If you are exploring options to heat and cool your home or reduce your energy bills, you might want to consider a heat pump system. Heat pumps are a proven and reliable technology in Canada, capable of providing year-round comfort control for your home by supplying heat in the winter, cooling in the summer, and in some cases, heating hot water for your home.
Heat pumps can be an excellent choice in a variety of applications, and for both new homes and retrofits of existing heating and cooling systems. They are also an option when replacing existing air conditioning systems, as the incremental cost to move from a cooling-only system to a heat pump is often quite low. Given the wealth of different system types and options, it can often be difficult to determine if a heat pump is the right option for your home.
If you are considering a heat pump, you likely have a number of questions, including:
This booklet provides important facts on heat pumps to help you be more informed, supporting you to make the right choice for your home. Using these questions as a guide, this booklet describes the most common types of heat pumps, and discusses the factors involved in choosing, installing, operating, and maintaining a heat pump.
This booklet is intended for homeowners looking for background information on heat pump technologies in order to support informed decision making regarding system selection and integration, operation and maintenance. The information provided here is general, and specific details may vary depending on your installation and system type. This booklet should not replace working with a contractor or energy advisor, who will ensure that your installation meets your needs and desired objectives.
Heat pumps are very efficient heating and cooling systems and can significantly reduce your energy costs. In thinking of the home as a system, it is recommended that heat losses from your home be minimized from areas such as air leakage (through cracks, holes), poorly insulated walls, ceilings, windows and doors.
Tackling these issues first can allow you to use a smaller heat pump size, thereby reducing heat pump equipment costs and allowing your system to operate more efficiently.
A number of publications explaining how to do this are available from Natural Resources Canada.
Heat pumps are a proven technology that have been used for decades, both in Canada and globally, to efficiently provide heating, cooling, and in some cases, hot water to buildings. In fact, it is likely that you interact with heat pump technology on a daily basis: refrigerators and air conditioners operate using the same principles and technology. This section presents the basics of how a heat pump works, and introduces different system types.
A heat pump is an electrically driven device that extracts heat from a low temperature place (a source), and delivers it to a higher temperature place (a sink).
To understand this process, think about a bicycle ride over a hill: No effort is required to go from the top of the hill to the bottom, as the bike and rider will move naturally from a high place to a lower one. However, going up the hill requires a lot more work, as the bike is moving against the natural direction of motion.
In a similar manner, heat naturally flows from places with higher temperature to locations with lower temperatures (e.g., in the winter, heat from inside the building is lost to the outside). A heat pump uses additional electrical energy to counter the natural flow of heat, and pump the energy available in a colder place to a warmer one.
So how does a heat pump heat or cool your home? As energy is extracted from a source, the temperature of the source is reduced. If the home is used as the source, thermal energy will be removed, cooling this space. This is how a heat pump operates in cooling mode, and is the same principle used by air conditioners and refrigerators. Similarly, as energy is added to a sink, its temperature increases. If the home is used as a sink, thermal energy will be added, heating the space. A heat pump is fully reversible, meaning that it can both heat and cool your home, providing year-round comfort.
Selecting the source and sink for your heat pump system goes a long way in determining the performance, capital costs and operating costs of your system. This section provides a brief overview of common sources and sinks for residential applications in Canada.
Sources: Two sources of thermal energy are most commonly used for heating homes with heat pumps in Canada:
Sinks: Two sinks for thermal energy are most commonly used for heating homes with heat pumps in Canada:
Furnaces and boilers provide space heating by adding heat to the air through the combustion of a fuel such as natural gas or heating oil. While efficiencies have continually improved, they still remain below 100%, meaning that not all the available energy from combustion is used to heat the air.
Heat pumps operate on a different principle. The electricity input into the heat pump is used to transfer thermal energy between two locations. This allows the heat pump to operate more efficiently, with typical efficiencies well over
100%, i.e. more thermal energy is produced than the amount of electric energy used to pump it.
It is important to note that the efficiency of the heat pump depends greatly on the temperatures of the source and sink. Just like a steeper hill requires more effort to climb on a bike, greater temperature differences between the source and sink of the heat pump require it to work harder, and can reduce efficiency. Determining the right size of heat pump to maximize seasonal efficiencies is critical. These aspects are discussed in more detail in the Air-Source Heat Pumps and Ground-Source Heat Pumps sections.
A variety of efficiency metrics are used in manufacturer catalogues, which can make understanding system performance somewhat confusing for a first time buyer. Below is a breakdown of some commonly used efficiency terms:
Steady-State Metrics: These measures describe heat pump efficiency in a ‘steady-state,’ i.e., without real-life fluctuations in season and temperature. As such, their value can change significantly as source and sink temperatures, and other operational parameters, change. Steady state metrics include:
Coefficient of Performance (COP): The COP is a ratio between the rate at which the heat pump transfers thermal energy (in kW), and the amount of electrical power required to do the pumping (in kW). For example, if a heat pump used 1kW of electrical energy to transfer 3 kW of heat, the COP would be 3.
Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER): The EER is similar to the COP, and describes the steady-state cooling efficiency of a heat pump. It is determined by dividing the cooling capacity of the heat pump in Btu/h by the electrical energy input in Watts (W) at a specific temperature. EER is strictly associated with describing the steady-state cooling efficiency, unlike COP which can be used to express the efficiency of a heat pump in heating as well as cooling.
Seasonal Performance Metrics: These measures are designed to give a better estimate of performance over a heating or cooling season, by incorporating “real life” variations in temperatures across the season.
Seasonal metrics include:
Weather data characteristics of long-term climate conditions are used to represent the heating season in calculating the HSPF. However, this calculation is typically limited to a single region, and may not fully represent performance across Canada. Some manufacturers can provide an HSPF for another climate region upon request; however typically HSPFs are reported for Region 4, representing climates similar to the Midwestern US. Region 5 would cover most of the southern half of the provinces in Canada, from the B.C interior through New BrunswickFootnote 1.
Here are some common terms you may come across while investigating heat pumps.
The refrigerant is the fluid that circulates through the heat pump, alternately absorbing, transporting and releasing heat. Depending on its location, the fluid may be liquid, gaseous, or a gas/vapour mixture
The reversing valve controls the direction of flow of the refrigerant in the heat pump and changes the heat pump from heating to cooling mode or vice versa.
A coil is a loop, or loops, of tubing where heat transfer between the source/sink and refrigerant takes place. The tubing may have fins to increase the surface area available for heat exchange.
The evaporator is a coil in which the refrigerant absorbs heat from its surroundings and boils to become a low-temperature vapour. As the refrigerant passes from the reversing valve to the compressor, the accumulator collects any excess liquid that did not vaporize into a gas. Not all heat pumps, however, have an accumulator.
The compressor squeezes the molecules of the refrigerant gas together, increasing the temperature of the refrigerant. This device helps to transfer thermal energy between the source and sink.
The condenser is a coil in which the refrigerant gives off heat to its surroundings and becomes a liquid.
The expansion device lowers the pressure created by the compressor. This causes the temperature to drop, and the refrigerant becomes a low-temperature vapour/liquid mixture.
The outdoor unit is where heat is transferred to/from the outdoor air in an air-source heat pump. This unit generally contains a heat exchanger coil, the compressor, and the expansion valve. It looks and operates in the same manner as the outdoor portion of an air-conditioner.
The indoor coil is where heat is transferred to/from indoor air in certain types of air-source heat pumps. Generally, the indoor unit contains a heat exchanger coil, and may also include an additional fan to circulate heated or cooled air to the occupied space.
The plenum , only seen in ducted installations, is part of the air distribution network. The plenum is an air compartment that forms part of the system for distributing heated or cooled air through the house. It is generally a large compartment immediately above or around the heat exchanger.
Units of measurement for capacity, or power use:
Air-source heat pumps use the outdoor air as a source of thermal energy in heating mode, and as a sink to reject energy when in cooling mode. These types of systems can generally be classified into two categories:
Air-Air Heat Pumps. These units heat or cool the air inside your home, and represent the vast majority of air-source heat pump integrations in Canada. They can be further classified according to the type of installation:
Air-air systems are more efficient when the temperature difference between inside and outside is smaller. Because of this, air-air heat pumps generally try to optimize their efficiency by providing a higher volume of warm air, and heating that air to a lower temperature (normally between 25 and 45°C). This contrasts with furnace systems, which deliver a smaller volume of air, but heat that air to higher temperatures (between 55°C and 60°C). If you are switching to a heat pump from a furnace, you may notice this when you begin using your new heat pump.
Air-Water Heat Pumps: Less common in Canada, air-water heat pumps heat or cool water, and are used in homes with hydronic (water-based) distribution systems such as low temperature radiators, radiant floors, or fan coil units. In heating mode, the heat pump provides thermal energy to the hydronic system. This process is reversed in cooling mode, and thermal energy is extracted from the hydronic system and rejected to the outdoor air.
Operating temperatures in the hydronic system are critical when evaluating air-water heat pumps. Air-water heat pumps operate more efficiently when heating the water to lower temperatures, i.e., below 45 to 50°C, and as such are a better match for radiant floors or fan coil systems. Care should be taken if considering their use with high temperature radiators that require water temperatures above 60°C, as these temperatures generally exceed the limits of most residential heat pumps.
Installing an air-source heat pump can offer you a number of benefits. This section explores how air-source heat pumps can benefit your household energy footprint.
The major benefit of using an air-source heat pump is the high efficiency it can provide in heating compared to typical systems like furnaces, boilers and electric baseboards. At 8°C, the coefficient of performance (COP) of air-source heat pumps typically ranges from between 2.0 and 5.4. This means that, for units with a COP of 5, 5 kilowatt hours (kWh) of heat are transferred for every kWh of electricity supplied to the heat pump. As the outdoor air temperature drops, COPs are lower, as the heat pump must work across a greater temperature difference between the indoor and outdoor space. At –8°C, COPs can range from 1.1 to 3.7.
On a seasonal basis, the heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF) of market available units can vary from 7.1 to 13.2 (Region V). It is important to note that these HSPF estimates are for an area with a climate similar to Ottawa. Actual savings are highly dependant on the location of your heat pump installation.
The higher efficiency of the heat pump can translate into significant energy use reductions. Actual savings in your house will depend on a number of factors, including your local climate, efficiency of your current system, size and type of heat pump, and the control strategy. Many online calculators are available to provide a quick estimation of how much energy savings you can expect for your particular application. NRCan’s ASHP-Eval tool is freely available and could be used by installers and mechanical designers to help advise on your situation.
Canada’s natural resources are among the most diversified in the world. But the road to a low-carbon future has its challenges.
Here’s the situation: Nearly two thirds of the energy consumed in Canadian homes is used for heating and cooling. This represents a basic need for Canadians, especially given our cold winters and hot summers.
To reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, we must rethink traditional methods of heating and cooling.
But what can be done?
Every day, scientists and engineers at Natural Resources Canada’s CanmetENERGY research centres are working to find low-cost, clean-energy solutions to this issue.
Here’s how.
Today, air-source heat pumps represent one of the most promising technologies for heating and cooling our homes. They allow for a significant reduction in our energy consumption.
A heat pump extracts heat from the cold outside air and transfers it inside our home. To this end, a compressor inside the device uses electricity to increase the temperature of the heat extracted from the outside air. The heat pump can also provide cooling by transferring warm indoor air to the outside. The energy provided by the outside air is free: consumers only pay for the electricity used by the compressor.
Canada’s cold climate is a challenge: when the temperature drops, heat pumps have trouble transferring heat from outdoors to indoors in order to warm our homes. That is why our researchers are hard at work trying to adapt air-source heat pumps to our Canadian climate.
Heat pumps are one of the many technologies that CanmetENERGY believes will help make Canada a safer, healthier place, and create a low-carbon economy.
And it’s only the beginning.
CanmetENERGY: science at the service of all Canadians.
An air-source heat pump has three cycles:
During the heating cycle, heat is taken from outdoor air and "pumped" indoors.
The ability of the heat pump to transfer heat from the outside air to the house depends on the outdoor temperature. As this temperature drops, the ability of the heat pump to absorb heat also drops. For many air-source heat pump installations, this means that there is a temperature (called the thermal balance point) when the heat pump's heating capacity is equal to the heat loss of the house. Below this outdoor ambient temperature, the heat pump can supply only part of the heat required to keep the living space comfortable, and supplementary heat is required.
It is important to note that the vast majority of air-source heat pumps have a minimum operating temperature, below which they are unable to operate. For newer models, this can range from between -15°C to -25°C. Below this temperature, a supplemental system must be used to provide heating to the building.
The cycle described above is reversed to cool the house during the summer. The unit takes heat out of the indoor air and rejects it outside.
During the cooling cycle, the heat pump also dehumidifies the indoor air. Moisture in the air passing over the indoor coil condenses on the coil's surface and is collected in a pan at the bottom of the coil. A condensate drain connects this pan to the house drain.
If the outdoor temperature falls to near or below freezing when the heat pump is operating in the heating mode, moisture in the air passing over the outside coil will condense and freeze on it. The amount of frost buildup depends on the outdoor temperature and the amount of moisture in the air.
This frost buildup decreases the efficiency of the coil by reducing its ability to transfer heat to the refrigerant. At some point, the frost must be removed. To do this, the heat pump switches into defrost mode. The most common approach is:
One of two methods is used to determine when the unit goes into defrost mode:
Unnecessary defrost cycles reduce the seasonal performance of the heat pump. As a result, the demand-frost method is generally more efficient since it starts the defrost cycle only when it is required.
Since air-source heat pumps have a minimum outdoor operating temperature (between -15°C to -25°C) and reduced heating capacity at very cold temperatures, it is important to consider a supplemental heating source for air-source heat pump operations. Supplementary heating may also be required when the heat pump is defrosting. Different options are available:
See the final section of this booklet, Related Equipment, for more information on systems that use supplementary heating sources. There, you can find discussion of options for how to program your system to transition between heat pump use and supplementary heat source use.
To support understanding of this section, refer to the earlier section called An introduction to Heat Pump Efficiency for an explanation of what HSPFs and SEERs represent.
In Canada, energy efficiency regulations prescribe a minimum seasonal efficiency in heating and cooling that must be achieved for the product to be sold in the Canadian market. In addition to these regulations, your province or territory may have more stringent requirements.
Minimum performance for Canada as a whole, and typical ranges for market-available products, are summarized below for heating and cooling. It is important to also check to see whether any additional regulations are in place in your region before selecting your system.
Cooling Seasonal Performance, SEER:
Heating Seasonal Performance, HSPF
Note: HSPF factors are provided for AHRI Climate Zone V, which has a similar climate to Ottawa. Actual seasonal efficiencies may vary depending on your region. A new performance standard that aims to better represent performance of these systems in Canadian regions is currently under development.
The actual SEER or HSPF values depend on a variety of factors primarily related to heat pump design. Current performance has evolved significantly over the last 15 years, driven by new developments in compressor technology, heat exchanger design, and improved refrigerant flow and control.
Of particular importance when considering efficiency is the role of new compressor designs in improving seasonal performance. Typically, units operating at the minimum prescribed SEER and HSPF are characterized by single speed heat pumps. Variable speed air-source heat pumps are now available that are designed to vary the capacity of the system to more closely match the heating/cooling demand of the house at a given moment. This helps to maintain peak efficiency at all times, including during milder conditions when there is lower-demand on the system.
More recently, air-source heat pumps that are better adapted to operating in the cold Canadian climate have been introduced to the market. These systems, often called cold climate heat pumps, combine variable capacity compressors with improved heat exchanger designs and controls to maximize heating capacity at colder air temperatures, while maintaining high efficiencies during milder conditions. These types of systems typically have higher SEER and HSPF values, with some systems reaching SEERs up to 42, and HSPFs approaching 13.
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) currently verifies all heat pumps for electrical safety. A performance standard specifies tests and test conditions at which heat pump heating and cooling capacities and efficiency are determined. The performance testing standards for air-source heat pumps are CSA C656, which (as of 2014) has been harmonised with ANSI/AHRI 210/240-2008, Performance Rating of Unitary Air-Conditioning & Air-Source Heat Pump Equipment. It also replaces CAN/CSA-C273.3-M91, Performance Standard for Split-System Central Air-Conditioners and Heat Pumps.
To appropriately size your heat pump system, it is important to understand the heating and cooling needs for your home. It is recommended that a heating and cooling professional be retained to undertake the required calculations. Heating and cooling loads should be determined by using a recognized sizing method such as CSA F280-12, "Determining the Required Capacity of Residential Space Heating and Cooling Appliances."
The sizing of your heat pump system should be done according to your climate, heating and cooling building loads, and the objectives of your installation (e.g., maximizing heating energy savings vs. displacing an existing system during certain periods of the year). To help with this process, NRCan has developed an Air-Source Heat Pump Sizing and Selection Guide. This guide, along with a companion software tool, is intended for energy advisors and mechanical designers, and is freely available to provide guidance on appropriate sizing.
If a heat pump is undersized, you will notice that the supplemental heating system will be used more frequently. While an undersized system will still operate efficiently, you may not get the anticipated energy savings due to a high use of a supplemental heating system.
Likewise, if a heat pump is oversized, the desired energy savings may not be realized due to inefficient operation during milder conditions. While the supplemental heating system operates less frequently, under warmer ambient conditions, the heat pump produces too much heat and the unit cycles on and off leading to discomfort, wear on the heat pump, and stand-by electric power draw. It is therefore important to have a good understanding of your heating load and what the heat pump operating characteristics are to achieve optimal energy savings.
Apart from sizing, several additional performance factors should be considered:
Air-source heat pumps should be installed by a qualified contractor. Consult a local heating and cooling professional to size, install, and maintain your equipment to ensure efficient and reliable operations. If you are looking to implement a heat pump to replace or supplement your central furnace, you should be aware that heat pumps generally operate at higher airflows than furnace systems. Depending on the size of your new heat pump, some modifications may be needed to your ductwork to avoid added noise and fan energy use. Your contractor will be able to give you guidance on your specific case.
The cost of installing an air-source heat pump depends on the type of system, your design objectives, and any existing heating equipment and ductwork in your home. In some cases, additional modifications to the ductwork or electrical services may be required to support your new heat pump installation.
You should note several important things when operating your heat pump:
Proper maintenance is critical to ensure your heat pump operates efficiently, reliably, and has a long service life. You should have a qualified contractor do annual maintenance on your unit to ensure everything is in good working order.
Aside from annual maintenance, there are a few simple things you can do to ensure reliable and efficient operations. Be sure to change or clean your air filter every 3 months, as clogged filters will decrease airflow and reduce the efficiency of your system. Also, be sure that vents and air registers in your home are not blocked by furniture or carpeting, as inadequate airflow to or from your unit can shorten equipment lifespans and reduce efficiency of the system.
The energy savings from installing a heat pump can help to reduce your monthly energy bills. Achieving a reduction in your energy bills greatly depends on the price of electricity in relation to other fuels such as natural gas or heating oil, and, in retrofit applications, what type of system is being replaced.
Heat pumps in general come at a higher cost compared to other systems such as furnaces or electric baseboards due the number of components in the system. In some regions and cases, this added cost can be recouped in a relatively short time period through the utility cost savings. However, in other regions, varying utility rates can extend this period. It is important to work with your contractor or energy advisor to get an estimate of the economics of heat pumps in your area, and the potential savings you can achieve.
Air-source heat pumps have a service life of between 15 and 20 years. The compressor is the critical component of the system.
Most heat pumps are covered by a one-year warranty on parts and labour, and an additional five- to ten-year warranty on the compressor (for parts only). However, warranties vary between manufacturers, so check the fine print.
Ground-source heat pumps use the earth or ground water as a source of thermal energy in heating mode, and as a sink to reject energy when in cooling mode. These types of systems contain two key components:
Depending on how the heat pump and ground heat exchanger interact, two different system classifications are possible:
Ground-source heat pumps can serve a suite of comfort needs in your home, including:
Heating and “active cooling” operations are described in the following section.
In Canada, where air temperatures can go below –30°C, ground-source systems are able to operate more efficiently because they take advantage of warmer and more stable ground temperatures. Typical water temperatures entering the ground-source heat pump are generally above 0°C, yielding a COP of around 3 for most systems during the coldest winter months.
Ground-source systems will reduce your heating and cooling costs substantially. Heating energy cost savings compared with electric furnaces are around 65%.
On average, a well designed ground-source system will yield savings that are about 10-20% more than would be provided by a best in class, cold climate air-source heat pump sized to cover most of the building heating load. This is due to the fact that underground temperatures are higher in winter than air temperatures. As a result, a ground-source heat pump can provide more heat over the course of the winter than an air-source heat pump.
Actual energy savings will vary depending on the local climate, the efficiency of the existing heating system, the costs of fuel and electricity, the size of the heat pump installed, borefield configuration and the seasonal energy balance, and the heat pump efficiency performance at CSA rating conditions.
Ground-source heat pumps consist of two main parts: A ground heat exchanger, and a heat pump. Unlike air-source heat pumps, where one heat exchanger is located outside, in ground-source systems, the heat pump unit is located inside the home.
Ground heat exchanger designs can be classified as either:
The selection of outdoor piping system depends on the climate, soil conditions, available land, local installation costs at the site as well as municipal and provincial regulations. For instance, open loop systems are permitted in Ontario, but are not permitted in Quebec. Some municipalities have banned DX systems because the municipal water source is the aquifer.
In the heating cycle, the ground water, the antifreeze mixture or the refrigerant (which has circulated through the underground piping system and picked up heat from the soil) is brought back to the heat pump unit inside the house. In ground water or antifreeze mixture systems, it then passes through the refrigerant-filled primary heat exchanger. In DX systems, the refrigerant enters the compressor directly, with no intermediate heat exchanger.
The heat is transferred to the refrigerant, which boils to become a low-temperature vapour. In an open system, the ground water is then pumped back out and discharged into a pond or down a well. In a closed-loop system, the antifreeze mixture or refrigerant is pumped back out to the underground piping system to be heated again.
The reversing valve directs the refrigerant vapour to the compressor. The vapour is then compressed, which reduces its volume and causes it to heat up.
Finally, the reversing valve directs the now-hot gas to the condenser coil, where it gives up its heat to the air or hydronic system to heat the home. Having given up its heat, the refrigerant passes through the expansion device, where its temperature and pressure are dropped further before it returns to the first heat exchanger, or to the ground in a DX system, to begin the cycle again.
The “active cooling” cycle is basically the reverse of the heating cycle. The direction of the refrigerant flow is changed by the reversing valve. The refrigerant picks up heat from the house air and transfers it directly, in DX systems, or to the ground water or antifreeze mixture. The heat is then pumped outside, into a water body or return well (in an open system) or into the underground piping (in a closed-loop system). Some of this excess heat can be used to preheat domestic hot water.
Unlike air-source heat pumps, ground-source systems do not require a defrost cycle. Temperatures underground are much more stable than air temperatures, and the heat pump unit itself is located inside; therefore, the problems with frost do not arise.
Ground-source heat pump systems have three main components: the heat pump unit itself, the liquid heat exchange medium (open system or closed loop), and a distribution system (either air-based or hydronic) that distributes the thermal energy from the heat pump to the building.
Ground-source heat pumps are designed in different ways. For air-based systems, self-contained units combine the blower, compressor, heat exchanger, and condenser coil in a single cabinet. Split systems allow the coil to be added to a forced-air furnace, and use the existing blower and furnace. For hydronic systems, both the source and sink heat exchangers and compressor are in a single cabinet.
As with air-source heat pumps, ground-source heat pump systems are available in a range of different efficiencies. See the earlier section called An introduction to Heat Pump Efficiency for an explanation of what COPs and EERs represent. Ranges of COPs and EERs for market available units are provided below.
Ground water or Open-Loop Applications
Heating
Cooling
Closed Loop Applications
Heating
Cooling
The minimum efficiency for each type is regulated at the federal level as well as in some provincial jurisdictions. There has been a dramatic improvement in the efficiency of ground-source systems. The same developments in compressors, motors and controls that are available to air-source heat pump manufacturers are resulting in higher levels of efficiency for ground-source systems.
Lower-end systems typically employ two stage compressors, relatively standard size refrigerant-to-air heat exchangers, and oversized enhanced-surface refrigerant-to-water heat exchangers. Units in the high efficiency range tend to use multi-or variable speed compressors, variable speed indoor fans, or both. Find an explanation of single speed and variable speed heat pumps in the Air-Source Heat Pump section.
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) currently verifies all heat pumps for electrical safety. A performance standard specifies tests and test conditions at which heat pump heating and cooling capacities and efficiency are determined. The performance testing standards for ground-source systems are CSA C13256 (for secondary loop systems) and CSA C748 (for DX systems).
It is important that the ground heat exchanger be well matched to the heat pump capacity. Systems that are not balanced and unable to replenish the energy drawn from the borefield will continuously perform worse over time until the heat pump can no longer extract heat.
As with air-source heat pump systems, it is generally not a good idea to size a ground-source system to provide all of the heat required by a house. For cost-effectiveness, the system should generally be sized to cover the majority of the household’s annual heating energy requirement. The occasional peak heating load during severe weather conditions can be met by a supplementary heating system.
Systems are now available with variable speed fans and compressors. This type of system can meet all cooling loads and most heating loads on low speed, with high speed required only for high heating loads. Find an explanation of single speed and variable speed heat pumps in the Air-Source Heat Pump section.
A variety of sizes of systems are available to suit the Canadian climate. Residential units range in rated size (closed loop cooling) of 1.8 kW to 21.1 kW (6 000 to 72 000 Btu/h), and include domestic hot water (DHW) options.
Unlike air-source heat pumps, ground-source heat pumps require a ground heat exchanger to collect and dissipate heat underground.
An open system uses ground water from a conventional well as a heat source. The ground water is pumped to a heat exchanger, where thermal energy is extracted and used as a source for the heat pump. The ground water exiting the heat exchanger is then reinjected into the aquifer.
Another way to release the used water is through a rejection well, which is a second well that returns the water to the ground. A rejection well must have enough capacity to dispose of all the water passed through the heat pump, and should be installed by a qualified well driller. If you have an extra existing well, your heat pump contractor should have a well driller ensure that it is suitable for use as a rejection well. Regardless of the approach used, the system should be designed to prevent any environmental damage. The heat pump simply removes or adds heat to the water; no pollutants are added. The only change in the water returned to the environment is a slight increase or decrease in temperature. It is important to check with local authorities to understand any regulations or rules regarding open loop systems in your area.
The size of the heat pump unit and the manufacturer's specifications will determine the amount of water that is needed for an open system. The water requirement for a specific model of heat pump is usually expressed in litres per second (L/s) and is listed in the specifications for that unit. A heat pump of 10-kW (34 000-Btu/h) capacity will use 0.45 to 0.75 L/s while operating.
Your well and pump combination should be large enough to supply the water needed by the heat pump in addition to your domestic water requirements. You may need to enlarge your pressure tank or modify your plumbing to supply adequate water to the heat pump.
Poor water quality can cause serious problems in open systems. You should not use water from a spring, pond, river or lake as a source for your heat pump system. Particles and other matter can clog a heat pump system and make it inoperable in a short period of time. You should also have your water tested for acidity, hardness and iron content before installing a heat pump. Your contractor or equipment manufacturer can tell you what level of water quality is acceptable and under what circumstances special heat-exchanger materials may be required.
Installation of an open system is often subject to local zoning laws or licensing requirements. Check with local authorities to determine if restrictions apply in your area.
A closed-loop system draws heat from the ground itself, using a continuous loop of buried plastic pipe. Copper tubing is used in the case of DX systems. The pipe is connected to the indoor heat pump to form a sealed underground loop through which an antifreeze solution or refrigerant is circulated. While an open system drains water from a well, a closed-loop system recirculates the antifreeze solution in the pressurized pipe.
The pipe is placed in one of three types of arrangements:
Regardless of the arrangement you choose, all piping for antifreeze solution systems must be at least series 100 polyethylene or polybutylene with thermally fused joints (as opposed to barbed fittings, clamps or glued joints), to ensure leak-free connections for the life of the piping. Properly installed, these pipes will last anywhere from 25 to 75 years. They are unaffected by chemicals found in soil and have good heat-conducting properties. The antifreeze solution must be acceptable to local environmental officials. DX systems use refrigeration-grade copper tubing.
Neither vertical nor horizontal loops have an adverse impact on the landscape as long as the vertical boreholes and trenches are properly backfilled and tamped (packed down firmly).
Horizontal loop installations use trenches anywhere from 150 to 600 mm (6 to 24 in.) wide. This leaves bare areas that can be restored with grass seed or sod. Vertical loops require little space and result in less lawn damage.
It is important that horizontal and vertical loops be installed by a qualified contractor. Plastic piping must be thermally fused, and there must be good earth-to-pipe contact to ensure good heat transfer, such as that achieved by Tremie-grouting of boreholes. The latter is particularly important for vertical heat-exchanger systems. Improper installation may result in poorer heat pump performance.
As with air-source heat pump systems, ground-source heat pumps must be designed and installed by qualified contractors. Consult a local heat pump contractor to design, install and service your equipment to ensure efficient and reliable operation. Also, be sure that all manufacturers' instructions are followed carefully. All installations should meet the requirements of CSA C448 Series 16, an installation standard set by the Canadian Standards Association.
The total installed cost of ground-source systems varies according to site-specific conditions. Installation costs vary depending on the type of ground collector and the equipment specifications. The incremental cost of such a system can be recovered through energy cost savings over a period as low as 5 years. Payback period is dependent on a variety of factors such as soil conditions, heating and cooling loads, the complexity of HVAC retrofits, local utility rates, and the heating fuel source being replaced. Check with your electric utility to assess the benefits of investing in a ground-source system. Sometimes a low-cost financing plan or incentive is offered for approved installations. It is important to work with your contractor or energy advisor to get an estimate of the economics of heat pumps in your area, and the potential savings you can achieve.
You should note several important things when operating your heat pump:
You should have a qualified contractor perform annual maintenance once per year to ensure your system remains efficient and reliable.
If you have an air-based distribution system, you can also support more efficient operations by replacing or cleaning your filter every 3 months. You should also ensure that your air vents and registers are not blocked by any furniture, carpeting or other items that would impede airflow.
The operating costs of a ground-source system are usually considerably lower than those of other heating systems, because of the savings in fuel. Qualified heat pump installers should be able to give you information on how much electricity a particular ground-source system would use.
Relative savings will depend on whether you are currently using electricity, oil or natural gas, and on the relative costs of different energy sources in your area. By running a heat pump, you will use less gas or oil, but more electricity. If you live in an area where electricity is expensive, your operating costs may be higher.
Ground-source heat pumps generally have a life expectancy of about 20 to 25 years. This is higher than for air-source heat pumps because the compressor has less thermal and mechanical stress, and is protected from the environment. The lifespan of the ground loop itself approaches 75 years.
Most ground-source heat pump units are covered by a one-year warranty on parts and labour, and some manufacturers offer extended warranty programs. However, warranties vary between manufacturers, so be sure to check the fine print.
Generally speaking, it is not necessary to upgrade the electrical service when installing an air-source add-on heat pump. However, the age of the service and the total electrical load of the house may make it necessary to upgrade.
A 200 ampere electrical service is normally required for the installation of either an all-electric air-source heat pump or a ground-source heat pump. If transitioning from a natural gas or fuel oil based heating system, it may be necessary to upgrade your electrical panel.
Air-source heat pumps have a minimum outdoor operating temperature, and may lose some of their ability to heat at very cold temperatures. Because of this, most air-source installations require a supplementary heating source to maintain indoor temperatures during the coldest days. Supplementary heating may also be required when the heat pump is defrosting.
Most air-source systems shut off at one of three temperatures, which can be set by your installation contractor:
Most supplementary systems can be classed into two categories:
An outdoor temperature sensor shuts the heat pump off when the temperature falls below the pre-set limit. Below this temperature, only the supplementary heating system operates. The sensor is usually set to shut off at the temperature corresponding to the economic balance point, or at the outdoor temperature below which it is cheaper to heat with the supplementary heating system instead of the heat pump.
Ground-source systems continue to operate regardless of the outdoor temperature, and as such are not subject to the same sort of operating restrictions. The supplementary heating system only provides heat that is beyond the rated capacity of the ground-source unit.
Most ducted residential single-speed heat pump systems are installed with a "two-stage heat/one-stage cool" indoor thermostat. Stage one calls for heat from the heat pump if the temperature falls below the pre-set level. Stage two calls for heat from the supplementary heating system if the indoor temperature continues to fall below the desired temperature. Ductless residential air-source heat pumps are typically installed with a single stage heating/cooling thermostat or in many instances a built in thermostat set by a remote that comes with the unit.
The most common type of thermostat used is the "set and forget" type. The installer consults with you prior to setting the desired temperature. Once this is done, you can forget about the thermostat; it will automatically switch the system from heating to cooling mode or vice versa.
There are two types of outdoor thermostats used with these systems. The first type controls the operation of the electric resistance supplementary heating system. This is the same type of thermostat that is used with an electric furnace. It turns on various stages of heaters as the outdoor temperature drops progressively lower. This ensures that the correct amount of supplementary heat is provided in response to outdoor conditions, which maximizes efficiency and saves you money. The second type simply shuts off the air-source heat pump when the outdoor temperature falls below a specified level.
Thermostat setbacks may not yield the same kind of benefits with heat pump systems as with more conventional heating systems. Depending upon the amount of the setback and temperature drop, the heat pump may not be able to supply all of the heat required to bring the temperature back up to the desired level on short notice. This may mean that the supplementary heating system operates until the heat pump "catches up." This will reduce the savings that you might have expected to achieve by installing the heat pump. See discussion in previous sections on minimizing temperature setbacks.
Programmable heat pump thermostats are available today from most heat pump manufacturers and their representatives. Unlike conventional thermostats, these thermostats achieve savings from temperature setback during unoccupied periods, or overnight. Although this is accomplished in different ways by different manufacturers, the heat pump brings the house back to the desired temperature level with or without minimal supplementary heating. For those accustomed to thermostat setback and programmable thermostats, this may be a worthwhile investment. Other features available with some of these electronic thermostats include the following:
Savings from programmable thermostats are highly dependant on the type and sizing of your heat pump system. For variable speed systems, setbacks may allow the system to operate at a lower speed, reducing wear on the compressor and helping to increase system efficiency.
Heat pump systems generally supply a greater volume of airflow at lower temperature compared to furnace systems. As such, it is very important to examine the supply airflow of your system, and how it may compare to the airflow capacity of your existing ducts. If the heat pump airflow exceeds the capacity of your existing ducting, you may have noise issues or increased fan energy use.
New heat pump systems should be designed according to established practice. If the installation is a retrofit, the existing duct system should be carefully examined to ensure that it is adequate.
The Region 5 HSPF is most reflective of heat pump performance in the Ottawa region. Actual HSPFs may be lower in regions with increased heating degree days. While many colder Canadian regions are still classified under Region 5, the HSPF value provided may not fully reflect actual system performance.
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Each year it seems our summers are getting hotter. So even in countries where we previously survived the heat by opening the windows wide on a warm sunny day, more and more of the world’s population are now finding they need to look for other ways to keep the temperature in their homes tolerable. The first thought for most people is to get an air conditioner. However, this is not the only option, and despite the name, you can also consider heat pumps for cooling your home.
Rather than generating heat from burning fuel, a heat pump transfers heat energy from one place to another. So, while typically a heat pump is used to extract heat from outside, bringing it inside for heating and hot water, some also offer the opposite, cooling your house in the process. A heat pump must be connected to emitters inside your home to transfer the extracted heat and the type of emitter will determine the functionality and efficiency of the heat pump for either cooling or heating the air or heating water.
As the names suggest, an air-to-water heat pump extracts energy from the air and a ground source heat pump extracts energy from the ground. As ground temperatures remain reasonably stable, these are extremely efficient and reliable year-round. Both types of heat pumps can be combined with different emitters such as radiators, underfloor heating and fan coil units, also called heat pump convectors.
Another type is the hybrid heat pump. This uses air-to-water heat pump technology alongside a gas condensing boiler. It determines the most economical or energy efficient combination automatically. This variant can also be used with a multi-split system for cooling, heating and hot water.
From a technical standpoint, a heat pump can cool by reversing the process of transferring heat from one place to another. Not all heat pumps have the capability of cooling, so before choosing a heat pump model make sure to look for the specific one on your chosen manufacturer’s website or by consulting your installer. Once the technical part is sorted, it all comes down to which emitters it is connected to. While some emitters only have heating functionalities ie. radiators, others can offer more flexibility, such as heat pump convectors (aka. fan coil units) which are great for cooling and good for heating.
As already said above, heat pumps are compatible with a range of both heating and cooling emitters, which can maintain a comfortable temperature in your home throughout the year. In colder weather the heat pump is set so that the various emitters will heat your home, while in the warmer weather a cooling effect can be achieved, potentially via those same emitters.
The basis of a heat pump convector (also known as a fan coil unit) is a heat exchanger (the coil) with a fan. This is generally considered as the most versatile emitter when it comes to heat pumps. When set to cool, the heat pump will pump chilled water through the heat pump convector. As the fans draw warm air from the room over the heat exchanger, the cold water within cools the air. This cooled air is then dispersed back out into the room, reducing the temperature.
Everyone is familiar with the concept of underfloor heating, however, underfloor cooling is also possible. A heat pump can be set to pass chilled water through the underfloor pipes keeping the floor area cool. As warm air from the room passes over it, the cooler floor surface absorbs the heat energy from the air, reducing the temperature in the room. The equal distribution and stable temperature created by underfloor cooling make it an appealing choice. However there are some limitations in using underfloor piping for cooling. Most importantly it is necessary to prevent the formation of condensation on the floor. The other consideration is whether having a cold floor is comfortable in your home.
Some hybrid heat pumps (a combination of gas boiler and air-to-water heat pumps) also have the capability of connecting to an outdoor multi-unit. This creates a system combining indoor air conditioners with other, more traditional heating or hot water emitters. Air conditioners are most commonly known for their cooling functionalities but can also be a solid choice for indoor heating.
As energy prices soar across Europe, you might think now is not the time to invest in a new heating and cooling system. However, a heat pump is actually a very efficient solution and now, more than ever, is a good time to consider installing one.
Heat pumps operate by using renewable energy from the environment. With an air-to-water heat pump you can expect that it will operate with about 75% renewable energy, a free and unlimited supply, and only around 25% of the energy needed to run the unit will come from electricity. Ground source heat pumps are even more efficient, with 80% of renewable energy being extracted from the ground and just 20% electricity needed. For every 3 to 4 kilowatts of heat, 1 kilowatt of electricity is used. This translates to a performance efficiency of approximately 300-400% when compared to a standard fossil fuel system.
Further advanced technological solutions have helped Daikin heat pumps to achieve up to A+++ energy efficiency ratings. For example, rather than the motor stopping and starting throughout the cooling process, the use of inverter technology means the speed of the compressor, fan and water pump all adjust as needed to maintain the required temperature, making it far more energy efficient.
1. Heat pumps are energy efficient, helping to reduce your fuel bill.
2. You can reduce your carbon footprint. As the majority of the energy used by a heat pump is from renewable sources, there is no direct use of fossil fuels, so no local carbon dioxide or nitrogen oxide emissions resulting in a much lower environmental impact.
3. Heat pumps have a long lifespan.
4. Heat pumps are easy to use with simple controls. Daikin units can be connected to your home network so you can use the Onecta app to control the thermostat and set timers for each room. You can even use voice control with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
5. Not only great for cooling your home, a heat pump is an all-in-one year-round home comfort solution that can cool, heat, and provide hot water.
Daikin has a comprehensive range of high performance, energy efficient heat pumps, with choices to fit both your needs and your home.
Find out more about the Daikin range of heat pumps here.