What temp should hot water be for air source heat pump?

Faunus

Oct. 28, 2024

Can I get my hot water from an air source heat pump?

Do heat pumps heat water?

Yes. Most heat pumps are designed to heat water (to run your central heating system) to 45-50°C and domestic hot water is used at 38-42°C.

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However, unlike a combi boiler, a domestic heat pump cannot produce hot water quick enough to provide an adequate flow of water to baths, taps, and showers.

Domestic heat pumps

Also, most domestic heat pumps are not designed to be able to provide hot water at the same time as providing space heating, with the demand for hot water taking priority.

If you want hot water from heat pump, you&#;ll want efficient water storage which is done safely to avoid legionella (which we will cover later in the article).

First, let&#;s see how it works.

How do you get hot water from a heat pump?

Heat pumps can provide hot water by using the same basic principles they use for space heating. Here&#;s a brief breakdown of how the process works:

Heat Extraction with Air Source Heat Pumps

These pumps extract heat from the outdoor air, even in cold weather. The heat is absorbed by a refrigerant within the heat pump&#;s evaporator coil, causing the refrigerant to evaporate and turn into a gas.

Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs)

These pumps extract heat from the ground or a body of water, which typically has a more stable temperature compared to the air. The heat is transferred to a refrigerant in a similar way.

Heat Compression

The refrigerant gas is then compressed by the heat pump&#;s compressor, increasing its temperature. This high-temperature gas carries a significant amount of thermal energy.

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Heat Exchange

The hot refrigerant gas passes through a heat exchanger, where it transfers its heat to water. This process cools the refrigerant back down, causing it to condense back into a liquid, ready to start the cycle again.

Heat pumps and hot water storage

Since the primary goal of heat pumps is to heat the space, it&#;s difficult for them to supply enough hot water at the same time. The demand to produce hot water isn&#;t quick enough.

One way to get around this problem is to store hot water in a cylinder until it is needed.

Care when storing hot water

However, care is needed when storing water between 20 and 45°C due to the risk of legionella, particularly if the water remains in the cylinder for long periods of time.

Air source heat pump water temperature

Heating the water in the cylinder to 60°C for at least 30mins or 55°C for at least 5-6 hours is the conventional way to kill legionella bacteria in domestic properties

For safety and simplicity, the usual advice is to keep the cylinder thermostat set to 60°C.