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Choosing the perfect hot water system for your home and family’s requirements is an important decision with lots of variables and options to weigh up. But the chances are, one solution that could represent the exact answer you’ve been looking for is one you’ve never heard of. If the time has come to invest in a new hot water system, you should know more about heat pump hot water systems and be fully informed before making any decisions. First things first:
What is a heat pump water system?
As incredible as it might sound, a heat pump water system is one able to extract heat from the ambient air around it, release it into the system, and use it to heat water. Operating with a compressor and liquid or gas refrigerant, it is rather like a refrigerator in reverse.
What are the advantages of a heat pump water system?
- Minimal energy use
- Cheaper running costs
- Low carbon footprint
- Rebate incentives in many Australian states
- Units cool other areas of the property as they remove heat from the air
- When paired with solar panels, an incredible efficiency of 300% is attainable
- Maintenance requirements are minimal and can be done by the user (professional checks are recommended every 3-4 years)
- Zero combustion
- Increased safety
- Longevity, as systems are expected to last a minimum of 20 years
What are the disadvantages?
- Heat pump water systems do not fare as well in locations with consistently cooler climates.
Although not a problem affecting most parts of Australia, this kind of system works much harder to extract heat from cold air, meaning longer wait times and extra pressure on parts, affecting efficiency and longevity. However, there is even a caveat mitigating this particular aspect, as electric assistance all but cancels out the effect, whilst still adding less additional cost than with alternative systems.
- Initial costs are likely to be higher than with other options
- More complex installation
- Excess noise can occur at times when the system is working hard
Do hot water heat pump systems run out of hot water?
As long as there is water flowing into the system and enough heat stored in the ambient air surrounding it, the system will never run out of hot water. The system is not generating any heat of its own so all it needs to do is keep transferring that which already exists in the atmosphere and converting it, which it does with staggering efficiency.
What’s the catch?
The short answer is: there isn’t one. Households in such a typically hot place as Australia can expect to feel the benefits of installing a heat pump water system almost immediately. And it will pay for itself in terms of reduced energy bills in just a few short months. Aside from the minor inconveniences mentioned above, there is no reason why every Australian household should not consider installing one of these incredible systems. Reliable, affordable hot water can be provided while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing efficiency, and requiring next to no maintenance for decades to come.
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