“What size of heat pump do I need?” is a common question when homeowners are looking for a machine to provide heating, cooling to their house. But not everyone is certain about which one they should get. And if you are among those who need the answer, check out our article before making your decision!
What Size Of Heat Pump Do I Need For My Property?
To use the pump and adequately heat up your house, you will need a heat pump in proportion to space. To answer “What size of heat pump do I need?”, we must look into some of the key factors like how well the house disperses heat or types of chambers you have.
For example, a house that measures up to 100 square meters will need a 4kW ground pump or a 5kW air pump since these two devices will produce the same results. The reason why these two machines consume different amounts of electricity will be discussed later. From there, you can work out the ratio and apply it to your own home or room.
The math goes as follows: One tonne of machine capacity equates to 182 meters of the surface area of a room. Each tonne is worth 12,000 British Thermal Units. From here, professional installers should be able to find the pump that aligns with your needs in a flash.
What to Affect the Heat Pump Sizing
1. Outdoor Design Temperature:
In order to cater to a wide range of customers, manufacturers usually use surrounding temperatures as a base for their machine capacity. These specs are usually displayed by a decrease or increase of celsius from the average local standards. I.E: -2,6℃. So “What size of heat pump do I need?” you have to know your own surroundings to decide its efficiency.
2. Room Temperature:
After purchasing the machine, you will be able to adjust the temperature based on the digits on the screen. Most people prefer to keep their homes around 21-25℃, so almost every heat pump will aim around this safe zone.
If you want an even lower heat maintained in your room, you can aim for smaller pumps and save on the expense. Keep in mind that “What size of heat pump do I need?” will essentially give you an answer to this as well.
3. Flow Temperature:
The flow temperature is essentially the water vapor’s heat before it is utilized to flow around your house. A radiator’s size varies depending on the flow temperature required, as well as how well the house keeps itself warm.
What Type Of Heat Pump Do You Need?
Apart from the main question “What size of heat pump do I need?”, you should also pay attention to the type of heat pump you should get. Air-sourced and Ground-source are two main types of heat pumps worth considering.
1. Air-source Heat Pump:
Air-source heat pumps utilize two primary methods of heating: air-to-air and air-to-water. The difference between these two systems is that air-to-air pumps work better with other fans around the house. If you already have something like that, perhaps spending money on this type of heat pump is more efficient.
On the other hand, once you already have a boiler installed, you can make use of that water for the air-to-water option.
In terms of actually putting it together, a heat pump can also be designed in two major fashions: monobloc or split. Whether the machine split or not determines the installation method and machine placement. With split air pumps, you will have to map out the space for them inside and outside the home.
2. Ground-source Heat Pump:
A ground-source heat pump is a little less direct than the air-based type. They utilize heat from underground using a series of pipes under the home. The pipe layout can be either horizontal or vertical.
The choice between the aforementioned systems depends on the space your home occupies. While both can yield the same results, horizontal loop systems will take up more space as they tend to value width over depth into the ground. In terms of overall occupied surface, vertical loop pipes are more convenient and economical.
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Conclusion
“What size of heat pump do I need?” is a challenging question to answer since it involves the type of property you own and the heat pump you want to purchase. Nevertheless, once you get all these elements down, you will be able to get a feel for what you actually need. Good luck!
