As the cold season approaches, many will start to wonder about the most efficient heating solution. We clear things up by taking a closer look at the two technologies.
During the winter, as the temperature drops, everyone craves the comfort of a warm and cozy home. Among the many available heating options, we clarify the benefits of installing a heat pump or condensing boiler to warm the home. Guiding your choice are 4 main factors to consider: functionality and sustainability, the installation environment, budget, and performance.
Functionality and sustainability
An electrically powered heat pump is a sustainable heating system that draws heat energy from natural elements such as the air, water, and earth. The most common and easiest to install is the air-water heat pump, which draws heat from the air and transfers it to the water, which then circulates in the internal distribution system by means of radiators.
Specifically, the heat energy drawn from the air is used to heat the refrigerant, which, in turn, transfers the heat to the domestic heating system. Cooling then requires a reversible heat pump capable of reversing the process. In this case, the generator draws the heat from the home and releases it outside. When combined with a boiler, it can also produce domestic hot water. This means that, in certain climate conditions, a heat pump can entirely replace the boiler.
On the contrary, a condensing boiler uses fossil fuels, which, through their combustion, heat the water that is then conveyed through the heating system by radiators or an underfloor heating system.
Installation environment
Another important factor to consider is the environment in which the heating system will be installed:
- A boiler is the simplest to install in renovations where there is a preexisting heating distribution system but also requires more space, either outdoors or indoors, in addition to a roof or wall outlet to disperse the fumes generated by the combustion;
- A heat pump, on the other hand, is more compact and can even be installed indoors in a basement, garage, or laundry room, taking into account that it needs a dedicated space for the external unit.
Budget and performance
A heat pump requires a higher initial investment than a condensing boiler but pays for itself over time due to its superior efficiency and the absence of gas-related costs. In terms of performance, although heat pumps can run efficiently even up to -25° C, they are often paired with a condensing boiler in hybrid systems to better manage the variable external temperatures throughout the year.
Compressor, the beating heart of the heat pump
The heat pump process involves the refrigerant changing state. Specifically, the latter undergoes a series of transformations along its path within the system, articulated into 4 distinct stages: evaporation, compression, condensation, and expansion. The compressor, which is the beating heart of the system, compresses the gaseous refrigerant in output from the evaporator and brings it up to a high pressure, thus increasing its temperature. In the next stage, the high-pressure and high-temperature refrigerant is condensed, thus returning to its liquid state and transferring its heat to the environment.
Heat pump installation, Europe in the lead
Heat pumps, by virtue of their efficiency, are currently enjoying widespread use. This is demonstrated by the data published on July 29, 2023 in the latest edition of the European Heat Pump Market and Statistic Report, which highlights how in Europe, compared to 2022, installations have increased by +39% – a record high. Specifically, over the course of one year, 3 million heat pumps were installed in addition to the 20 million that already existed, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 52.5 megatons. The stand-out countries with the highest growth rate include:
- Poland at 112%
- Sweden at 61.3%
- Germany at +59%
- Italy at +35.2%
- France at +15.8%
Let's clear things up, the final verdict
Following an in-depth assessment of the benefits and drawbacks of both solutions, it is clear that heat pumps outperform boilers in terms of efficiency, performance, and superior sustainability, demonstrated by their increasing popularity.
Frascold, having recognized the potential of heat pumps, is investing significantly in their research and development, in view of which a new and revolutionary high-temperature compressor, naturally equipped for installation in high-temperature heat pumps, was previewed at Refrigera 2023.
Stay tuned for more!
