Heat pump hot water systems |
Installation, service & repair

When a solar hot water system is not a viable option for a residential property, this is when a heat pump hot water system comes into play.

 

Heat pumps work on the same principle as a refrigerator, using a refrigerant that evaporates at low temperatures – but instead of allowing the waste heat to dissipate into the open air, it is transferred into the hot water system.

 

There are a number of key steps in a heat pump hot water system process:

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Step 1:  A liquid refrigerant passes through an evaporator where it picks up heat from the air and becomes a gas.

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Step 2:  The gas refrigerant is compressed in an electric compressor. Compressing the gas causes its temperature to increase so that it becomes hotter than the water in the tank.

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Step 3:  The hot gas flows into a condenser, where it passes its heat to the water and turns back into a liquid.

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Step 4:  The liquid refrigerant then flows into an expansion valve where its pressure is reduced, allowing it to cool and enter the evaporator to repeat the cycle.

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The heat pump is powered by electricity to drive the compressor and fans. This is supplemented by a built-in electric resistance heater, like those found on traditional electric hot water systems, to ensure consistent and reliable hot water temperatures. As long as the outside temperatures are higher than the cold refrigerant, the heat pump will continue to transfer heat to the hot water tank. The warmer the outside air, the easier it is for the system to work. As outside temperatures decrease so does the efficiency of the system, which make them less suitable for cold climates but ideal for Brisbane’s sub-tropical climate.

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Howzat Plumbing can install, service and repair:

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Split system heat pump hot water systems:  The tank and the compressor are separate units.

 

Integrated heat pump hot water systems:  The tank and the compressor are a single unit.