Heat Pumps Can Save You Loads On Electricity
I had an interesting conversation with a friend and colleague of mine last night.
He alleges that he has been saving between 35 and 50% on his electricity bill every month since fitting a heat pump in his home about a year ago.
Since I didn't really know what a heat pump was, I decided to investigate the possibility.
After all, with only a 35% saving over one year, it will mean almost R10,000 back in my pocket! So I spent some time reading through various blogs and articles, and eventually came up with this simple explanation of what it is and does: It seems a heat pump works like a reverse air conditioner or refrigerator.
An air conditioner and refrigerator takes ambient warm air and cools it through a process of compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation, using a refrigerant with a boiling point well below that of water's freezing point.
Confused? Here's how it works, basically:
Instead of the compressed, superheated vapour going to the condenser, it passes through the grill which heats up the water or air surrounding it.
From there it goes through an expansion valve (for lowering the pressure) and the condenser before returning to the compressor.
A more simple explanation: The grill on the back of a refrigerator always heats up when it is cooling the air inside.
Now imagine this heat being put to good use in heating your water or home.
This is exactly what a heat pump does.
So even though the concept might seem strange, we have been using the technology in our homes for many decades.
What I like about the idea of a heat pump is that it can be mounted anywhere and out of sight.
Solar geysers make use of panels which require direct sunlight.
This is not always the most aesthetically pleasing option.
And what's more is that heat pumps will function almost just as well even in cloudy weather - and the cost of installation compares very well with solar geysers.
I also read somewhere that Eskom will soon be awarding rebates for heat pumps, like they have been doing the past few years for solar geysers.
He alleges that he has been saving between 35 and 50% on his electricity bill every month since fitting a heat pump in his home about a year ago.
Since I didn't really know what a heat pump was, I decided to investigate the possibility.
After all, with only a 35% saving over one year, it will mean almost R10,000 back in my pocket! So I spent some time reading through various blogs and articles, and eventually came up with this simple explanation of what it is and does: It seems a heat pump works like a reverse air conditioner or refrigerator.
An air conditioner and refrigerator takes ambient warm air and cools it through a process of compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation, using a refrigerant with a boiling point well below that of water's freezing point.
Confused? Here's how it works, basically:
- The refrigerant gas (room temperature) is compressed in a compressor.
This pressure causes the refrigerant to heat up. - The superheated vapour now passes through a condenser, which turns it into a liquid.
Because of its physical properties this drops the refrigerant temperature to a temperature much lower than that of ambient air. - The cooled refrigerant is pumped into a grill of sorts, where ambient air is circulated through.
Heat exchange takes place, with the air cooled by the refrigerant, and the refrigerant in turn warmed up by the air. - As the refrigerant warms up, it evaporates into a gas, and returns to the beginning of the cycle to be compressed.
Instead of the compressed, superheated vapour going to the condenser, it passes through the grill which heats up the water or air surrounding it.
From there it goes through an expansion valve (for lowering the pressure) and the condenser before returning to the compressor.
A more simple explanation: The grill on the back of a refrigerator always heats up when it is cooling the air inside.
Now imagine this heat being put to good use in heating your water or home.
This is exactly what a heat pump does.
So even though the concept might seem strange, we have been using the technology in our homes for many decades.
What I like about the idea of a heat pump is that it can be mounted anywhere and out of sight.
Solar geysers make use of panels which require direct sunlight.
This is not always the most aesthetically pleasing option.
And what's more is that heat pumps will function almost just as well even in cloudy weather - and the cost of installation compares very well with solar geysers.
I also read somewhere that Eskom will soon be awarding rebates for heat pumps, like they have been doing the past few years for solar geysers.
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