What You Need To Know before getting an Air-To-Water Heat Pump

[@NetZeroTech]

Hey! Researching for the video, I was excited to see new heat pump companies and existing heating and cooling companies offering new air-to-water heat pump solutions. 😀💪🙌 🌎🌍🌏

[@whymindsetmatters]

@@NetZeroTech keep up the good work! On your way to 10k subs!

[@NetZeroTech]

@@whymindsetmatters Thank you very much! 😀Let me know if you have a topic in mind that you'd like to learn more about.

[@rdking8001]

Finding contractors with the knowledge for these systems is the trick

[@NetZeroTech]

Exactly, David!

[@rdking8001]

Can you recommend someone to design my new system , with accessible products

[@NetZeroTech]

@@rdking8001 This depends on the area you live in. I personally like Harvest Thermal a lot. harvest-thermal.com. I actually invested a small angel ticket in the company a couple of years ago.

[@GIddyUpRetep]

Yes, it is...but air-to-water heatpump technology is super simple. My boiler guys also installs air-to-air heat pumps...so I just connected the dots for him and now he gets it. The air-to-water heatpumps are simpler since they only have refrigerant in the outdoor unit (unless they heatpump uses a satelite condenser)...then water is used to transfer the heat from the heatpump to the house and/or buffer tank. Then it is basically the samething as a boiler...just at a lower water temp.

[@brentirving7209]

Hi Katharina. Thanks for the videos. The house I built and live in in Prince Edward Island Canada (13 years old), has in floor radiant heating consisting of pex pipes in concrete slab on main level with 6" of EPS insulation under slab and 12" on edge of slab (insulated raft foundation) and 1.5 inches of concrete over plywood on upper level currently supplied by a 25KW electric boiler that we rarely use mainly due to the amount of electricity it uses. Most rooms are on separate zones. We have a masonry wood burning heater that we use instead and burn between 1.5-2 cord a year for heating as the house is fairly well insulated and sealed with R 50 walls, R100 attic (imperial units) and 1.3 Ach @ 50Pa, has triple pane windows with argon and is sited and designed for solar gain. I have ducting for an existing HRV that has ducts running to every room. I also have solar panels so I would like to get an air to water heat pump for heating, cooling and domestic hot water (desuperheater). There seems to be more choices lately with two companies that I am aware of manufacturing residential ATW heat pumps in Canada, namely Maritime Geothermal (Nordic ATW heat pumps) and Arctic heat pumps. My question is about cooling. I am curious what you think about using in floor cooling most likely with a dehumidifier and humidity sensor for the heat pump. Our climate is fairly moderate due to ocean regulation (Highs rarely above +30 deg C in summer and lows rarely below -10 deg C in winter although wind chill can be significant) but is increasingly hotter often with high humidity in the summer. I have read that in floor cooling can be a good solution for arid hot climates but some do not recommend it for areas of high humidity. I don't believe I can use a whole house dehumidifier as I don't have the duct work unless I can combine it with my HRV ducting but I have read that is not recommended/feasible. I know I could safely go with a fan coil for cooling but that would limit the zone control. My understanding is that radiant floor cooling is more prevalent in Europe compared to North America so not sure where you are located. Thanks for any advice you can provide

[@NetZeroTech]

Hi Brent, Thank you for watching and leaving a comment. It all depends on how well the home is insulated. In rare cases, if it is very badly insulated, water can condense on the cooling lines and accumulate on the floor. Hope this helps. Thank you, Katharina

[@NetZeroTech]

Hi Brent, I might have more insight into your question about in-floor heating and cooling: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2bUcpuYfZp_d9ksi=mLFMadW1V36yrk-V&t=395 I think it's simply not great to have cool floors. Simple as that. You might want to look into FCUs. Thank you, Katha

[@LourdVicious]

Hey. Don’t give up. Keep going. I’ve watched all your videos and they keep getting better.

[@NetZeroTech]

Hi! Thank you. That is very encouraging. I am wondering what the impact is. It’s currently challenging to see if it drives significant positive change. My current day job keeps me fairly busy. It’s a key role in scaling up a fast growing hydrogen electrolyzer company for heavy industries with massive impact potential. What do you do? Thank again. Katharina

[@Factsfun-kg4xc]

i just installed a 16Kwh Air to water Heat pump and 3x 5.1Kwh air to air heat pumps as supplement. im heating 338 Squaremeters. we had the installation for a week today and so fare i love it. sure it was an expensive installation because i had 4 heat pumps installd in total but 100% worth it.

[@NetZeroTech]

Awesome! Congratulations. Do you want to come on the channel to demonstrate the system? What's your location? I'm surprised you need so many heat pumps. But I'm sure it makes sense, when getting into the details. Cheers, Katha. [e-mail]

[@gordlemire6068]

Thanks for your video(s), very interesting. We had a cold climate ducted heat pump as well as a heat pump water heater installed a year ago. We are very please with our decision both from an environmental as well as financial perspective. One point I would likely change, with the benefit of hindsight… I would have the heatpump waterheater installed where it uses air drawn from our attic as well as exhaust to the attic. We have found that the exhaust from the heat pump water heater is very cold thus, it keeps the room where the water heater is located too cold for winter comfort (we live in south west Canada - British Columbia)

[@NetZeroTech]

Gord, Thank you so much for sharing this! That’s a really helpful point. I hope many interested people come across your comment. Thank you! 🙏

[@pan6479]

does air to water heat pump system work with baseboard radiators? or it only works with air handlers or ducts?

[@NetZeroTech]

Hi Pan, yes, air-to-water heat pump systems work great with baseboard radiators. Depending on the flow temperature, it can be beneficial for the efficiency of the heat pump to have a higher surface area of the radiators compared to other heating systems. That's why new buildings with air-to-water heat pumps are often equipped with underfloor heating. Thanks! Katharina

[@michaelhennessey8957]

@@NetZeroTech Maybe. Low standard baseboard are not like;ly to heat a room with the output many HPs are capable of reaching.

[@matthewgordon-n5s]

Where did you source the information for the 90% 80% and 40% statement?

[@NetZeroTech]

Hi, I think from harvest thermal: harvest-thermal.com/ I think I have a lot of references to them in the video, maybe should have put a source there too. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! Katha

[@michaelsgamingchanel4969]

would it be expenisve on your elecrtic bill

[@NetZeroTech]

Hi Bill. Not sure if this is a question. I'm sure you know it depends on the electricity prices vs. the price of fuels. Thanks for leaving a comment.

[@michaelhennessey8957]

@@NetZeroTech Calculate your COP and your price per BTU per fuel to estimate. Remember a boiler or furnace is not a low Electricity user either. A modulating dc pump and circ pump can lower those electric costs.

[@NetZeroTech]

@@michaelhennessey8957 Agreed. Thanks, Michael.

[@lucleblanc-v7j]

Thanks for your video! Very informative! My open basement concept ICF home in northern Canada runs on a 20 years old +/- 135000 BTU/HR furnace oil boiler for a total heating surface of 3440 sq.ft. (1720 sq.ft/level). Heat is distributed through a floor hydronic radiant system. As furnace oil has increased incredibly high during those 20 years, I am thinking seriously switching for a cheaper operating system. After a lot a reading and research, i came down with two alternatives; air-to-water heat pump or a geothermal system. The average winter night temperature is around - 16C during January and February with low peak periods of -25C. Was is your thought on those two scenarios? Should the furnace oil boiler be replaced my a more efficient one?

[@NetZeroTech]

Thank you! Much appreciated. Glad it seemed to be useful. Both air-to-water heat pump and geothermal system are great options. Great question on which is the better option. I might do a video comparing them sometime soon. So stay tuned. I think this comes down to your goals. If you are willing to make the investment, a geothermal system is more efficient and saves you more money long-term, but can take a few more years to pay down. Are you planning on owning/staying in the home for more than ~10 years? Then it's usually worth it to invest in a geothermal system in my experience.

[@lucleblanc-v7j]

@@NetZeroTech yes, both air-to-water heat pump and geothermal are great options. I still feel air-to-water heat pump not suited operating efficiently in very cold climate...or it's my lack of knowledge. In 2023, can we find an air-to-water heat pump manufacturer that operates at -25C and cost less to operate than a furnace oil boiler? The geothermal system works great at any temperatures but installing cost can be an important factor hard to cope with.

[@NetZeroTech]

Cold-climate heat pumps have become quite efficient at low temperatures. Some models have been proven to work at below -30 °C / 22 °F. They can take care of your peaks. And yes, air-to-water heat pumps have lower costs to operate compared to furnace oil boilers. They can slash costs by 50%, but the COP/savings are lower at lower temperatures. A calculation with your temperatures and home properties for your individual situation would be useful. To me it sounds like a cold-climate air-to-water heat pump would be a great choice for you.

[@NetZeroTech]

Hi, I was wondering if you have seen this air-to-water vs geothermal comparison: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2i8nZero6ueo8Usi=GMNDAkPDwgKvw626 Wishing you well in your decision, Katha

[@jaytide6742]

Nice work. Thanks for taking the time.

[@NetZeroTech]

Hi Jay, Thank you for watching and leaving a comment! 🙏 Glad you like it. 😀 Katha

[@itasev]

Hi Katha, congrats for the absolutely amazing video. My question is: Do I need a buffer vessel? The heat-pump I'm about to install is 25Kw air-to-water and I have around 200Liters circulating in my system with 23 steel radiators hooked on an existing pellet burner installation. I won’t use the heat-pump for hot water, only for heating. The house has new windows and 11cm of outer insulation. Cheers.

[@NetZeroTech]

Hi Voltron, Thank you! The short answer is: You don't need a buffer vessel, but having one typically increases the efficiency, if insulated well and the system is optimised to "charge" the vessel during the warmest hours of the day (and not charge, if no heating is required during the coldest time of day). Thanks!

[@itasev]

@@NetZeroTech Thank you for the replay! It helped me a lot:)

[@NetZeroTech]

@@itasev Glad it helped!

[@joergkamp3991]

Hallo, great videos, I was wondering if you can cool your house with a air to water heat pump? Do you recommend the heat pump water heaters, for your warm water system?

[@NetZeroTech]

Hi Jörg, Thank you. Much appreciated. Air-to-water heat pumps can heat and cool as well as provide hot water to your home. If you'd only like to cool your home, an air-to-air heat pump is cheaper. However, if you'd like to have the long-term most cost-effective (if geothermal is not an option or too expensive upfront) and most environmentally friendly heating, cooling, and hot water, an air-to-water heat pump from a good company is most recommendable. Thanks, Katha

[@samheyman09]

Great video! Thanks for sharing your experience. I live in Norway and want to setup a similar system. Did you consider using tank heating systems rather than tankless? Main benefit I see is the ability to avoid running the heaters during peak electricity prices (6-10 am and 5-8 pm). Thanks!

[@NetZeroTech]

Hi, Norway is beautiful. Yes, absolutely. I actually invested in www.harvest-thermal.com/ They use the tank as a thermal battery to manage demand. I don't know if there is a company that does this in Norway. Thank you for watching and leaving a comment, Katha

[@zainshafiq]

So I'm a little confused. I'm trying to decide between ASHP and Air to Water Heat Pumps in an area in Canada where the coldest day of the year is typically -18 degrees C. So both of them can work down that far. Why pick one over the other? Do Air to Water Heat Pumps also work with ducts (either via the existing furnace effectively acting as an air handler) or only a boiler (i.e. hydronic systems)?

[@NetZeroTech]

Hi Zain. Thank you for watching and commenting. 🙏 To maximize long-term savings, I would go for an air-to-water heat pump. Try to get a good installer. Ideally, the air-to-water heat pump runs during the warmest time of day to heat the tank, i.e. charge the thermal battery, which is capable of heating the home during the coldest times of the day. The tank should be well installed and inside the building (with the heat pump unit outside the building). Not all installers are capable of providing excellent air-to-water heat pump systems. If you don't have that option, you can go for a cold climate air-source heat pump. Yes, any heat pump system, including air-to-water heat pumps, works with ducts/existing ductwork. I hope that helps. Thanks. 😊

[@zainshafiq]

@@NetZeroTech Sounds good. Thank you. Excellent channel. If you're interested, I'll give you a separate shout on my project as it's my quest to reduce a 1960's townhouse complex's GHG emissions by >80% and total energy usage (inclusive of electricity) > 40%. Getting off Natural Gas Furnaces is what I'm doing to do this. The biggest remaining challenge is how to reduce the air leakiness of the house (approximately 10 ACH 50 - i.e. 10 air changes per hour at 50 Pa pressure) significantly - it would be very easy to do if the walls weren't already all made. My goal is to bring it down to 3 ACH 50...

[@michaelhennessey8957]

What temperature is your existing baseboard units functional? You need to be careful about the temperature out maximum a particular system can provide. It is a total system , not acllection of parts.

[@jotaxc]

Great and very informative video Katha! Thank you!

[@NetZeroTech]

Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@joecliffordson]

I have been thinking about getting one of these for heating a cob floor I just built in a house. I guess it pays to take 10 years to build a house. technology has advanced. Wondering what kWh rate makes propane comparable? Or negates the cost savings of co efficiency rating on air to water monoblock heat pump? I like my information coming from a beautiful woman who knows her subject. It keeps me from zoning out. You are absolutely captivating. So I will be checking back. Your attractive nature softens my distaste for legislation eliminating propane and ng . I have always thought that building a better mousetrap was better than forcing change without real solutions. Thanks for taking time to put this together. You may have convinced me electric vs propane is doable. In Minnesota. I’m probably not giving up my wood stove though. More because I like the radiant glow all winter soaking into my bones. And the danger of the fire goddess escaping my meager confines and destroying my life for neglecting her fireproof box. If there was more ladies like you we would have our air and water cleaned up in no time.

[@NetZeroTech]

Hi Joe, Thank you very much for the compliments! I really appreciate it. Let me know if you have any suggestions for future videos. 😀 Cheers!

[@eSveeBee1]

Thanks for the informative video. What about using an air-to-air (airco) heat pump to warm and cool your home in combination with a heat pump boiler for hot water? would that be cheaper to run than an air-to-water heat pump? I still have radiators in my home so will probably have to go for a high temperature air-to-water heatpump like the daikin altherma 3 H HT. But wondering if the power usage won't be much higher compared to air-to-air everywhere + heat pump boiler. (as basically you're only heating air to 25 degrees Celcius instead of 50 degrees for radiator water).

[@NetZeroTech]

Hi Esveebee, Thank you for your comment. The short answer is: If done right, air-to-water has lower OpEx, which in most cases makes a bit more upfront worth it. Getting a good installer is the most important part. They can also assist with the choice, if they are independent.

[@joziti]

Great video! Thanks!

[@NetZeroTech]

Thank you, Jose. Glad you liked it. Feel free to check out some of my other ones.😊

[@ronniemanuel6287]

Great information! Thanks 👍 good to see you again

[@NetZeroTech]

Hi Ronnie! Thank you. 🙏 Great to hear from you. I hope you have been well. 😊

[@kathleen9417]

Hi Katha,🙂 I moved into a home with air to water heat pump 3 yrs ago., all was great until a few days ago when I noticed heating is working fine, but I have no hot water, any idea what the problem could be.?? Kathleen.

[@NetZeroTech]

Hi Kathleen, The most common reason for central heating working but no hot water is because of a broken diverter valve. I hope that helps. Katha

[@kathleen9417]

@@NetZeroTech Thankyou Katha. 🙂

[@NetZeroTech]

@@kathleen9417 You are welcome. Did it help?

[@kathleen9417]

@@NetZeroTech yes all sorted! Thanks again Katha🌻🙂

[@NetZeroTech]

@@kathleen9417 Perfect. Great to hear. All the best, Katha

[@nivekkobe696]

no savings just want to know the costs at times id just put a wolly jumper on

[@NetZeroTech]

Yep, I'm putting on that jumper now. 🙂

[@lesleyh2300]

I thought air-to-water meant heat pumps that could be used with radiator systems?

[@NetZeroTech]

Hi Lesley, Thank you for watching and leaving a comment. Yes, they can. A higher surface area is useful, if the temperature of the circulating water is lower. Insulating the house is key to overall efficiency. Hope this helps, Katha

[@NewLightEnergy]

That was a very interesting AI presentation. The glitches in movement and language can get cleaned up and it’ll be almost indistinguishable from a real person. Anyway, our new Rheem heat pump/electric hot water tank is fantastic.

[@NetZeroTech]

Hi Jose, Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. I think you are well aware that this is not an AI. I hope things are well for you. Great to hear you are enjoying your new heat pump/electric hot water tank! Fantastic! Happy New Year!

[@shevamadrid8587]

Uncalled for Jose. Don't be a dixk

[@scottspooner6070]

Funny, they always mention savings and efficiency but never mention effectiveness at doing their most important job, Heating and Cooling!

[@NetZeroTech]

Do you have a reference to a study on it?

[@scottspooner6070]

@@NetZeroTech Heat pumps are a scam. They cost more in electricity and don't provide comparable heat to a boiler. Everyone knows that. No need for a study.

[@NetZeroTech]

​@@scottspooner6070 , perhaps an open-minded discussions and triangulation with an independent expert would help? If thoughts are driven by belief and strong emotions, not data, it can be challenging to open your mind to new information, right? Happy to make myself available to look at electricity cost and operational data. Also, what is our goal? Is it cost savings and system reliability only or do quality of current life including air quality and responsibility for future generations and biodiversity play a role?

[@scottspooner6070]

@@NetZeroTech The funny thing about heat pumps is the colder it gets, the less heat they produce. My furnace produces 185 degree hot water no matter the temperature. I really wish heat pumps work in cold climate but unfortunately they just don't. Perhaps being realistic about this instead of wishing they worked efficiently in cold climates would help!

[@anthonyspadafora1384]

Propane...1.27 a gallon= 92000 BTU. Electric 12 cents a kilowatt=3410 BTU. 92000/ 3410=27. 27X12=$3.24 X COP of 3=$1.08@47 degrees F. COP of 2 @ 17F=1.62. Extrapolate your degree days and I fail to see your savings. Now the average life of a heat pump in our area is 12 years, a boiler is 30+ years. Lies of omission are still lies!

[@NetZeroTech]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Heat pumps typically have higher COPs today. The SANCO2, for instance, has a COP from ~3.6 @ 175°F outlet temp to ~4.4 @ 140°F outlet temperature @ 47°F ambient temperature. At 17°F ambient temperature, the COP ranges from 2.3 to 2.7. Good air-to-water systems such as Harvest (www.harvest-thermal.com/) optimize the ambient temperature, at which the heat pump runs and then use the water storage for colder times of the day. This means you can tap into very favorable COPs throughout the year in most areas of the US. Hope this helps. The COP vs. ambient temperature graph is in the video.

[@anthonyspadafora1384]

@@NetZeroTechWhat are you finding to be the average lifespan above the 45th latitude when used for heating and cooling? The short lifetime of these units coupled with the expensive units you recommend should definitely be included in the cost of operation.

[@NetZeroTech]

@@anthonyspadafora1384 Great question. Thanks to technological developments, modern units typically last 20-25 years.

[@anthonyspadafora1384]

@@NetZeroTechThat's great news. They must have overcome the weak points of the rotary compressor as they have not been able to vary the speed of the scroll compressor. As long as the manufacturers reflect that lifespan in the warranty, that is great news. Now all you need is mechanics willing to work in frigid temps and snow to replace TXVs and compressors and you have a winner. Most people can't even shovel the snow to the unit much less a reasonable working area around the unit, then they complain when you send a 200 an hour mechanic to shovel snow for 4 hours.

[@whymindsetmatters]

Geothermal is best. Use the earth to heat and cool your home for free

[@NetZeroTech]

Agreed. 😀 In Sweden, every 5th household has geothermal. Air-to-water is a good compromise to reduce the upfront costs. With a good air-to-water installation, you can save up to 30% on utilities and slash emissions by up to 90%. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. 🙏

[@Dublin-way-bablu-vatyurkav]

🎉

[@NetZeroTech]

🎉 🎊 🥳 Thanks for leaving a comment. 😀 Katha

[@mdrafiqul3358]

😀😀😀

[@NetZeroTech]

😀😀😀

[@phillip1986]

😻 ρяσмσѕм

[@NetZeroTech]

Thanks.

[@blossom2174]

Stop calling an energy storage system like a tank for storing hot water a battery. It seems to be in vogue now to call everything that stores energy a battery. A battery is a container consisting of one or more cells, in which chemical energy is converted into electricity and used as a source of power.

[@NetZeroTech]

Thank you for taking the time to comment. 😊 A battery most often refers to an electric battery. However, batteries are also energy storage including batteries that are not electrochemical. Thanks for paying attention. 🙏

[@markbuscher8183]

Probably not going to recoup the initial cost in savings. Todays air to air heat pump efficiencies have made huge strides and initial costs way lower. Better bang for the buck. Not to mention the leaking water pipes after a few years and depending on the handler, increased microbial growth in the fan and coil housing, so if you do install a heat pump system, make sure to address the probability of microbial growth in the coil and fan area of the system to keep your home healthy.

[@NetZeroTech]

Thank you for sharing. Sounds like you had a bad experience. Do you have a lot of experience with air-to-water heat pumps? 🙏