If you plan to switch your appliances off-gas one by one then a hot water heat pump is one of the leading electric hot water choices these days. You can use your solar electricity to run the system, and they are incredibly efficient, reducing year-round energy requirements for hot water by around 50 percent or more depending on the climate, brand, and model. There's a lot to consider when buying a hot water heat pump hot water system, from confirming whether it’s the right hot water system for your home, to where to place the unit for best results. Read on to find out more about hot water heat pump hot water systems.
Here is the content list:
How does a hot water heat pump work?
When does it make the most sense to install a hot water heat pump?
Will a hot water heat pump hot water system suit my climate?
How does a hot water heat pump work?
A hot water heat pump moves, or ‘pumps’, heat from one medium into another, with air conditioners and refrigerators the most common forms of hot water heat pumps. Hot water heat pump hot water systems concentrate low-grade heat from the air (which is why they count as renewable systems for STC rebates) and dump it into the water storage tank. They are much more efficient than conventional resistive electric water heaters, although they do still use electricity to operate: compared to resistive heaters, they are capable of reducing year-round energy requirements for hot water by at least 50 percent, and by as much as 78 percent depending on the climate, brand, and model.
When does it make the most sense to install a hot water heat pump?
Hot water heat pumps hot water systems are of great value for households looking to make the most of their solar electricity. With lower feed-in tariffs in place, there is greater value in using your solar electricity on-site rather than exporting it to the grid. This can be done by shifting a large energy user, such as water heating, to solar generation hours via a hot water heat pump or a traditional resistive hot water system.
It’s hard to go past a hot water heat pump for energy use. Hot water heat pumps can be up to four times more efficient than resistive electric systems but cost three to four times as much. Given maximum possible use of the solar to run the hot water system the analysis suggested that most households would be better off or at least no worse off over 10 years with a hot water heat pump compared to an electric resistive system.
Will a hot water heat pump hot water system suit my climate?
Certain types of hot water systems are more suitable in some climate zones than others, however, there is something of a myth regarding hot water heat pumps and their lack of suitability in colder climates. There are several hot water heat pumps available, especially those that use CO2 as a refrigerant, that are suitable for use in climates with even sub-zero temperatures. So regardless of where you live, hot water heat pumps are almost always a viable option—but check the efficiency curve, which is usually part of the brochure or datasheet (if not, contact the manufacturer or supplier) of the proposed system for suitability in your climate.
MICOE has developed a variety of different hot water heat pumps. If you are in the hot water heat pump business, you can consider using our cost-effective products.
