Heat Pump Water Heater Pros and Cons

Heat pump water heaters have lower running costs than conventional hot water systems. However, those with heat pumps have higher upfront costs (they have higher installation and purchase prices). 

How heat pumps save energy 

Heat pumps have lower running costs because instead of generating heat, they move heat from one place to another. We can think of it as heat pumps extracting heat from their surroundings and using that to heat the water we need. 

In other words, it’s the opposite of how refrigerators work. A refrigerator pulls heat from its insides and sends it into the surroundings (which cools the refrigerator’s inside). On the other hand, heat pumps pull heat from the outside and send it inside to heat the storage tank. Instead of generating heat, heat pumps use the available heat from the surroundings. Because heat pumps use the available heat, they require less energy to operate. This is in contrast to conventional water heaters with heating elements that require huge amounts of electricity. 

Disadvantages of heat pump water heaters 

However, heat pumps are inefficient in cold weather and climates. That’s because not much heat is available to begin with. As a result, heat pumps work reasonably well in places with temperatures around 4 to 32℃. If the place is too cold, the heat pump will find it extremely hard to extract heat from its surroundings. 

In cold spaces, heat pump water heaters will require hours for them to adequately heat the water you need. For example, it’s estimated that it will require at least two hours to heat 60 litres of water. The amount and time depends on the capacity and other specifications of the appliance. 

Are heat pump water heaters still worth it? 

It depends on your location and requirements. It’s good to compare the upfront and running costs of heat pump water heaters with those of conventional hot water systems. Although you can save thousands of dollars for the heat pump’s more than 10 year lifespan, you might get higher savings from other hot water systems. 

If you want to know if a heat pump can meet your hot water requirements, you can contact us today. We’ll provide you with practical options that will help you save money for years.