Types of Heat Pumps for Comfort and Climate
Ground Source Heat Pumps
Ground source heat pumps (GSHP) exchange heat with the ground. They require underground piping: in horizontal trenches below the frost line or in deep, vertically bored holes. They can meet a home’s heating and cooling needs through the entire year and can also be used to help with water heating.
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A GSHP can reduce a Waterloo Region home’s greenhouse gas emissions by 40-70% depending on the original fuel, electricity sources, and other home energy uses.(1)
GSHPs are particularly efficient heat pump systems because the ground experiences only small seasonal shifts in temperature, but they are also expensive to install due to the underground piping. GSHPs are most commonly used in rural areas.
As our community, our province, the nation and the world transition off of fossil fuels to prevent catastrophic climate change, heat pumps will play an increasingly important role in our homes. ... Indeed, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the International Energy Agency (IEA) and other energy experts have been recommending a switch to heat pumps for quite some time. Today, most government climate action plans promote heat pump adoptions as a means of cutting greenhouse gas emissions from buildings.
Air Source Heat Pumps
Air source heat pumps exchange heat with the outside air. They have an outside unit that looks similar to that of a central air conditioner and an inside coil that may be connected to the ductwork or water-based heating systems (eg radiators). In the Waterloo Region climate, a built-in backup heating source such as an electric resistance coil may be required depending on the model. The different types of air source heat pumps are described below.
Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pumps
Cold climate air source heat pumps (ccASHP) make use of more recent improvement in heat pump technology allowing effective, reliable, and efficient year round climate control even in colder climates, such as Waterloo Region. Because there is less heat available outside on very cold days, the efficiency of the system drops and some makes and models will require an electric resistance heater as backup in our climate. ... The key is the variable-speed compressor, which allow the heat pump to have greater capacity and efficiency at colder temperatures, without it being oversized for milder temperatures or when used for air conditioning. An electric resistance heater can be used as the backup heating system for very cold conditions allowing these systems to operate without fossil fuels. A ccASHP can reduce a Waterloo Region home’s greenhouse gas emissions by 40-70% depending on the original fuel, electricity sources, and other home energy uses.(2)
Dual Fuel Heat Pumps
Dual fuel air source heat pumps (DFHP) can provide all of the summer cooling needs and they can efficiently provide heat for a home until outside temperatures fall below the operational temperature range (often the low end of the range is somewhere between -5’C and +5’C). These systems comprise a heat pump paired with a conventional heating system, usually a gas furnace that provides heat when temperatures are below the heat pump’s operating range. ... DFHPs can be programmed to either switch between heating sources to maximize financial savings or to maximize greenhouse gas emissions reductions. The total emissions reductions are hard to estimate as they are dependent on how the DFHPs are programmed and the outdoor temperatures. Very rough calculations for a typical home in Waterloo Region suggest that up to 50% of a home’s heating needs could be met with a good quality DFHP, although their overall energy efficiency may be lower than cold climate ASHPs. This translates to a greenhouse gas emissions reduction for a typical Waterloo Region home of up to 20-35% (50% of the impact of a ccASHP).
Mini/Multi-Split Heat Pumps
Mini-split or multi-split heat pumps (MSHP) use small wall or ceiling mounted heating and cooling units that provide heating and cooling to a single room or section of a home. ... Some newer units are rated for cold climates and may be able to operate efficiently even at very low temperatures. Many units however, require a backup heating system, such as electric baseboard heaters, for colder days and nights. These are usually ductless, releasing conditioned air from the indoor unit directly into the room. MSHPs may have one (mini-split) or many (multi-split) indoor mounted units connected to one outside unit. Multi-split systems allow for zoned temperature control throughout the house. These heat pumps are good solutions when zoned heating is required, when there is no existing ductwork, or when extra heating is required for an addition.
Air-to-Water Heat Pumps
Heat pumps can even work with water-based heating systems (hydronic) such as radiators,in-floor heaters or fan coils: these are called air to water heat pumps. They use the same outside unit as a conventional ASHP but the inside unit transfers the heat to or from the water that is circulated in the radiators or in-floor systems. ... These may also provide domestic hot water.When the system requires a backup heat source, either an electric resistance heater or a conventional system that uses fossil fuels can be used.
Ducted
Homes with existing forced air systems can use the existing ductwork with their heat pumps. An air handler is included in the installed heat pumps systems. Since heat pump systems require 20-30% higher air flow rates than conventional forced air furnaces (3), it is important to have the installer inspect the existing ductwork. For more information, see Air flow in Additional Considerations.
Ductless
Mini-splits are ideal for heating a single open room, while multi-splits have multiple heat exchanger units in multiple locates, each releasing conditioned air directly into the room. Mini-splits are ideal for heating a single open room, while multi-splits have multiple heat exchanger units in multiple locates, each releasing conditioned air directly into the room.
Radiator and In-Floor Systems
Homes that use radiators or in-floor systems with pumped water can also make the switch to heat pumps. Air to water heat pumps are designed to heat or cool the water used in these hydronic systems.
(2) https://wrclimatechange.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/0/1/130157067/electrification_report.pdf
(3) https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy-efficiency/energy-star-canada/about-energy-star-canada/energy-star-announcements/publications/heating-cooling-heat-pump/related-equipment/6837
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