Furnace vs heat pump: Heat Pump vs. Furnace: The 8 Essential Differences

Heat pumps are like reflux refrigerators. Refrigerators work by transferring heat from inside the refrigerator to the outside. This helps keep the food inside the refrigerator warm. This process is similar to how heat pumps cool your house in summer. In winter, the system works exactly the opposite.

In addition, heat pumps work like air conditioners and can be used to cool your home during warm weather. Heat pumps extract heat from your home and dissipate it outside in the summer, leaving your home cooler than it was before. valve, a simple component for regulating where heat is absorbed and dissipated.

Heat pumps work in three simple steps. Firstly, they pass warm air from outside or from the room through a series of coils filled with refrigerant, i.e. pressurized ammonia gas. Heat pumps transfer heat from outside air to the right place depending on from the direction of the air flow.

Depending on the valve setting, the refrigerant is cooled or heated, allowing you to heat or cool your home, eliminating the need for different cooling and heating systems. Heat pumps do not require any fossil fuels to operate. This makes them less expensive to run and more energy efficient .However, they are best suited for regions that do not experience extreme changes in outdoor temperature.

You may wonder why we don’t use heat pumps everywhere and forget about stoves. However, as mentioned earlier, heat pumps do not produce heat. Instead, they transfer heat between different regions. Their efficiency depends on temperature differences and the heat of the environment , which makes them somewhat unreliable in very cold regions.

What is an oven?

Stoves rely on a fan and natural gas, electric heaters, or oil to heat your home. A fuel source is ignited in a combustion chamber and air is blown through it. homes, is redirected through the return vents and forced through the stove, making it warmer.

This cycle is repeated until the desired temperature is reached. Stoves blow much warmer air than heat pumps because they use a flame to create heat. Stoves are a more popular source of heating for residential areas. Furnaces have fewer mechanical parts, making them easier to maintain than heat pumps and provide a longer life. They are less energy efficient and ideal for people who want warmer air or have access to natural gas.

Technological advances have made stoves more energy efficient over the years; however, people who have stoves may need to install air conditioning to cool their home during the warmer months. Stoves are essential in regions with very low temperatures.

Although they are expensive to run, they are very effective at heating homes during harsh winters. Houses that survive harsh winters and use heat pumps for heating often rely on other heating appliances such as radiators and space heaters.

Let’s move on to the differences between stoves and heat pumps, now that you understand what they are.

Differences between heat pumps and stoves

Operation

Stoves generate heat by burning gas or oil, while heat pumps receive heat from outside the house using electricity. Due to their operation, heat pumps produce less heat than stoves. Thus , they are best suited for homes in warmer climates, i.e. zones 1, 2, and 3 on the climate zone map (Dept. of Energy).

However, heat pumps are more versatile for indoor comfort as they can heat homes during the cold season and cool during the warm season. Stoves lack this multifunctional function. Stoves are designed to produce heat. want to cool their homes during the warm season, they are forced to install a separate air conditioning system.

People who install such a system get more energy efficient results because it measures the outdoor temperature and determines the most efficient heating option for your home. The only downside to such a system would be installation costs.

Energy Efficiency

Technically, heat pumps are more energy efficient than stoves; however, evaluating their efficiency and comparing the two systems is a little tricky. Experts consider heat pumps to be more energy efficient than stoves because they deliver more energy than they consume.

However, some high-efficiency stoves achieve efficiency levels of up to 98%. Under ideal conditions, heat pump systems can deliver up to 300% more energy than they consume.

In addition, heat pump systems are powered by electricity, which means that you can significantly save on fuel consumption. Heat pumps have an efficiency of more than 100% in various temperatures and climates; In addition, you can use them as an air conditioner or heater.

Installing a heat pump system will cost you less energy than a stove.

Maintenance

In general, stoves and heat pumps will run better and last longer with effective preventive maintenance. Both systems use air filters that owners can easily replace. Typical (residential) heat pumps have an indoor and outdoor unit that should be checked and cleaned annually.

Gas ovens do not require outdoor units; however, they are often paired with central air conditioners. These units require maintenance; however, their uniqueness makes it difficult to determine how you should maintain them and how often you should do so. You will need to contact your service provider for information on how often you should perform proper maintenance.

Space

Heat pumps require a 24-inch gap and are installed outdoors, while furnaces require about a 30-inch gap and are installed indoors. Traditional air source heat pumps require indoor air handling units called fan coil units.

Installation cost

The cost of installing heat pumps and stoves depends on the current setup and system compatibility of your home. For example, some homes do not have access to natural gas. In such cases, installing a stove and air conditioner is more expensive than installing a heat pump.

In addition, homes that do not have additional heating wiring shared with heat pump systems may incur additional costs when setting up the system. Your dealer is best able to advise which of the two systems best suits your needs.

Cold weather efficiency

Gas stoves burn fuel to generate energy, making them more efficient in cold weather than heat pumps because they rely on extracting heat from the environment. The more outdoor air falls below freezing, the more heat pumps become unreliable. You can use additional heating systems to keep warm; however, they are more expensive.

Stoves make more sense if you live in very cold regions as they produce more heat faster than heat pumps. Heat pumps are better suited for people who live in warm temperate regions and experience a slight temperature shift during the cold season.

Comfort

Air from heat pumps is not as hot as air from gas stoves. moist and does not dry the skin like the hot air produced by the oven.

Conclusion

Heat pumps and stoves have a lot of differences and many pros and cons. However, differences do not make one system better than another. They work well in their intended regions and should be used as such. Remember that using a heat pump in cold regions and vice versa can cost you more than you in the long run.

Is Heat Pump Gas Or Electric? 5 Facts You Should Know – Lambda Geeks

A heat pump is a machine which transfers heat energy into mechanical energy. Let us discuss whether the heat pump is driven by gas or electricity.

A heat pump is generated by electricity. For generating the device of the heat pump, fuel is not mandatory. For this reason, substantial fuel consumption can be saved by it.

Using the stages of condensation and evaporation, the heat pump forces the refrigerant in between the inner part coils and the outer part coils to warm up the air before dissolving it. Let us discuss further in this article how the heat pump can be differentiated from the furnace.

Can you use gas in a heat pump?

For absorbing the heat, refrigerants are used in the heat pump mechanism. Let us interrogate whether a heat pump is a source of gas or not.

The gas cannot be used in a heat pump but can only be used to generate for the absorption heat pump rather than electricity. An absorption heat pump is a device which is powered by thermal energy such as the flaming of natural gas, vapor from solar heated water, or geothermal heated water.

The heat pump soaks up all the heat from one particular closed place, then drives it by the process and finally discharges the hotter air in the room. In this method, the enclosed space becomes cooler without adding any extra moisture and device transfers the heated air to cool air.

Do heat pumps use a lot of electricity?

The maximum temperature, which can be achieved by the heat pump, is 55 to 75 degrees Celsius. Let us see if a lot of electricity is needed to drive a heat pump or not.

A lot of electricity is not required to run the mechanism of the heat pump. A small amount of electricity is enough to run a heat pump.

In modern days, heat pumps are able to move three or four times more thermal energy in the form of heat than they consume in the form of heat than they deplete in electrical energy to accomplish this action.

Do heat pumps work during power outages?

The heat pump works on the basic principle of heat transfer. Let us elaborate on whether the heat pump worked during the power outage or not.

A heat pump can work during a power outage if the time period is not too long. The back-up system in the heat pump can only work for 30 minutes.

If any cases of power outages happen for a long time, kerosene heaters or propane heaters can be used as an indoor heater if they are named with indoor safety.

Some alternative ways to keep someone’s apartment warm during a power outage of the heat pumps

• Keep all the outside doors closed properly so outside air can not enter the room.

  Heat pump vs. furnace

  A heat pump and a furnace are not the same device. Let us see how heat pumps and furnaces differ from one another. Oven . A furnace is a device that can warm up the air and distribute the warm air throughout the building using ducts. 2. Life expectancy With maintenance heat pump can run for at least 15 years. A furnace can maintain its performance for up to 20 years with proper maintenance. 3. Better performance in a cold atmosphere Cannot perform well in cold climate but in the mild climate heat pump definitely a better option. Furnaces can operate its function without any problem in the cold and winter season. 4. Noise during operation More than Less than 5. Requires space for installation. Too much space is not required. Furnaces, as they are typically placed indoors, are able to take up a lot of area since craftsmen’s and local building codes often require a 3 inch decontamination on all parts for fire security intention.

  Difference between the heat pump and furnace

  In the hot weather, a heat pump can perform in a similar way to an air conditioner by reversing the pressure and the flow of refrigerant through its coil. While a furnace is constructed in this way, it can generate heat only, and a heat pump can increase the temperature of a home in the winter season and decrease the temperature in the hot season as per requirement.

  Is a heat pump a furnace?

  A furnace can work properly at 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Let us elaborate on the topic. A furnace can be considered as a heat pump or not.

  Heat pump is not a furnace they are independent devices tho both the furnace and the heat pump are heating systems . Heat pumps don’t need fuel to generate heat like furnaces do. While furnaces utilize electric coils to produce heat, heat pumps use electricity to move the heat from the outside to the inside.

  Image – Heat pump;
  Image credit – Wikipedia

  In the picture, an internal view of the outdoor unit of an Ecodan air source heat pump shown. Heat pump operations are both to cool and warm up the closed space and furnaces are designed in this process, so they can only produce heat.

  FAQ

  How does a heat pump work step by step?

  A heat pump can provide heating and cooling to an entire room. Let us concentrate on the work process of the heat pump in an orderly manner.

  Pitch – 1

  At the beginning of the process, with the help of an expansion valve, liquid refrigerant is pumped into the coils of the inside, which operation device is known as the evaporator. Air from inside the house swells over the coils, where the heat energy is worn away by the refrigerant.

  As a result, the cool air is swollen by the ducts of the home. The method of absorbing the heat energy has caused the liquid refrigerant to warm up and evaporate in the form of gas.

  Step – 2

  The refrigerant in gaseous form passes through a compressor; in this step, the compressor pressurizes the gas. The method of gas pressurization causes the gas to warm up. After that, the heated and pressurized refrigerant is transported by the heating system to the unit of the outer coil.

  Pitch – 3

  A fan which is located at the unit of the outer side is moved the outer side air over the coils, theses coils of the condenser are services cooling mode. The air of the outer side of the home is less hot compare to the hot compressed gas refrigerant in the coil.

  Hot air is travelled from the refrigerant to the outside air. In this method, the refrigerant is compressed and cooled, and back to the liquid state from the gaseous state. Then, by the expansion valve the warm liquid refrigerant is pumped to the heating system at the unit of the indoor.

  Pitch – 4

  From the warm liquid refrigerant the pressure is minimize with the expansion valve, which cools it significantly. In this state the refrigerant reaches at cool and liquid state and ready to pump back to the evaporator coil in the unit of the indoor to start the refrigeration cycle again.

  Write three symptoms from which we can identify furnaces are required repairs.

  A furnace and water can be connected with each other in some particular cases. Let us discuss the symptoms from which we can identify furnaces are required repairs.

  • Bad furnace odor
  • Difficult to start
  • Discoloration of the pilot light

  Bad furnace odor

  If a furnace experiences an abnormal smell, in that case, the furnace’s equipment is definitely facing a major problem. In general, when a furnace is run for the first time, a smell of fuel can be felt, but this smell disappears when the furnace starts to run in the proper way.

  So, we must be careful when a bad smell appears.

  Difficult to start the unit

  When the furnaces are old, the starting of the furnace becomes difficult. If someone tries to start the furnace multiple times to start the unit of the furnace, and then repair needs must.

  Discoloration of the pilot light

  Someone needs to pay attention to the color of the pilot light of the furnace. When the pilot light operates in a manner, it will appear in a blurred color, but when the pilot light appears in a yellow color, then repair is necessary.

  Conclusion

  In this article, we discussed whether or not a heat pump is powered by electricity. Aside from that, a few questions about heat pumps are attempted to be answered briefly. The furnace and heat are both heating systems, but they are separate appliances. The energy efficiency of the heat pump is better compared to the furnaces.

  Heat pumps | Fireplace installation. Fireplaces, stoves, kitchens, furnaces, chimneys

  Dear customers!

  If you decide to build a house, modernize your heating system, or will make such a decision soon, then with this step big changes will enter into your life. The equipment you are about to purchase will last for many years, be rational, modern and help you save money. The chart on the spread shows where energy is used in buildings. You can greatly improve these energy usage ratios in your favor. In addition to your individual desires, when building a house or modernizing a heating system, the statutory building regulations must be observed, which, as an ecological basic setting, should ensure that an environment corresponding to a high quality of life is maintained for our children and grandchildren. Therefore, the reduction in the emission of Co: (greenhouse effect) comes to the fore. In addition, using a heat pump, you will also receive financial benefits.

  The future belongs to the use of renewable energy sources. The reserves of fuel available in the bowels of the earth are not unlimited. The sun produces 17,000 times more energy per year than people around the world need, and this continues year after year.

  If you agree that we did not inherit the world from our parents, but borrowed it from our children, then you are taking a step in the right direction.

  The most frequently asked question by customers is: what will be the cost of use. how much will we pay for heat per year? We answer – as much as the electricity the heat pump compressor will consume.

  Example: A normally insulated residential building with an area of ​​200 sq.m requires a 112 kW heat pump. During operation, this pump will take 2.4 kW of power from the mains, and the remaining 88 kW will receive from an underground collector, which it will turn into heat. If we accept that the heating season is 7 months or 5040 hours per year. the heat pump will run for approximately 1/2 of this time. Together this amounts to: 2520 x 2.4 0.048 = Ls 290.30, which you will pay for heat per year.

  Since the hot water in our version is produced by a separate low-capacity heat pump that uses water already heated in the floor for its needs, the cost of a family of 4 with an average water consumption per person will be approximately 90 l x B per year. It should be noted that the average cost of a heat pump together with an underground collector for such a house will be approximately 6 thousand lats.

  Natural solar energy storage to provide ambient heat

  Solar energy in our environment is heated in very large quantities, namely, in air, water and earth. With the help of heat pumps you can use this energy – they can extract the accumulated energy and use it for space heating and water heating. Using a heat pump, you get up to 80 percent of the energy you need for heating and water heating for free, less than 20 percent is needed as driving energy for the heat pump in the form of electricity, and a heat pump is enough for heating and water heating. There is no need for an additional heat producer. Heating costs are much lower. than with conventional heat generators. In addition, the heat pump saves your wallet and the environment!

  Anti-freeze collector systems

  The earth has a relatively uniform temperature in all seasons, which is raised to the desired temperature level by means of a HAUTEC anti-freeze/water heat pump. There are two possibilities for using ground heat:

  1. During the construction of your house, in your garden, a ground collector is placed horizontally, which takes energy from the ground through the solution in the collector pipe and discharges it to the heat pump. With the help of a heat pump, environmental energy is converted into heat energy. The cooled antifreeze is diverted back to the closed ground collector system, where it captures the energy again.

  2. The earth probe is drilled vertically into the ground to a depth of 30 to 100 meters. The same principle applies as in a horizontal ground collector. For an earthen probe, little space is needed if you have a small plot of land or a house in the city center.

  Ground heating

  Only a heat pump is enough to provide enough heat even in the most severe frost. A heating boiler is not required. The size of the ground collector is adjusted so that it can produce as much energy as is needed to heat your home. At the same time, the soil around the ground collector cools down during the heating season. When the temperature rises again in spring, the sun’s rain again warms the earth, and the turnover begins anew.

  The illustration shows the combination described side by side: a heating heat pump and an alternative hot water heat pump. This is the most popular and economical combination that we recommend to any customer

  Hot water also comes from the heat pump

  In this case, HAUTEC is still the only manufacturer. has a special offer: a heat pump that uses its energy from the outflow of water from the floor heating system. Thus it is entirely possible to heat the water in the water tank up to 70 degrees. Energy from the floor heating system is available as an energy source all year round.

  During the heating period, the outflow temperature is approximately 25°C, and the rest of the time it is 18°C. If the house is heated by radiators. then the domestic hot water heat pump can be driven by warm room air if it has a size of at least 15 m ² . Due to the temperature of the energy source. You can save a lot.

  This heat pump. which operates from underfloor heating systems. combined with other heating systems and with a heating heat pump.

  Miniature hot water heat pump

  Healthy, conditioned air with a heat pump

  The heat pump works on the principle of a refrigerator. Usually it is used for heating, however, with the help of special equipment, it can change its function, that is, it can intensively cool. Thus, in summer, the heat pump, depending on the need, using the available heating systems, can cool the air in the desired living spaces by 5 – 10 degrees. If the air in the room on hot summer days heats up to +27°C – +33°C, then when the water in the floors cools down to +18°C, the air in the room drops to +22 C +23°C.

  Heated floors

  Increasingly, water-heated floors (hereinafter referred to as UAG) are being used as an alternative to heat transfer media in home heating systems. UAG have me advantages. which will allow you to save money and space, and tayuks will create comfort in your home. In order to reach a temperature of + 21 “C in the premises, the heating system in the winter season at an outside temperature of -20” C will have to heat the ardu only up to +35 “C. In contrast to the radiator system, where the water will need to be heated from +65″ C to +80” C. In this way, you will consume much less heat energy and reduce costs. Achieving the desired comfort. In addition, the heating of the premises throughout their area will occur evenly. In cooperation with the German company HAUTEC, our company offers a unique alternative heating system – heat pumps Using heat pump heating, we recommend installing heated floors instead of radiators, because this is the most convenient and most economical way to heat rooms.Our company supplies and installs water-heated floors produced by the German company HEROTEC.

  The heat pump together with underfloor heating creates the most optimal and comfortable heating system.

  Advantages of HAUTEC heat pumps:

  1. Pump power range from 4kw – 80KW in one unit.

  2. Compact equipment. quiet action.

  3. Multi-stage control system: wide choice of parameters for the user

  4. Application of various gases to achieve high temperature (+70″C).

  5. Underground collector technology soil, which guarantees the necessary absorption of energy from the soil.0003

  6. Production of cheap hot water with a separate miniature heat pump – effective hot water supply during the summer months and during the heating season.

  7. Possibility of heating for the case of mixed heat carrier, when the house is heated by floor heating (up to 35″C) and radiators (up to 70″C).

  8. Convenient diagnostics and maintenance.

  9. Good price for excellent German quality.

  10. The HAUTEC pump will work most economically and will have the lowest costs.

  Air-to-air heat pump: how is it different from an air conditioner?

  Contents

  • 1 General information
    • 1. 1 Air conditioning and heat pump: what’s the difference?
  • 2 Advantages and disadvantages
    • 2.1 More about working in cold weather
  • 3 How it works
  • 4 Results

  air cooling. If your cottage settlement has only electricity and the area of ​​​​the house is comparable to an apartment, you can use a stove or fireplace in conjunction with electric convectors. But what if the area of ​​the house is from 60 square meters and at the same time there are no extra funds to pay large bills?

  Note the air-to-air system. It is often called a heat pump, and this is the most correct of all names. However, many people continue to use the term “air conditioner”, although in this case it is of little use, and we will explain why later.

  And we will also tell you what such an air heating and cooling system is, what are its advantages and disadvantages, what are the key features of the operation of an air-to-air heat pump. After reading this, you will be able to decide whether or not to purchase a heat pump as the main source of heating and cooling in your home.

  This article is more about the air-to-air heat pump. If you are interested in air conditioners, read other articles on our website.

  General information

  The heat pump is a relatively new air heating and cooling system on our market. Outwardly, this system is very similar to a conventional split air conditioner, which we often see in apartments. There is an outdoor and indoor unit, which are connected together into a single system controlled by a remote control.

  However, this is where the similarities end. A heat pump is a fundamentally different device. The system collects thermal energy from the street, converts it and then uses it to heat and cool the room.

  This uses a minimum amount of electricity. Air-to-air heat pumps are very energy efficient. With their help, you can warm up or cool large areas without harming your wallet and the environment. No wonder heat pumps are actively used in the developed countries of Europe, where electricity is more expensive than any other energy source.

  Air conditioning and heat pump: what’s the difference?

  Earlier we said that the use of the term “air conditioner” is not correct. And all because the air conditioner in the usual sense of the word and the heat pump are two fundamentally different devices. Yes, outwardly they are very similar, but their essence is radically different.

  The heat pump is primarily designed for heating purposes. Yes, it can also be used to cool the air, but this is far from the primary function. And from the air conditioner, on the contrary, cooling is required, heating is not available in all models, especially budget ones.

  You must understand that a heat pump is not very efficient as a source of air cooling. It is inferior to the air conditioner in all respects. At the same time, an air conditioner will never be able to heat a room as efficiently and inexpensively as a heat pump. These devices are designed for different purposes.

  It is for this reason that heat pumps are called air conditioners and air conditioners are called heat pumps.

  If you need a quality replacement for a tired fan on hot days, get an air conditioner. Well, if you want to heat a large house inexpensively and efficiently, take a closer look at a heat pump. At the moment, this is the most economical heating system of all available, which is second only to gas.

  Advantages and disadvantages

  A heat pump is a technically complex system that has its pros and cons. Before purchasing an air-to-air system, familiarize yourself with all the nuances in order to understand what you need to prepare for in advance.

  Advantages:

  • The system is universal and suitable for heating houses of any size, and can also be used in cooling mode and partly replace the air conditioner;
  • The heat pump is environmentally friendly and does not pollute the environment with combustion products. In the CIS countries, few understand the scale of the problem, but in Europe every homeowner is trying to fight global warming;
  • The system is easy and quick to install. You can entrust the installation of an ordinary company that installs air conditioners;
  • Heat pumps are fire safe, unlike stoves, fireplaces and boilers that use combustible or solid fuels;
  • The system is very economical and will significantly save on electricity when heating even a large house. This is especially true if there is no gas in your locality and is not expected;
  • Heat pumps are reliable. The only technically difficult part is the compressor. It needs regular maintenance, but it’s an easy and inexpensive task. In addition, compressors rarely fail if they are regularly monitored;
  • The heat pump is in automatic mode. All you need to do is to set the operating mode for the first time. Even a child can cope with this task.

  Faults:

  • Noise. It is insignificant, but at night it can interfere with especially sensitive households;
  • Increased amount of dust in the air due to constant convection. Saves frequent wet cleaning;
  • Uninterrupted power supply required. The generator partially copes with the problem;
  • High initial installation cost;
  • Suitable for air heating only. For water, you will need a separate device;
  • Low efficiency when used in temperatures below -10 degrees Celsius.

  Read more about working in cold weather

  No wonder heat pumps are so popular in Central Europe, where frosts are traditionally not as strong as in Siberia or other cold regions of Russia. After all, one of the key drawbacks of such a system is inefficient operation at temperatures below -10 degrees Celsius. The colder it is, the more electricity is needed for the full operation of the heat pump. In this case, all the efficiency of this system is lost.

  If you are planning to use the heat pump in a very cold area, look for another heating system or use the pump in conjunction with a stove/fireplace.

  If your house is built of wood or SIP panels and frosts below -10 degrees last no more than one or two weeks, you can get by with just one heat pump. In all other cases, it is definitely not enough for efficient space heating.

  How it works

  Let’s take a closer look at how an air-to-air heat pump works. Despite all its manufacturability, a heat pump is very similar to a conventional refrigerator. Their operating principles have much in common.

  The interior of a standard household refrigerator has thin pipes through which the refrigerant circulates. The refrigerator heats up during operation. This heat interferes with the cooling of food, so it is collected in a heat exchanger (on the grates at the back of the refrigerator) and released into the room. Thus the room is insignificant, but heated.

  In this case, the refrigerant must be constantly cooled, since it has its own operating temperature. The built-in compressor copes with this task. In fact, for the normal operation of the refrigerator, it is enough just to ensure the operation of the compressor. And this requires very little electricity.

  The heat pump works on the same principle. That’s just the heat he collects from the street, but transforms in the same way as a conventional refrigerator. It doesn’t matter what the temperature is outside the window. Even at sub-zero temperatures, the heat pump collects heat from the atmosphere.

  And for the efficient operation of the heat pump, it is enough to provide the compressor with constant electricity. For this reason, heat pumps consume almost the same amount of energy as a conventional refrigerator, but adjusted for the capacity of the entire air-to-air system. After all, a heat pump can fully heat rooms, unlike a refrigerator grill.

  Results

  Air-to-air heat pumps are among the most efficient and modern heating systems. Also, such a system can work in cooling mode, but not as efficiently as a conventional air conditioner.

  Don’t confuse a heat pump with an air conditioner. These devices are similar in many ways, but are designed for different purposes. Heat pumps do an excellent job of heating large houses, while using a minimum of electricity. Air conditioners are more designed to cool the air, in this matter they have no equal.

  Have you ever encountered an air-to-air system? Share your impressions in the comments below. Your advice and recommendations will be useful to many private homeowners. Good luck!

  Heat pump for home heating: device and types

  The heat pump is far from a new invention. The first working version was made in 1855. But due to the insufficient development of technology, it did not become widespread until the 70s of the 20th century. At this time, the idea of ​​economical and energy-saving heating began to gain popularity. At that time, heat pumps for home heating became in demand: at low operating costs, they can fully provide heat for heating and water heating.

  Heat pump device

  Why are these units so good? The fact that having spent 1 kW of electricity, in the worst case, you get 1. 5 kW of heat. And there are no miracles here: electricity is spent not on conversion into thermal energy, but on the operation of units for heat transfer.

  This unit has three separate circuits:

  In short, the principle of operation of a heat pump is as follows. In objects of different nature, which have positive temperatures in winter (soil at a depth below the freezing level, water, air in ventilation shafts, etc.), heat is taken away. From this heat, the refrigerant circulating in a closed circuit is heated. When heated to a temperature above the boiling point, the liquid passes into a gaseous state. Steam through the pipe (with a temperature already above 0 ^o C) enters the compressor where it is compressed to a high pressure. During compression, a large amount of heat is released and a substance comes out of the compressor, already heated to decent values ​​\u200b\u200bof +35 ^o C or even +60 ^o C. In another device – a condenser – it transfers most of its heat to the coolant that is supplied to the pipes heating.

  Sufficiently attractive appearance, low noise level allows installation of equipment in the house

  The refrigerant, which has largely lost heat, but is still in a gaseous state and under decent pressure, moves further along the internal circuit. It enters the drain valve, where the pressure drops, the temperature drops sharply, the substance again becomes a liquid. And again it enters the evaporator, starts the next cycle of the heat pump.

  So it turns out that electricity is not spent on heat generation, but only on its movement. And therefore, having spent 1 kW of electricity, 2-6 kW of heat can be obtained from this device. Such a spread in the conversion coefficient is due to the peculiarities of use: the lower the primary heating temperature (from external sources), the less efficient the heat pump will work. But it will work even at -20 ^o C.

  What heating systems does 9 work with?0011

  In order to efficiently use a heat pump for heating your home, it is sometimes necessary to redesign the heating system. The fact is that the energy it extracts heats the coolant in the heating circuit to not very high temperatures. They rarely exceed 50-55 ^o C, and more often they are lower. And this is the determining factor when choosing a system. If you prefer a radiator, then it must be carefully and carefully considered: such an installation will provide the house with heat only with good thermal insulation. Moreover, you will need a lot of radiators (calculation of the number of radiator sections here). Therefore, in this case it is better to have a backup heat source. A heat pump is ideal for heating a house with underfloor heating: it produces the temperature of the coolant that is recommended for water floor heating.

  What is the disadvantage of a heat pump? As mentioned above, its efficiency (and the heating temperature of the coolant in the heating circuit) depend on the heating temperature in the primary circuit. Not all heat sources can consistently produce the same degree of heat. In fact, only some geothermal sources can boast of this. Basically, they vary within a fairly wide range. This is not the most convenient feature. But to level this spread, a heat accumulator is installed at the entrance to the heating system, which evens out the jumps.

  Heat pump with underfloor heating – perfect match

  The second drawback is the high cost. And this is not only the cost of the heat pump itself, although it is already very high. The device of the external circuit also requires funds, and sometimes considerable ones. To understand more specifically the scale of the required investment, let’s talk about heat sources and the types of heat pumps for heating a house that work with them.

  The lower the temperature to which the heating medium in the heating circuit is heated, the higher the efficiency of the heat pump. At a temperature not higher than 35 ^o C With 1 kW of electricity, you can get 5 kW of heat. As the temperature rises, the efficiency decreases. So the ideal system for collaboration is water floors. For sufficient heat transfer, it will be necessary to make the laying step minimal (but also take care of good thermal insulation).

  Heat sources and requirements for primary circuits

  The source of heat energy for a heat pump can be any medium that in winter has a temperature consistently above 1 ^o C. It could be:

  The sources of the last three groups, although they are different media, actually receive heat to a large extent from the earth’s crust. Therefore, the device that works with them is also called a geothermal heat pump.

  To make the horizontal contour smaller, the pipes can be laid in rings

  Despite the fact that heat pumps are very economical in use, they require large installation costs: from $300 to $1000 per kilowatt of power. Their payback period is 5-15 years, with a line of operation to overhaul from 15 years to 20 years.

  To reduce costs and reduce “start-up” costs, the system is made combined: part of the heat for heating the house is provided by a heat pump, and part is provided by some other source of heat, even the same stove. So the costs of both installation of the system and heating are minimized. The fact is that the calculation of heat demand is taken on the basis of the lowest temperatures in the region. But such a time is one, maximum one and a half weeks in the heating season. The rest of the gap requires much less power. This average demand is provided by the heat pump. That is, its power can be 50-70% of the peak. And on the coldest days, a backup heat source is connected. A smart decision that saves quite a decent amount.

  Another nice thing is that in summer the system can work in air conditioning mode, taking heat from the room and giving it to the primary circuit.

  Perspective

  The equipment and installation of a heat pump is very expensive. But an attractive idea. Thousands of units have been operating in Europe for a long time. For our open spaces, this is still exotic, but there are already companies that can not only calculate and install the system, there are even manufacturers of heat pumps in Russia.

  Air-to-air heat pump does not require an external circuit device

  The thing is that the systems require individual calculation and selection of the source, the length of the pipeline and the selection of the equipment itself. But there are two modifications that are not so much worth it. These are the ones that take energy from the air. For example, an air-to-air heat pump can often be found in air conditioners that can also work for heating. They work precisely on this technology and therefore such units have a higher cost compared to those that only cool.

  The air-to-water heat pump works on a principle similar to heating air conditioners, but a hydronic module is used to heat the water – a device in which the water is heated. The power of this type of equipment can be selected so that it works not only for heating, but also heats water for domestic needs. Here you need to consider: it may be cheaper to install a separate boiler.

  Air-to-water system: Atmospheric hot water heating (click to enlarge)

  Manufacturers of heat pumps

  This equipment has been used in Europe for a long time, therefore there are quite a large number of “Europeans” on the market. There are both Japanese and Koreans, there are also the ubiquitous Chinese. With quality, everything is the same as in the rest of the technique: Europeans and Japanese are of high quality, but expensive, Koreans, both in quality and in price, are slightly lower. With Chinese products, it’s the same as usual: if you’re lucky, everything works fine, if you’re not lucky, you will buy a new pump.

  Examples of well-established firms:

  There are also Russian-made heat pumps on the market. Prices and quality are between European and Chinese units. For example, heat pumps “Henk system”. With the quality of the equipment, judging by the reviews, everything is fine, but the problem, as usual with us, is in a competent calculation, and especially in installation. If there are infrequent problems with air systems, then this cannot be said about geothermal-type installations: this enterprise does not have normal partners in all regions.

  Henk produces many different units, different capacities and types. There are 82 models in total. There is a line for low-temperature water floor systems, there is a line for high-temperature systems with radiators. Connection type – single-phase and three-phase, with heat exchangers for heating domestic water. Actually, there are plenty to choose from.

  Summary

  Modern heat pumps are highly efficient devices that easily provide 3-4 kW of heat per kilowatt of electricity consumed. But not many people can afford the cost of the equipment itself and the device of the primary circuit. If we talk about air-to-air or air-to-water models, then they show good efficiency at positive temperatures, with a drop in temperature their performance is greatly reduced (although the latest lines can work up to -40 ^–C). The technology is undoubtedly very interesting and promising, but it is still available to a few.

  You might be interested in the article “Solar heating: how effective?”

  Does the heat pump use a lot of electricity?

  According to ADEME, Heat pump aerothermal consommé averages 51 kWh/m²/year versus 35 kWh/m²/year for Heat pump geothermal.

  So what is the most economical heating method?

  Boiler or wood stove

  Wood is the most affordable form of energy on the energy market, be it logs or pellets. A wood-burning stove is often considered the most economical and profitable heating equipment. This type of installation combines performance, environmental friendliness and economy.

  Also, what are the disadvantages of a heat pump? ⛔ Disadvantages of the air-to-water heat pump

  The noise pollution generated by the heat pump can interfere with its installation, especially if you want to install an outdoor unit, for example, on the terrace of an apartment.

  In addition, which electricity subscription should I choose with a heat pump? Energy-saving heat pumps are usually single-phase. They often use 230 V electrical current supplied through a two-wire line. For a single-phase heat pump, it is generally necessary to purchase an EDF subscription from 2 to 6 kVA.

  How to save money with a heat pump? How to limit the energy consumption of the heat pump

  1. Avoid temperature changes during the day.
  2. Limit the heating water supply temperature.
  3. Manually activate the electrical resistance.
  4. Service your machine regularly.
  5. Keep a close eye on your electricity consumption

  What is the cheapest heater?

  There are two main types of wood heating: wood stove and wood boiler. They are very economical as wood remains the cheapest fuel on the market.

  Which heater consumes the least?

  Due to its excellent inertia and heat dissipation by radiation, the inertial radiator is today the lowest consumption electric heater.

  What is the best way to heat a house?

  The most widely used fuel in French households, gas is the cheapest energy on the market. In addition, gas boilers provide excellent performance. Gas heating also provides even heat that is easy to control.

  How long does a heat pump last?

  A good aerothermal system has a lifespan of about 20 years. To do this, it is necessary to carry out its regular maintenance and especially take care of its compressor, which is the most fragile part of the air-to-air heat pump.

  How much does a heat pump cost for a 100 square meter house?

  For an area of ​​100 m2, the cheapest prices found range from 5,000 8,000 to 7,000 15,000 euros, including the air-to-air heat pump tax. From €70,100 to €2,100 including VAT for an air-to-water heat pump (approximately €70 to €2,000 per mXNUMX)

  Which heat pump brand is the most reliable?

  Here is a selection of the most reliable heat pump brands and, above all, according to your budget: low-budget heat pumps: Chaffoteau, Samsung; the most popular heat pumps: Atlantics, Mitsubishi, Saunier Duval; premium heat pumps: Daikin, Hitachi, Auer, Mitsubishi.

  What is the power meter for the heat pump?

  How much metering power is needed for a heat pump? In the case of a 100 m² dwelling with 2 occupants in which electricity is used for heating, hot water and cooking (stove), you should refer to the meter with a capacity of 9kVA.

  What capacity should I choose for an EDF subscription?

  6 kVA: fully electric houses less than 80 m²; 9 kVA: fully electric houses from 80 to 100 m²; 12 kVA: for houses over 100 m² fully electric; From 15 to 36 kVA: for surfaces over 160 m².

  What is the power of 9 kVA?

  The 9 kVA meter means that the subscriber power is 9 kVA. In other words, a house can consume 9 watts at the same time.

  Is the heat pump always running?

  Considering the fact that it can be noisy or due to electricity bills, some French people wonder if the heat pump is running all the time. But is the heat pump constantly running? The answer is no! Or at least your heat pump doesn’t have to run all the time.

  How to regulate heat pump radiators?

  Low temperature heat pump

  If you choose a low temperature heat pump, it must be set between 35°C and 45°C. This model is recommended if you have: underfloor heating; low temperature radiators.

  What is the most economical heating mode in 2022?

  Among all the boilers on the market, the biomass boiler is one of the most economical to operate. This works just like the others: the heat released after combustion heats up the central heating circuit. It is even possible to produce domestic hot water (DHW).

  See also

  What is the cheapest heating in 2022?

  wood is a renewable source of energy that does not pollute the environment and thus limits the environmental impact; wood is the most reliable heating method: more economical than electric, gas or oil heating, the prices of which tend to rise; wood heating is convenient to use.

  What is the best heating method in 2021?

  High performance gas boilers are probably the best heaters currently available in 2021 for several reasons: – With government help, you can get them at a lower cost, especially if your household income is fairly modest.

  How to keep warm for free?

  How to heat a house for free? (10 tips)

  1. Ventilate creatively.
  2. Light the candles.
  3. Caulk glass surfaces.
  4. Prepare good meals.
  5. Split for better heat retention.
  6. Fully embrace the sun.
  7. Install thick carpets.
  8. Choose blackout curtains.

  What is the most economical inertial radiator?

  Inertial heaters are always there when it comes to saving energy! Equipped with an inertial coolant, the Acowa Atoll tax (in its LCD version) has a very effective regulation.

  Oil-filled radiator consumes a lot?

  The average power consumption of an oil-filled radiator is reasonable since it is an inertial radiator that by definition stores heat.