About three quarters of the energy in a household goes on heating and hot water, and it is obtained mainly by burning fossil fuels. A heat pump does the same job without fuel: it takes heat from the ground, water or air and transfers it to the heating and hot water system.
What a heat pump is
It is a compact unit that provides autonomous heating and/or hot water supply. It is environmentally friendly — it works without burning fuel and without harmful emissions into the atmosphere — and economical: 1 kW of electricity supplied to it, depending on the operating mode and conditions, yields up to 3–6 kW of thermal energy.
Careful use of resources and the associated economic and environmental benefits are increasingly becoming decisive when choosing a heating system.
How it works
The Sun heats the surface of the earth, the air and the water; heat also rises to the surface from the earth's interior. Air temperature varies greatly with the seasons, but just a few metres underground the soil temperature is almost constant: in winter it is warmer than the air, in summer cooler. Geothermal pumps are based on this effect.
- Heat extraction In the circuit that collects heat from the environment, the temperature is about +4…+20 °C.
- Transfer to the refrigerant Through a heat exchanger, heat passes to the heat pump's refrigerant.
- Compression The compressor compresses the refrigerant, raising its temperature.
- Release to the heating system Through a second heat exchanger, heat goes to the heating system: the heat-transfer fluid is supplied at up to +62 °C.
It is the same principle as a refrigerator, only "in reverse": a refrigerator moves heat out of the compartment, while a heat pump moves it from outdoors into the house.
Types of heat pumps
Geothermal (ground, water body)
- more efficient and economical than air-source pumps;
- stable operation in winter: the source temperature barely changes;
- require boreholes, a horizontal ground loop or a nearby water body;
- higher installation cost.
Air-source
- simpler and cheaper to install — no earthworks needed;
- suitable for retrofits and small plots;
- efficiency drops in severe frost;
- in a cold climate, a backup heat source is usually needed.
Good to know A heat pump is most efficient when the temperature difference between the source and the heating system is small. That is why its best partner is underfloor heating or enlarged radiators designed for low-temperature operation.
Ground loop options
| Loop | How it works | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical | probes in boreholes tens of metres deep | a small plot, stable winter operation is required |
| Horizontal | pipes in trenches below the frost line | a spacious plot, cheaper than drilling |
| Water body | a collector on the bottom of a water body near the house | there is a non-freezing water body of sufficient volume |
When a heat pump is especially cost-effective
- there is no mains gas supply to the plot;
- the house is well insulated and heat losses are low;
- the heating is designed from scratch — a low-temperature system can be built in from the start;
- you need one system for heating, hot water and, in some models, cooling in summer;
- autonomy and the absence of a boiler room, chimney and fuel stock are important.
Attention An insufficient ground loop length or an inaccurate heat loss calculation are the main reasons why a pump "cannot cope" in frost. You must not skimp on calculations and surveys: redoing the loop costs more than the calculation itself.
Maintenance and service life
A heat pump does not require chimney cleaning, fuel deliveries or constant attention. Maintenance usually comes down to periodic checks of the pressure in the circuits, the condition of the heat-transfer fluid and filters, and the automation settings. A properly installed ground loop lasts for decades, and the compressor — the main wearing component — lasts 15–20 years on average across the market.
How we work
- Heat loss calculation We determine how much heat the house or building needs and select the capacity.
- Choice of source Ground, water body or air — taking into account the plot, geology and budget.
- System design Connection diagram, buffer tank, hot water cylinder, a backup source if necessary.
- Installation and commissioning Drilling or laying the loop, installing the equipment, setting up the automation.
A heat pump works well with solar panels, which partly cover its electricity consumption, and with solar collectors for hot water. The easiest way to include the system is during house construction or design. Other solutions are in the "Energy Efficiency" section.
Let us size a heat pump for your house Tell us the floor area, wall material and region — we will select the pump type and estimate your heating savings.
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