ENEFT

UNDERSTANDING HEAT PUMP
HOT WATER SYSTEM

What Is A Heat Pump Water Heater?

Hot water heat pumps essentially work in reverse to air conditioners – through a process of evaporating, compressing and cooling refrigerants to transfer heat. The heat pumps use electricity instead of fossil fuel combustion to directly heat water and therefore, can be two to three times more efficient than conventional gas and electric water heaters. 

Heat Pumps are one of the most attractive alternatives for customers to switch from fossil fuel-combustion based water heating systems and because they are more energy efficient, saving your energy bills.

According to a report by Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), transitioning to electric water heating systems like heat pump water heaters, can help reduce running cost significantly through low energy consumption and zero emissions

Inside The Air-Source Heat Pump Water Heater

  1. Surrounding air is collected into the heat pump through the fans
  2. The heat from surrounding air is absorbed by the refrigerant in the evaporator coil, which evaporates as it absorbs heat, from liquid to gas
  3. The gaseous refrigerant is then compressed, increasing its pressure and temperature which makes it much hotter than the water in the storage tank.
  4. The hot gas flows through the condenser coil within the tank, transferring heat to the water as it goes.
  5. The refrigerant gas, now cooled down after transferring and in liquid form, passes through the expansion valve. 
  6. This process reduces its pressure and temperature. Allowing it to re-enter the evaporator coils and repeat the cycle.
Components of ENEFT heat pumps and how it works

Why Hot Water Heat Pumps Are A Worthy Investment

Benefits:

  • Environmentally friendly (majority use R290 refrigerant)
  • Highly energy-efficient, making utility bills drop
  • Energy savings over time can lead to significant cost reduction
  • No toxic gas emission, safe for your family’s health
  • Longer life-span (10-15 years) than conventional water heater systems, less maintenance
  • Pairing with solar panels could remove electric bills for hot water completely.

Considerations:

  • Higher initial cost than traditional hot water systems (offset by government rebates)
  • Seasonal performance changes. As heat pumps rely on heat from surrounding air, extremely cold winters can be less effective.
  • They require more space than traditional heaters due to their size and need for proper airflow. 

Although there are considerations to heat pumps, their benefits completely outweigh them. Which explains the growing trend in Australia, as more people replace their traditional water heaters with heat pumps.

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FURTHER READING:

Read more about Australia Heat Pump Trends here:

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, The Australian Government (2023). Heat-Pump – Emerging trends in the Australian Market