Heat Pump Water Heater
For reliable, inexpensive, energy efficient hot water!
A Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) is a water heating system that transfers renewable "free heat" from the environment - the outside air or water - to water in a storage vessel, via a refrigeration cycle. A Heat Pump Water Heater harnesses the natural energy that exists all around us to generate hot water for our homes. Click here for more detail on how a Heat Pump Water Heater works.
Top 10 Reasons to Choose Heat Pump Water Heating
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Cost savings - save every month on your household electricity bill
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Economical - cheapest operating costs of any water heating option
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Reliable, abundant hot water supply
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Made for the land of the long white cloud! Performs in cloudy, rainy conditions and at night.
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300% Energy Efficient: $3 or energy for every $1 you spend on electricity
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Uses free, renewable energy from the air as its primary energy source
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Uses renewable electricity as its secondary energy source
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Environmentally friendly - reduces greenhouse gas emissions
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Easy to install
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Frees up base load electricity on the grid for other uses
How It Works
A Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) transfers renewable “free heat” from the environment — the outside air or water — to water in a storage vessel, via a refrigeration cycle.
The Heat Pump uses ambient air as the energy source to heat the water. Air is drawn through the evaporator coil where heat is absorbed by the refrigerant liquid as it turns into a gas. The refrigerant is compressed to become even hotter, then converted to liquid form in the heat exchanger, where the heat is transferred to the hot water. This heat is typically three times the electrical energy consumed by the compressor. The liquid refrigerant is then expanded to a low pressure in a throttling device (typically a thermostatic expansion valve) which cools it down before being injected back into the evaporator to start the cycle again.
Because the system is merely transferring the heat, not creating it, the system is VERY efficient. A typical Heat Pump Water Heater is 300% efficient. For every $1 of electricity needed to run the compressor pump, the equivalent of $3 of heat energy is transferred.
System Types: Integrated & Split
There are two main types of Heat Pump Water Heating systems: Integrated and Split. Integrated systems have the heat pump module or heat exchanger either bolted on or fully integrated with the storage cylinder. Split systems separate the heat pump module from the storage cylinder and pump water between the two and can often be attached to existing cylinders.
The refrigerant changes to a liquid form when it is compressed through a 'condenser' coil - at this point it releases its heat energy into the hot water tank
The refrigerant passes through an expansion valve and expands to be come a gas (like the aerosol spray can)
The refrigerant absorbs the heat from the air around it as it is pumped through 'evaporator' coils outside the house
The compressor then pumps the refrigerant round again and again and the cycle continues
Because the system only uses electrical energy to pump the gas and transfer the heat, the system is VERY efficient. So, for every $1 of electricity needed to run the compressor pump, the equivalent of about $3 of heat energy is transferred. This delivers much better efficiency compared to other water heating options. The efficiency can be between 2 and 4 times as good, depending on where you live, the outside air temperature and other conditions.
Generally, HPWH systems work well in areas with average air temperatures above about 5 Degrees C, but most will still operate efficiently to as low as -10 Degrees C.
Since the 1990's, all of the CFC refrigerants which were extremely harmful to the Ozone layer have been discontinued in favour of the more environmentally friendly products used today.
There are different types of Heat pump water heaters available. In some HPWH systems the hot water cylinder is split from the heat exchanger whereas others are all in-one. Heat exchange units are generally located outdoors and may produce some background noise.
heck with your Local Authority regarding the noise limit in your area.
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Cost Savings
In an average NZ home, running a HPWH is the cheapest water heating option available. Because of the efficiency of the HPWH technology and its reliance on renewable, free energy from the air, you can save up to 2/3 on your hot water energy consumption. This equates to a reduction of about 2/3 on your water heating bill.
In addition to saving on your water heating bill, you could save on your total, annual household electricity bill because you are eligible to go on an interruptible tariff, which means the electricity supply to your Heat Pump Water Heater may be turned off by your provider during times of peak electricity demand.
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Payback Period
Installing a Heat Pump Water Heater saves the average household approximately *$470 every year on electricity bills. If we assume that it costs on average $ 5,000 to buy and install a HPHW system, compared to $1,500 for an electric storage system, then this saving would payback the initial investment of the HPHW system in less than 8 years. But remember, you also keep on making savings every year!
Please note: the above information is a guide only and the payback period will vary in individual cases depending on each HPWH's performance, a household's hot water use and the electricity tariff.
*Based on an average household of 4 using 3,600 kWh a year for heating hot water using a standard electric 180l tank (Ref: AS/NZS 4234). Assuming an electricity tariff and standing charges of 20c kWh, Source: Department of Building and Housing (domestic hot water and commercial heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, 29th June 2007.
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Made for the land of the long white cloud! Performance in any weather conditions.
Heat Pump Water Heaters use energy contained in the air to heat water. The outside air gets heated up by energy from the sun and oceans every day of the year. This means that your Heat Pump Water Heater does not rely on sunshine to operate. This innovative, eco-friendly technology is still able to harness the huge amounts of solar energy in the air, ground and waterways all around us to heat your water even on cool, cloudy, rainy days, as well as at night.
When required in frost conditions, some Heat Pump Water Heaters switch to electric booster element heating. This innovation means hot water can be supplied whatever the outside air temperature.
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Energy Efficiency
The average Heat Pump Water Heater is 300% efficient. This means you get $3 of hot water for every $1 of electricity used (*source EECA). On average, heating water uses 30% of New Zealand households' energy use. So choosing an energy efficient system can help reduce your energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
HPWH's can be installed into both new and existing homes and buildings, and come as either a complete system, or a split system that is fitted onto an existing hot water tank.
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Harnessing Renewable Energy
Did you know that New Zealand has a very unique electricity landscape? We generate around 70% or our electricity through renewable sources, including wind, hydro and geothermal. This is very different from other countries like Australia, where coal is heavily relied upon. And, in New Zealand, the goal is to reach 90% renewable sources by 2025.
So, your Heat Pump Water Heater uses 100% renewable air as its primary energy source, and uses renewable electricity to run its compressors and electric boosting backup when required. Choosing Heat Pump Water Heating in New Zealand doesn't just make sense for your wallet, it makes good sense for the environment!
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Easy installation
Heat Pump Water Heaters can be installed quickly and easily by any qualified plumber, which means you don't have to wait for an appointment with a refrigeration mechanic or gas fitter.
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