside. Inside the unit, there’s two coils: one that absorbs energy from the external environment – usually the air – and another that transfers this energy into a liquid solution like water or glycol. The heated liquid is then pumped around your house, providing hot water and/or space heating depending on your requirements.
How Does An Air Water Heat Pump Work?
At its most basic level, an air-water heat pump transfers thermal energy from one place to another using mechanical means. In terms of an air-water heat pump specifically, it takes energy from the surrounding outdoor air and transfers it over to a closed loop system comprising of either water or glycol (a mixture of antifreeze). The transfer happens via two coils; one taking in cold external airflow while releasing its own warm exhaust gas back out into the atmosphere; while at the same time transferring thermal energy across into its refrigerant fluid before compressing it further still until it reaches higher temperatures ready for usage within your house’s central heating system or domestic hot water system. As such, no combustion occurs throughout this entire process meaning these units are incredibly efficient when compared with traditional boilers running on fossil fuels such as oil or gas.
Benefits Of An Air Water Heat Pump
The main benefit of installing an air to water heat pump is efficiency – they typically have a far better Coefficient Of Performance (COP) than other forms of boiler technology such as condensing gas boilers, making them much more cost effective in terms of both running costs and installation costs associated with large domestic central heating systems requiring complex pipework etc. In addition, due to their reliance on external combustible resources they emit far less carbon dioxide than traditional boilers. Furthermore, due to their lack of reliance on any external combustible resources, they also emit far less carbon dioxide per KW hour than traditional boilers, making them great for those looking for greener alternatives that won’t break the bank!
Which is best for my home – ground or air source?
When considering whether to opt for a ground or air source option when choosing a new form of renewable heating technology, there are several factors to weigh up depending on your individual circumstances/requirements:
- Cost and installation
In general, ground source heat pumps tend to require a larger capital investment, but offer higher levels of efficiency, partly due to their buried location, which provides more consistent temperatures throughout the year compared to their atmospheric counterparts, which can struggle in the colder winter months when performance drops significantly, reducing overall COP values accordingly…
- Space requirements
Ground source pumps tend to require larger areas to accommodate all the necessary pipework, whereas many modern designed atmospheric based models are now available in smaller footprints, allowing for better integration into existing living spaces without compromising design aesthetics….
The bottom line
Heat pumps are fast becoming an increasingly popular choice for replacing older, inefficient forms of domestic central heating systems, largely due to their lower installation costs compared to other technologies, combined with improved annual running cost savings resulting from the increased efficiencies offered by today’s modern high performance solutions, capable of achieving COP ratios in excess of 3:1! As always, however, decisions should be made on the basis of individual needs/circumstances, so be sure to consult experienced professionals before rushing into anything!
