Heat Pump Installation Sydney

Heat pumps are an extremely efficient and affordable way to heat hot water for your home. In some cases, these can save you as much as 70% over the cost of an electric water heater. There are also government rebates available under the “Renewable Energy Certificate” program that can help offset the cost of a heat pump (credits range from roughly $400 to $1000 in the Sydney area), making it a very affordable option for reliable, sustainable hot water.

How Does a Heat Pump Work?

Heat pumps work quite a bit differently than an electric or gas hot water heater. In general terms, a heat pump uses the heat stored in the outside air to heat the water inside your hot water tank.

But it’s a bit more complex than that: thanks to chemistry and unusual compounds called R134a refrigerants, heat pumps can pull  heat from the outside air even if the temperature is less than -10 degrees celsius.

Here is how the process works:

  1. A fan pulls outside air into the heat pump unit.
  2. That air comes into contact with a coiled pipe (or “condenser”) containing the refrigerant compound R134a, a non-CFC that doesn’t affect the ozone layer.
  3. Because the liquid refrigerant R134a boils at extremely low temperatures (-26C), the “heat” of the outside air causes R134a to boil and evaporate into a gas.
  4. A compressor pumps the R134a, now a gas, through a small valve. This compresses the gas, which generates a great deal of heat as a byproduct. This heat is gathered by a heat exchanger and transferred to heat the water in the tank.
  5. The R134a, which has now cooled, returns to a liquid state and is ready to begin the cycle again.

 

Benefits of Using a Heat Pump

Heat pumps provide some great benefits to the user. The main pluses of this system are:

  • Produces (in the form of heat) 3-5 times the amount of energy as is required to operate the unit.
  • Large savings in hot-water heating costs over the long term.
  • Environmentally friendly due to lower electricity requirements.
  • Requires no roof space
  • Simple to install with standard hot water system connections.
  • Includes electric assist unit for extreme cold

 

Is a Heat Pump Right For You?

While heat pumps are a great option, they won’t work for everyone. If the average yearly temperature of your area is lower than 19 degrees Celsius, a heat pump may be less efficient than a standard high-efficiency electric water tank. This may be a good option for many people in the Sydney area.

If you’re interested in a heat pump for your home or business, call Hot Water in a Hurry on 1300 426 468 for a free consultation. Visit our info page to learn more about heat pumps.