Heat pump for home heating: what it is, types, how to choose

A heat pump collects heat from the ground, water body or air and delivers it to the home heating system. This equipment works on the basis of a physical principle: every body, whose temperature is above -273 ° C, has a reserve of thermal energy. So, it can be accumulated and used to heat the premises.

Types of heat pumps

What are the types of heat pumps:

• In an air-to-air system, the refrigerant gets heat from the air outside. These systems heat rooms quickly, but they have high electricity consumption. The level of heating depends on the air temperature.
• In “water-to-water” equipment, the house is heated from the heat of a lake or groundwater. The liquid is lifted from the well by a pump. After cooling, the water is discharged into the groundwater well. High pump power is required.
• In an air-to-water system, heat from the outdoors heats the water, which is fed into the heating circuit. The colder the weather, the more energy it will take to get the right amount of heat. Such pumps are suitable for an area where the average annual temperature is quite high and there are few frosty days. This system can be combined with solar panels, electric heaters for the cold season, when the heat from the street air is not enough. The cost of installation is low, payback costs quickly.
• Water-to-air heat pumps take heat from a body of water or groundwater. It is fed into the building's air heating system. It requires a nearby water reservoir for installation.
• A ground-water system draws heat from the soil through wells. Such a system is reliable and works for years. It is expensive to erect utilities.

How to choose a heat pump

Pay attention to such factors:

• A large building needs a stable system that can supply a large amount of heat. For such tasks, air-to-water heat pumps, geothermal pumps or ground-to-water systems are most often used. If the premises need to be heated not all year round, but periodically, the optimal equipment will be “air-to-air”.
• Which heat pump to install depends on which heat carriers are easier to use. Is drilling for a ground-water system possible? Is groundwater available or is there a pond near the building?.
• How much area is to be heated? If it is larger than 250 m² and a borehole can be drilled, a ground-water system is ideal. For a building smaller than 200 m², it is better to install an air-to-water pump. For compact apartments or stores, an “air-to-air” system can be used.
• If the thermal summer should be used to cool the premises, the equipment “water-to-water” or “ground-to-water” will be suitable.

Also take into account the cost of equipment. It varies depending on the type of system and design. It is worth reading reviews on the Internet about specific models of heat pumps and manufacturers.