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When renovating, it's always worth considering whether you should change your heating system and possibly your hot water system too. It might also be a good time to choose a device that offers better comfort in the summer. And to meet energy renovation requirements, in the context of inflation and decreasing purchasing power, picking an efficient device that helps save energy is an absolute must!
When renovating, it's always worth considering whether you should change your heating system and possibly your hot water system too. It might also be a good time to choose a device that offers better comfort in the summer. And to meet energy renovation requirements, in the context of inflation and decreasing purchasing power, picking an efficient device that helps save energy is an absolute must! One piece of equipment stands out: the heat pump (mainly air-to-water). Perfect for replacing an oil or gas boiler, it offers excellent comfort while helping you save on energy use. But which heat pump should you install during renovations? Atlantic is here to guide you.
· In a home with a hot water loop: an air/water or water/water heat pump for heating and hot water.
· In any case: always go through a qualified professional for buying and installing the heat pump.
A heat pump is a large family of thermal comfort devices, and it includes several types. The different types refer to how the machine collects energy and how it delivers it to your home.
There are 3 main types of heat pumps:
- Monobloc air-to-water heat pump
- Split air-to-water heat pumps
- Ground source water-to-water heat pumps
The air-to-water heat pump might not be the best solution for your home, so make sure to check the specifics of each type of heat pump.
The air-to-water heat pump is installed in homes with a hot water loop, meaning the heating is delivered via hot water that flows through emitters like hot water radiators, underfloor heating, or even a reversible radiator. The air-to-water heat pump is a central heating system: one unit powers multiple emitters. The air-to-water heat pump is perfect for replacing a gas or oil boiler and is mainly installed in houses.
The air-to-water heat pump recovers the heat contained in the air and transfers it to the water circulating in the heating system thanks to a refrigerant. Because of this process, the heat pump has a lower environmental impact than a gas or oil boiler (for example air being an inexhaustible and non-polluting resource) and is therefore economical to use since the main energy it uses is free! Indeed, the heat pump needs electricity to operate, but it doesn't use gas, oil, or any other fossil fuel. It's estimated that an air-to-water heat pump can save up to 60% on energy.
The air-to-water heat pump, a device whose operation makes it more economical to use
The water-to-water heat pump (also called 'geothermal') is also a device meant for homes with a hot water loop, but it can only be installed in houses because it requires placing sensors outside to draw energy from the ground or from groundwater. This way of capturing energy is interesting because it hardly experiences any temperature variations. Its performance is therefore always consistent.
Some air-to-water heat pumps are specially designed for new buildings, while others are better suited for renovations. This is especially true for air-to-water heat pumps: models for new buildings offer lower power than those for renovations because new houses are better insulated and need less heating power. So, if you’re replacing your old boiler (gas or oil), go for models like Alfea Excellia A.I. or Ixtra M. If you’re building a new house, the Alfea Excellia Duo A.I. model will be a better fit. For smaller spaces (around 80m²), Loria R32, a compact model, will be ideal.
Not all heat pumps support the same functions: you'll need to pick the model that fits your needs.
All heat pumps can provide heating, and they can also supply either air conditioning (reversible air-to-air heat pump) or cooling (on air-to-water and water-to-water heat pumps, with the addition of a cooling kit).
For domestic hot water, go for air-to-water or water-to-water models. The reversible air-to-air heat pump can't produce domestic hot water.
It's not quite the same function.
- The air-to-water heat pump cools: it circulates cool water through the heating system, allowing the indoor temperature to drop by up to 6°C. But this drop isn't adjustable. So it's a function more suited to temperate regions, for a few hot days in summer.
- The reversible air-to-air heat pump, on the other hand, provides air conditioning: cooler air is blown in. The temperature of this air can be controlled. It's a function perfectly suited to hot regions, where temperatures rise quickly and often.
| Air-to-water heat pump | Water-to-water heat pump | |
| Heating | Yes | Yes |
| Domestic hot water | Yes (for duo models) | Yes (with the addition of a domestic water heater) |
| Cooling | For certain models | Yes |
| Air conditioning | No | No |
To personalise your comfort, think about the connected heat pump!
With the Atlantic Cozytouch solution, you can control your heat pump remotely and adjust its operation to your real needs.
Temperature setting, scheduling, operating mode, monitoring your consumption... A handy solution for more comfort and more savings!
To learn more about connectivity, step into the Atlantic-connected home.
First of all, it’s important to note that all heat pumps (whether air/water, air/air, or water/water) are made up of 2 units: one to be installed inside the home, and the other to be placed outside. So, they are all what’s called "split" models.
However, within the range of air/water heat pumps, we distinguish between two-block units (the vast majority of air/water heat pumps on the market) and single-block units. The difference lies in how the technical components are distributed between the indoor and outdoor units:
· In a split heat pump, most of the components are in the outdoor unit, but the condenser (the part that transfers the heat recovered from the air to the heating and hot water circuits) is in the indoor unit. The two units are connected by a refrigerant line.
· In a monobloc heat pump, all the parts are in the outdoor unit (hence the name monobloc). So, the indoor and outdoor units are connected by a hydraulic line.
There’s no difference in use between a two-piece heat pump and a single-piece heat pump. It’s more of an installation question for the professional.
Ixtra M, one of the air/water monobloc heat pumps from the Atlantic range
Sizing your heat pump is indeed crucial. An undersized heat pump won’t give you the comfort you need, while an oversized one will waste energy without actually providing better comfort.
To decide on the right power, you really need a professional! Your installer will determine the correct sizing by considering various factors; such as your home’s insulation, its location, its size, and its layout…
· Once you know what type of heat pump you need and what functions it will serve (heating, cooling, or air conditioning, domestic hot water), you'll need to call in a professional installer for the setup and commissioning. Going with a pro is the best guarantee:
· From proper installation: a heat pump, no matter its type, is a technical device that requires specific skills, recognized by certain certifications (like Qualipac).
· From a well-done commissioning: this is an important step. Once the device is installed, it needs to be set up so that it works according to your household's needs. This commissioning also includes checking the refrigerant for leaks and its amount, testing that it works properly, etc. This commissioning can be done by a different professional than the one who installed the product, but in any case, they must be authorized to handle refrigerants.
>> Discover our range of air/water heat pumps
Perfect for replacing a gas or oil boiler, the Alfea Excellia Hp A.I. can provide heating and hot water (and even cooling!) down to -20°C without electric backup, and it can even be controlled from the Atlantic Cozytouch app.
It's easy to see why this model is a best-seller for the brand!
The Alfea Excellia Hp A.I. air-to-water heat pump, for heating and hot water
I've been a writer for nearly 15 years, and at Atlantic, I'm responsible for making our solutions easy to understand. I specialize in products like radiators, towel warmers, water heaters, boilers, and air/water and hybrid heat pumps. My goal is to give people all the tools they need to understand our devices and help them confidently get started on their renovation projects.
On a personal note, I'm passionate about traveling, interested in the beauty and wellness sector, and I'm an avid reader.