When we think about domestic hot water needs, there’s a lot of pressure put on the heat pump to deliver a consistent level of hot water to the property. We use it for showers, washing dishes and heating our homes – any system needs to be reliable and effective if it’s going to exceed the user’s expectations.
Do you know what type of pump is primarily used for hot water in a domestic setting? If you don’t, it can make sourcing replacements or finding a new model difficult. With that being said, let’s take a look at what you need to know about the best type of heat pump for domestic hot water and how it can affect you.
The Air-Source Heat Pump
Unlike commercial properties, which frequently employ ground-source heat pumps to generate the heat they need, a domestic property will use an air-source heat pump, relying on the outdoor air for heating purposes.
However, this is a specialist type of air-to-water heat pump. Unlike the standard offerings, this is designed uniquely for showers and sinks. This means that it can be a good choice for homes that don’t have space heating.
The Benefits of an Air-Source Pump
What you’ll come to learn about an air source pump is that it can offer a lot of benefits for domestic property. Let’s take a look at some of the common benefits here:
- A low carbon footprint – helps to cut the environmental impact of your property by having a low carbon footprint. It’s useful for getting hot water without relying on fossil fuels.
- Save money on your bills – obviously, it’s cheaper and more efficient to run an air-source pump than relying on conventional fossil-fuel heating sources.
- Useful for heating and cooling at once – an air-source heat pump can both heat and cool water as standard. This means that it is equipped to handle all your water needs in one swoop.
- Compatible with other energy systems – an air-source heat pump is incredibly flexible – it can work in tandem either with your existing setup or it can replace it entirely, depending on your needs. We recommend the Grundfos Magna1 40-150 F as a good choice.
- A great seasonal coefficient of performance – air source heat pumps are made to be effective in both the summer and winter, thanks to a superior SCOP. We recommend the Grundfos Magna1 32-80 as a good choice.
- Easy installation – it doesn’t take long to install an air-source heat pump, taking roughly only two days. It’s easier to install than a ground source heat pump because you don’t need to dig the ground. You also don’t need any planning permission.
- Low maintenance costs – an air source heat pump doesn’t need much in the way of maintenance which is helpful for anyone who doesn’t want a lot of work. You’ll need to service it once a year, and that’s all. The Grundfos Magna1 32-40 is a great example of this – it’s easy to use and lasts a long time.
- A great lifespan – the thing about a good heat pump is that it has a long lifespan. A good air-source heat pump can last for 20 years and still run at a high level of efficiency.
Are There Any Considerations?
Every air pump has both strengths and weaknesses, so it is important to keep them in mind when looking at an air-source heat pump.
The primary consideration is that your home needs to be insulated properly already and also that they become less efficient in extreme cold. However, these issues can be worked around with enough time and planning.
There is also some consideration as to the noise – it’s a little louder than other forms of heating. However, don’t let that discourage you – it’s a small price to pay for energy efficiency.
Final Thoughts
When all is said and done, an air source heat pump is a useful tool for your home and can provide a lot of hot water with consistency. However, you’ll need to choose the right type of pump for your needs, and this is, understandably, where a lot of people have the most issues. However, if you’re prepared to experiment and look at what’s on offer, it’s easy enough to do.
Air pumps are better than most types of domestic heating, and they’re easy to install. They’re becoming more popular across the country and the western world, and it’s not difficult to see why this is the case.
