What is reason for the ever rising popularity of heat pump water heaters? These products offer a different method to heat cold water. This is a unique feature of heat pumps. Other hot water heaters, including electric and gas versions generate heat using an external energy source. These devices work in a totally different way. In fact, the heat is extracted from the outside environment to make water hot.

Heating pump systems – Two categories

There are two types of heat pump hot water heating systems. The first one combines both the cylinder and heat pump to work as a single unit. When it comes to the second category, both the tank and pump work as two different units.          

A profitable investment

Is purchasing heat pump hot water cylinders a profitable investment? You must realize that the initial setup expenses are higher than other hot water heating systems. However, they will help you reduce your hot water bills considerably. If you purchase a top-quality hot water heat pump, you can bring down the water bills by 60 to 70% over time. You cannot expect such a benefit from electric or gas heaters. Therefore, buying a heat pump is a long-term investment that yields excellent returns.      

Heat pump components of single units   

What is the unique feature of single units? You can find the heat pump on top of the tank. These types of heat pumps are known as single units. These products contain a variety of components. The heat pump module boasts an outlet louvre and an air inlet. It also comes with an LED monitor and condensate drain. The storage tank contains cold and hot water outlets. Other components of these models are a thermostat and a pressure relief valve.

Components of a split unit

As stated above, split units come with a separate storage tank and compressor. The compressor unit is equipped with an air outlet and air inlet. You can find a temperature sensor on the storage tank. This sensor easily connects with the compressor unit. Other components include an outlet pipe that sends hot water to the tank. There is also an inlet pipe that channelises water from the storage tank. 

How do heat pumps work?

Heat transfer is the method used by hot water heat pumps to heat up the cold water. The heat exchanger transfers heat from the outside air to a liquid refrigerant. It is done by vaporising the refrigerant. Then, it gets into the compressor. To increase the refrigerant pressure and temperature, the compressor utilises electrical energy. Then it gets spread all over the heat exchanger. The refrigerant cools down when it heats up the water. Finally, the condensed version of the liquid refrigerant goes through the expansion valve. The entire process keeps repeating to provide a constant supply of hot water.       

Main advantages

The heat pump hot water cylinder offers numerous advantages. The superior heat conversion from energy to heat makes it a top choice. The efficiency of heat conversion is superb. You don’t need to worry about the availability of the energy source. It is available all the time to make the heating process dynamic. Do you need large quantities of hot water? Heat pumps are the best solution available. They are widely used to heat water in swimming and spa pools. You can use heat pump cylinders to support the heating processes of other hot water heating systems.

Energy efficiency of heat pumps

Heat pump water heaters stand taller than other hot water heating systems in terms of energy efficiency. In fact, they do not create heat. On the contrary, they use electricity to transfer heat from the atmosphere. These models generate energy three times more than the electricity consumed by them. That is to say, the COP of these products stands between 2 and 3. This efficiency comes down as far as air-to-water models are concerned. However, you can use specific strategies to enhance the efficiency of these models. One of the ways is to use them during the afternoon. Then, the outdoor temperatures stay higher than at other times of the day. It is also a good idea to operate them when the electricity prices are at lower levels. The energy efficiency of these models is as good as solar water heaters. So, you can use them in areas where sunlight is limited.

Installation of hot water heat pumps

You can hire an experienced plumber to perform the installation task. The outdoor unit should be placed where there are no airflow restrictions. Since these devices are reasonably noisy, you must place them slightly away from the bedrooms.

A hot water heat pump is an excellent investment to address your hot water requirements. It offers numerous advantages, including high energy efficiency, fast heating, and reduced energy bills. You can combine it with other hot water heaters to enjoy an uninterrupted supply of hot water inside your home and office.