What are the advantages and disadvantages of an air-to-water heat pump?
The air/water heat pump consists of two modules connected by a refrigerant or glycol water. The first module is placed in the garden. It is responsible for capturing the heat from the outside air. It is then used to heat the water in your heating system.
The indoor unit is connected to the radiator network or underfloor heating and will distribute the heat in the home.
The air/water heat pump is much in demand in new houses because it uses a proportion of renewable energy and allows you to considerably reduce your energy bill. We will look more closely at the advantages and disadvantages of this type of heat pump.
Advantages of the air-to-water heat pump
The heat pump has many advantages, both for the energy savings it offers, but also for its heating and operating comfort. Indeed, it does not require storage space for fuel (unlike other energies such as wood, propane or fuel oil) and it can produce both heating and domestic hot water.
Here is a list of its main advantages:
– Low energy consumption:
For every 1kWh of electricity consumed to operate, the heat pump gives out 3 to 4 kWh of heat. This means that you can considerably reduce your expenses (your heating bill can be divided by 3 to 4!).
– Comfortable to use:
The heat pump operates autonomously, heats quickly and ensures a stable temperature in all rooms.
– Simple installation:
The air/water heat pump can be connected to the existing heating system or to underfloor heating.
– No emissions:
This heating system does not release any smoke into the atmosphere, so there are no problems with flue pipes.
– One appliance for all your needs:
The system will produce heating and hot water and will also be able to cool your rooms in the summer (if you opt for a reversible model).
– Eligible for financial aid:
If your home is more than 2 years old and you use an RGE professional to supply and install your air-to-water heat pump, you can take advantage of the MaPrimeRenov’ scheme (which replaces the Energy Transition tax credit).
The main disadvantages of a heat pump
The heat pump also has a few negative points that you should bear in mind when using it for heating.
– The noise level of the outdoor unit:
Some models can be louder than others. You should therefore consider checking the number of decibels emitted by the unit before purchasing. It is important to avoid placing it against the wall of a bedroom or living room so that the occupants are not disturbed by the noise. This point is less restrictive today because manufacturers are offering increasingly silent products.
– Performance that varies according to temperature:
Air-to-water heat pumps are most efficient when the outside temperature is not too low. Therefore, if you live in a cold region (where winter temperatures exceed -7°C), your heat pump will have a lower average efficiency.
On the other hand, the power drops when the temperature drops. The heat pump then has to rely on its electrical backup. Your heating bill will therefore be higher during this period.
– Have an ideal location for the outdoor unit:
As mentioned above, it must be located away from living areas and also from neighbours to avoid noise pollution.
The air-to-water heat pump is therefore a very interesting heating system that has many advantages. It can be installed in new buildings as well as in renovation projects.
However, in regions with very harsh winters, it is important to size the installation correctly and in some cases to add an additional heating system (a wood or pellet stove, for example).
