There are a lot of aspects to consider when building a home. One of them is the method of space heating. It is best to choose a functional and economical option which will quickly allow you to save the money invested.
Heat pumps are gaining more and more supporters every year. With greater ecological awareness people are giving up heating their homes with coal and wood and the rising costs of gas and electricity make us look for alternative solutions. If you haven’t heard about heat pumps yet, check out the truths and myths about them!
The cost of installing a heat pump, as well as its efficiency, depends mainly on the type of device. There are two installation subtypes available on the market, divided by the heat source – air pumps and ground pumps
The law of physics says that the direction of temperature change is always one; from warmer, to cooler. However, the heat pump avoids this problem, thanks to the complex installation of three elements of the heat source system, the pump itself and the heat distribution system. In the first system a special liquid circulates, which absorbs heat from the environment (depending on the type of pump – from water or ground), and in the air ones the same role is played by an external fan. In the pump, under the influence of the recovered heat the processes of refrigerant condensation and its expansion take place. The heat extracted from the system heats the house, and the cooled fluid returns to extract energy again. An extra boost is needed in the energy transfer process, so they are often electric-powered units
Both types of pumps are more ecological than devices that use heat energy from combustion (gas, wood, oils) – in addition, they do not depend on a finite amount of raw material for their operation
The cost of installing a heat pump is around 30k for a 200m2 house. It is not cheap, but the cost of connecting a gas boiler fluctuates within similar limits. A heat pump is an eco-friendly investment that will quickly see a reduction in your heating and air conditioning bills. Granted, you do incur energy transportation costs (and therefore pay for electricity), but your heating costs are reduced just as they are with the introduction of recuperation
Many people considering the introduction of this solution in their four walls are afraid of the scale of the loudness of such an installation. However, it is worth remembering that over the past several years, technology and construction have advanced significantly. The source of the original noise was the reciprocating compressor, which in modern installations has been replaced by a scroll compressor. The same is true for air pumps – in modern units, the fans no longer make as much noise during operation as they did in the beginning. In combination with good acoustic insulation, you can enjoy complete silence
Many people think that during colder winters the heat pump will not be able to adequately heat the rooms, as it has no way of recovering large amounts of heat from the external environment. The truth is that modern devices are distinguished by high efficiency, and if the temperature falls below a certain value, they run an additional electric heater. Many manufacturers recommend using a heat pump along with underfloor heating, but this is not a necessity, but an opportunity to create a compatible system that will provide you with the greatest comfort
While it may contradict the name, heat pumps aren’t just for heating! Many modern systems have the ability to reverse the action and transfer heat to the environment rather than drawing it in. This means that you can save not only on heating in winter, but also on air conditioning in summer – and you’ll have one multifunctional device to do both.
>> See also: Gravity ventilation or recuperation?
Although heat pumps can be automatically installed in modern buildings, this does not mean that only there is their place. They are perfect for thermal upgrades of existing buildings – especially those drawing heat from the air and water, as they are less problematic to install. Heat pumps allow you to upgrade your home, introduce eco-friendly solutions and reduce your heating bills
It may seem that since the heat pump is powered by electricity anyway, we will pay as much for it as for heating with electricity. However, it is worth remembering that in heat pumps only the compressor is powered by electricity. Additionally, it is possible to configure the device to produce heat for backup during the night tariff. Heat pumps also have few failures and rarely need to be serviced – only once a year.
