How air to water heat pump works

How air to water heat pump works


An air to water heat pump works by transfer energy from the outside air into usable heat. Via a refrigeration process and vapour compression cycle, air to water heat pumps extract heat from the outside air in the same way that a fridge extracts heat from its inside.

Whilst standard boilers need to operate at high temperatures, an air to water heat pump can operate efficiently at much lower temperatures. In fact, an air to water heating system can extract heat from the air even when the temperature is as low as -15 C. This is why they are such a good option for underfloor heating systems which require a lower temperature of water for longer periods of time.

So an air to water heat pump effectively works like a regular fridge, but in reverse. It's a trans formative process that takes an original component (outside air) and uses it to extract heat energy that can be used for heating people's homes. Every 1KW of energy used to power the heat pump is capable of providing up to 5KW of energy in a well-insulated home. This is an efficient use of energy that will help both the planet and homeowner's wallets.

That's how an air to water heating system works, but it's important to note the two different types of heating pump that you're likely to hear about. These being 'split heat pumps' and 'monobloc heat pumps'.

Monobloc heat pump
A monobloc heat pump is a 'single block' system in which the compressor, heat exchanger, and water side of the refrigeration cycle are all contained in the outdoor unit. Installation of this kind of system is therefore simple and much like installing a boiler.

Split heat pump
A split heat pump on the other hand uses more than one unit. As the name probably suggests, a 'split' air to water heat pump splits the refrigeration process between an outdoor fan unit and an indoor unit. The outdoor unit fitted with two pipes containing refrigerant connects to the indoor unit where the heat exchanger, water side, and main controller are located.

The split unit can be located further away from the property (usually up to 50m), and the outdoor units tend to be smaller and quieter.


Have you ever wondered how you can use air to heat your home? 

An air/water heat pump can concentrate the heat energy in the outside air enough to be able to heat the water, both in showers and radiators.

The outside air is drawn into the heat pump and meets a closed system. The system contains a refrigerant with the ability to become a gas at a very low temperature. The temperature of the gaseous refrigerant is raised significantly with a compressor under high pressure. Via a condenser, the heat is released to the house's heating system, while the refrigerant returns to liquid form - ready to become a gas again and ready to collect new heat energy.


New possibilities - for you and the environment
The principle of air/water heating is simple, but over the years we have developed the technology to produce more and more advanced products. Installation and use of our heat pumps has also become easier. In principle, they take care of themselves from year to year. Our products are reliable, so you can make the environment a favor.

Heat your home with free air source
Heat pump technology is based on a very simple, well-known principle- the same one used in conventional refrigerators. By extracting thermal energy from the outside air, even at lower temperatures, the VEGARDIS air heat pump can provide your home with heating and hot water.

The process can also be modified to provide cooling during the summer season.

The VEGARDIS air source system consists of an outdoor module combined with an indoor or control module. They work together to create a complete air conditioning system that is easy to install, operate and maintain.