Air source heat pump water heaters for domestic hot water heating

 

Air source heat pump water heaters use heat pump technology to extract heat from the outside air and, via a heat exchanger process, convert this into domestic hot water in a highly efficient manner. They require electricity to power the air source heat pump element of the water heater and the optional immersion heater, and when using renewable energy to power the heat pump hot water cylinders, you can reduce energy consumption, mitigating climate change with a zero-carbon hot water system for you commercial building or household’s hot water requirements. 

Heat pump domestic water heaters only work with a stored water heating system and are ideally suited to eco-conscious homeowners and businesses alike; the current heat pump technology means that an on-demand heat pump water heater range with high flow rates isn’t possible at present for your hot water needs.

These water heaters, which use an integrated air-to-water heat pump with R290 refrigerant, are three point seven times (3.7) on average (but up to 5 times depending on outside air temperature ) more energy efficient than electric immersion traditional water heaters for your hot water needs, (which are significant savings) with DHW heat pump running costs.

Why use an air source heat pump water heating system?

Because less carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are created when renewable technologies (like an air source heat pump water cylinder) are used in a domestic hot water heating system, end users will be able to lessen their carbon footprints. Additionally, renewable energy can significantly lower energy costs and energy bills when using these energy efficient water heating appliances.

An electric heat pump hot water heater is the ideal addition to a more sustainable environment because of their economical and ecologically beneficial operation as opposed to using fossil fuels to heat water.

Energy efficiency of a domestic hot water air source heat pump

With energy costs rising year after year, you must maximise efficiency to reduce your water heating energy costs as much as possible. Choosing the correct integrated heat pump cylinders can significantly improve the efficiency of your domestic hot water system, taking due consideration regarding efficiency, capacity, and performance.

Air source heat pump hot water cylinders work by extracting thermal energy from the outside air and via a heat transfer process (by a refrigerant to water heat exchanger) into the stored water within the domestic hot water cylinder, and provide hot water in a highly efficient process.

With the typical cost of electricity being around 3 to 4 times more than gas at present.

With a coefficient of performance, commonly known as “COP” of 3.7 on average ( the range is 3 to 5 depending on air temperature) for our hot water cylinder with integrated air source heat pump. This means they use 1kW of electricity and turn that into 3.7kW of heat energy into the domestic hot water with our air to water heat pump for domestic hot water range.

Water heating heat pump systems with an integrated heat pump

This means that air source heat pump water heating is getting very close (or even lower) to the same running costs as gas water heating, whilst mitigating climate change if you use sustainable energy sources to power your domestic hot water air source heat pump.

Integrated heat pump cylinders guarantee energy efficiency and lower operating costs via a refrigeration cycle to produce domestic hot water with various low carbon or renewable energy sources.

How does an air source water heater heat pump work?

Domestic hot water air source heat pumps work by absorbing energy from the air (or even ground in the case of a source ground heat pump) using refrigerated gas that has a low boiling point. The energy is subsequently released as heat when the gas is compressed.

In short, a refrigerant, an element that typically exists in a fluid or gaseous state, powers a heat pump system. To generate heat, a refrigerant circuit uses condensers, compressors, and evaporators in order to absorbing heat from the air outside and transferring heat to produce hot water for sanitary use.

So, think of refrigerators, the process is the same, just it’s reversed and the air source heat pump domestic hot water heater releases heat into the water (so it’s an air to water heat exchange), rather than an air-to-air process used in refrigerators.

Please note these are not a space heating or central heating heat pump system, these are a heat pump cylinder only for the production of domestic hot water, they do not provide heating for central heating systems such as radiator or underfloor heating.

Mitigating climate change with a heat pump water heater

These highly energy efficient domestic hot water heaters emit no harmful gases compared to a fossil fuel-powered hot water system which produce the greenhouse effect. Heat pump cylinders use electricity to heat water in a very energy efficient manner.

R290 heat pump cylinders or water heaters

Our range of domestic hot water heat pumps with storage water tanks (made from premium duplex stainless steel 2205) feature an integrated immersed 1.6 kW electric heating element.

Depending on which version is chosen, either our “S” single coil or “D” dual coil models, these DHW heat pumps are compatible with solar panels (D units are for solar thermal) and other renewable energy sources.

Standout features:

• These integrated air source hot water cylinders have an A++ efficiency level at 20℃ and an A+ efficiency level at 7℃ for optimal performance.

• A maximum hot water temperature of 75°C is achievable using the top up electric heaters, or 65°C using just the refrigerant cycle.

• These heat pump cylinders are filled with 150 grammes of pure R290 refrigerant, making it suitable for any installation site.

The use of 150 grams of R290 refrigerant means that it is exempt from F-Gas and ATEX regulations.

• Systems with 150 g or less of R290 fall below the threshold defined in international and EU/UK regulations for flammable gas safety zones (IEC 60335-2-40 and ATEX).
• This means you don’t legally need F-Gas certification or to comply with full hazardous area zoning (e.g., EX-rated equipment). For safety and compliance with the current building regulations, Flexiheat UK always recommends having a qualified professional heating contractor / qualified plumbing installer perform the installation process to ensure optimal performance and lower your water heating energy bills.

• The DC fan motor operates with higher efficiency, resulting in lower bills and reduced operational noise.

• Our heat pump for domestic hot water range have a premium Duplex stainless steel 2205 water tank/integrated buffer – so are suitable for soft and hard water areas.

• Insulated heat pump water heater cylinder to reduce heat loss and operate efficiently.

• Cooling Air: This system can cool a space and dehumidify it –

The heat pump water heater can be installed in either the laundry room or clothing storage room. When the heat pump water heater creates hot water, it also reduces the room’s air space temperature and humidity. The advantages are more noticeable during high-humidity periods.

• Waste or excess heat can be utilized or recovered by our heat pump for domestic hot water

The heat pump water heaters can be installed in the kitchen, in a boiler room, or in the garage, basically in any room that has a large amount of waste excess heat, so that the heat pump water heater will have a higher energy efficiency even with very low outside temperatures during the winter period by using this hot air.

• Control the heat pump water heater using Wi-Fi and an app available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

• Wall mount brackets are available exclusively for the 100-litre version’s installation.

• The heat pump for domestic hot water system incorporates a magnesium anode to safeguard against corrosion.

• An aluminium microchannel condenser is encased externally on the storage tank, free from scaling and gas-water contamination.

• The heat pump hot water cylinder includes an electric heating element (1.6 kW) that ensures hot water is maintained at a constant temperature, even in extreme cold winter conditions.

• The control panel features an LCD touch display.

• These electric heat pump water heaters comply with the Low Voltage Directive (LVD), EMC directive and Eco-design Directive ensuring that the domestic hot water heat pump is not influenced by other household electrical appliances while achieving superior environmental performance.

• The system features a weekly programmable Legionella prevention sanitisation cycle.

• The heat pump water heater must be connected to the outside surrounding air via vents on an external wall of the property.

• You can set a fixed or dynamic DHW setpoint on a room sensor to enhance your consumption management.

• PV solar panels compatible – The “SG” ready label represents that the DHW heat pump can be easily integrated with a home’s solar PV + inverter + grid + battery green electricity systems to heat water.

• Thermal solar panels compatible – The 200 and 300 Litre heat pump DHW water heaters are available with an additional heating coil for use with thermal solar heating systems to help reduced energy bills further.

• The system also features an external ON-OFF contact for photovoltaic forcing powering from a solar PV system.

Domestic heat pump water heater sizing 

Heat pump water heaters – how many litres will I require? please see the sizing chart below, this chart is based on properties that use showers, if you are predominately a bath person / household, please half the number of persons.

 

Heat Pump water heater range

We have three R290 heat pump water heaters avaviable in the range ,with two different model options 

As standard – single coil version.

The “S” model has one coil within the tank, at the bottom, in direct contact with the DHW water, this option is available for 100 litre, 200 Litre and 300 Litre models. This coil is often used for solar thermal heating (making them a solar assisted heat pump water heater), or you can connect a traditional gas or oil boiler as a back-up / additional heating source.

Optional twin coil version 

The “D” model is the double coil version, which has an additional heating coil, in the upper part of the tank, in direct contact with the DHW water. Often the second coil is connected to gas or oil boilers, and the lower coil to solar thermal. This option is only available on the 200 and 300 Litre models.

1. 100 Litre wall hung only heat pump water heater
2. 200 Litre heat pump water heater – floor mounted only 
3. 300 Litre heat pump water heater – floor mounted only 

Product technical detail as below 

Download the Air source DHW heat pump water heater range brochure from Flexiheat UK 

What is refrigerant R290, and what are its benefits?

R290 is a type of refrigerant that is also a gas. It is also commonly known as propane in everyday life. R290, like R410A, R32, and R134A, is widely used in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump applications.

R290 is a pure refrigerant with a very low Global Warming Potential (GWP) of approximately 3, an ODP of zero, and no impact on the ozone layer. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions and is environmentally friendly.

R290 has comparable pressure and heating efficiency to R22 (R22 has been outlawed in Europe since 2015 because of its high GWP value), and the exhausting air temperature is lower than R410a or R32, which contributes to its superior operating performance and efficiency.

Recently, R290 refrigerant was chosen for domestic hot water heat pumps, and it has proven to be an outstanding choice because of its higher COP, lower running costs, and superior performance in low-air ambient circumstances with quiet operation, allowing for smaller DHW heat pump system designs.

However, there are some requirements that need to be adhered to when using R290 refrigerant, these are.

1. The heat pump water heater should be located in a well-ventilated room without continuously operating ignition sources (i.e. open flame appliances or sparks nearby)
2. R290 refrigerant does not contain an odour, it would be prudent install a leak detection system, in the very unlikely situation that the refrigerant should ever leak, which is unlikely with proper installation.

Hot water cylinder with heat pump

Integrated heat pump cylinders have a small heat pump fixed to the top of a water storage cylinder. The air source heat pump element of the water heater has a split top cover design which allows easy assembly and disassembly, making installing and maintenance quicker and more convenient for the water heating system.

Allowing easy access to the expansion valve and the evaporator coil for maintenance.

If you already have an air source heat pump and just want a heat pump hot water cylinder only, then we supply these large coil cylinder specifically designed for heat pump use, and our range is detailed on this webpage – hot water cylinders for heat pumps

Is an R290 Domestic Hot Water Heat Pump allowed inside a property?

With less than 150 grams of R290 refrigerant, which meets the specific requirements for a sealed space from the F-gas regulations based on the EN378 standards. Our air-source heat pump DHW heaters are safe for internal installation within a building.

Can you get a grant for an air source heat pump water heater?

Presently, there are no grants or government incentives available for stand alone for heat pump water heaters.

Grants, like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, can only be used for heat pumps that provide central heating as well as DHW water. The bad news is that heat pump water heaters can only do the second one.

If things go well, the ECO4 program might one day be used to help pay for installing heat pump water heaters in social housing.

Still, the new element of ECO4 has not started yet. This part includes funds for social housing.

Lower operating costs can help offset the potential higher initial costs of purchase and installation costs of an ASHP water heater to provide hot water for eco conscious homeowners.

Contact Flexiheat UK for your hot water cylinder with integrated air source heat pump requirements.

For further information, check stock availability, lead time, delivery, and prices, or purchase our energy efficient hot water cylinder with integrated air source heat pump range to suit new or retrofit hot water systems from houses to commercial water heating applications.

We sell directly to environmentally conscious homeowners and heating contractor / heating installers our competitively priced air to water heat pump for domestic hot water range, which is manufactured with a duplex stainless steel cylinder for heating water with high performance and longevity, and when using electricity from renewable sources, your carbon footprint for your hot water needs is zero. 

These air source heat pump water heaters really are a better solution than electric immersion traditional water heaters due to the energy efficiency, which helps reduce energy bills and being more environmentally friendly.

Please contact our sales team on 01202 822221 or use our email contact form on the site to get a heat pump water heater price and delivery.