The heat pump is a very efficient but somewhat unknown system. In case you are thinking of installing it in your home or business, here are 7 frequently asked questions about heat pumps.
These systems are capable of providing heating, cooling and hot water. Let’s start with the basics, but we will also solve more technical questions. If you have any other questions do not hesitate to contact us.
1. What is a heat pump?
The heat pump is a technology that has been known since the mid-19th century. It is a thermal machine that captures heat from a cold space and transfers it to heat the air in a room, running water or the water in a swimming pool.
These machines provide heat, and thanks to reversible systems, they can also provide cooling. It is an amazing solution to achieve the perfect temperature in any type of space in both summer and winter.
2. How do you get free energy?
One of the most outstanding and interesting aspects of heat pumps is that a large part of their energy is obtained from renewable sources.
In Climanova, for example, we usually install air source heat pumps, which obtain much of their energy from the air. But there are other types of heat pumps that obtain energy from water or from the earth.
3. Since when have heat pumps been used?
Actually this technology has been used for decades, but it is true that in Spain its popularity began in the late nineties.
In Malaga, due to the climate we have, the demand for air conditioning products focuses on air conditioning machines for cooling. However we tend to forget that the winter in Malaga, although short is intense due to the humidity.
The best way to enjoy a warm home throughout the autumn and winter without the cost of electricity is to have a heat pump. Then when summer comes it will also be very effective cooling any room.
4. If it is very cold does the heat pump work?
Let us give you a fact, the heat pump is one of the heating systems that are commonly used in northern Europe. Aerothermal heat pumps, for example, work perfectly well even at -20°C outside.
If necessary, these systems can be combined with support equipment such as boilers to maintain the desired temperature in times of intense cold, say in Teruel during the snowfall of 2021, but here in Malaga that rarely reach zero degrees there is no problem.
5. Can they work with radiators?
There are different types of heat pumps, if you wish, all the heating in your home can work with a heat pump. In this case it is advisable to install low temperature radiators to get the most out of it.
A very interesting alternative, more efficient and more elegant is underfloor heating. It takes advantage of all the meters of floor surface as heat emitters to provide maximum comfort.
6. Heat pumps are noisy?
The heat pump units we install are very quiet. For example, the noise level of a Panasonic Etherea split is 19 dB (decibels). A quiet conversation is usually around 30 dB and the noise in a library is around 40 dB.
As far as outdoor units are concerned, their operation is uniform, unlike conventional air conditioners there will be no noise peaks when operating at higher power.
7. How long does it take to amortize the investment?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions about heat pumps. Before starting the project we can compare the systems you currently use to air condition your home or business with the cost of a heat pump installation and maintenance.
It is the most practical way to have clear calculations that allow us to know when we will recover the investment.
From the outset we can tell you that a system like Panasonic Aquarea consumes almost 80% less electricity than electric heating systems. The secret is to get most of the energy from the air.
In summary, as you can see, heat pumps have many advantages. They are still little known because they are more expensive, but they have a long life cycle of about 20 or 25 years, consume little and need little maintenance.
In addition they are becoming more sophisticated and include for example remote control systems and programming from the mobile or air purification systems ideal for people with asthma or allergies.
If you have more questions about heat pumps, please contact us.
