A performance standard specifies tests and test conditions at which heat pump heating and cooling capacities and efficiency are determined. Depending on the size of your new heat pump, some modifications may be needed to your ductwork to avoid added noise and fan energy use. This represents a basic need for Canadians, especially given our cold winters and hot summers. They are unaffected by chemicals found in soil and have good heat-conducting properties. You will not receive a reply. Unlike conventional thermostats, these thermostats achieve savings from temperature setback during unoccupied periods, or overnight. The direction of the refrigerant flow is changed by the reversing valve. The first type controls the operation of the electric resistance supplementary heating system. This may mean that the supplementary heating system operates until the heat pump "catches up." As energy is extracted from a source, the temperature of the source is reduced. Poor water quality can cause serious problems in open systems. Important Terminology for Heat Pump Systems, Single Speed and Variable Speed Heat Pumps, Certification, Standards, and Rating Scales, Major Benefits of Ground-Source Heat Pump Systems. The plenum , only seen in ducted installations, is part of the air distribution network. Selecting the source and sink for your heat pump system goes a long way in determining the performance, capital costs and operating costs of your system. Unlike air-source heat pumps, ground-source heat pumps require a ground heat exchanger to collect and dissipate heat underground. An air-source heat pump has three cycles: During the heating cycle, heat is taken from outdoor air and "pumped" indoors. This allows the heat pump to operate more efficiently, with typical efficiencies well over 100%, i.e. Some manufacturers can provide an HSPF for another climate region upon request; however typically HSPFs are reported for Region 4, representing climates similar to the Midwestern US. Heat pumps are very efficient heating and cooling systems and can significantly reduce your energy costs. This contrasts with furnace systems, which deliver a smaller volume of air, but heat that air to higher temperatures (between 55C and 60C). Finally, the reversing valve directs the now-hot gas to the condenser coil, where it gives up its heat to the air or hydronic system to heat the home. Heat pumps are a proven and reliable technology in Canada, capable of providing year-round comfort control for your home by supplying heat in the winter, cooling in the summer, and in some cases, heating hot water for your home. In some regions and cases, this added cost can be recouped in a relatively short time period through the utility cost savings. Because of this, most air-source installations require a supplementary heating source to maintain indoor temperatures during the coldest days. There, you can find discussion of options for how to program your system to transition between heat pump use and supplementary heat source use. For newer models, this can range from between -15C to -25C. Aside from annual maintenance, there are a few simple things you can do to ensure reliable and efficient operations. Consult a local heating and cooling professional to size, install, and maintain your equipment to ensure efficient and reliable operations. The performance testing standards for ground-source systems are CSA C13256 (for secondary loop systems) and CSA C748 (for DX systems). The plenum is an air compartment that forms part of the system for distributing heated or cooled air through the house. If the installation is a retrofit, the existing duct system should be carefully examined to ensure that it is adequate. Minimum performance for Canada as a whole, and typical ranges for market-available products, are summarized below for heating and cooling. The heat pump simply removes or adds heat to the water; no pollutants are added. How much of my annual heating and cooling needs can a heat pump provide? Actual HSPFs may be lower in regions with increased heating degree days. Here are some common terms you may come across while investigating heat pumps. In the heating cycle, the ground water, the antifreeze mixture or the refrigerant (which has circulated through the underground piping system and picked up heat from the soil) is brought back to the heat pump unit inside the house. Find an explanation of single speed and variable speed heat pumps in the Air-Source Heat Pump section. Ranges of COPs and EERs for market available units are provided below. For example, if a heat pump used 1kW of electrical energy to transfer 3 kW of heat, the COP would be 3. The Heating Cycle: Providing thermal energy to the building, The Cooling Cycle: Removing thermal energy from the building. Most ground-source heat pump units are covered by a one-year warranty on parts and labour, and some manufacturers offer extended warranty programs. Stage one calls for heat from the heat pump if the temperature falls below the pre-set level. The energy savings from installing a heat pump can help to reduce your monthly energy bills. Particles and other matter can clog a heat pump system and make it inoperable in a short period of time. The indoor coil is where heat is transferred to/from indoor air in certain types of air-source heat pumps. At the same time the outdoor fan, which normally blows cold air over the coil, is shut off in order to reduce the amount of heat needed to melt the frost. The heat from the hot gas is transferred to the indoor air, causing the refrigerant to condense into a liquid. You may need to enlarge your pressure tank or modify your plumbing to supply adequate water to the heat pump. See discussion in previous sections on minimizing temperature setbacks. Weather data characteristics of long-term climate conditions are used to represent the heating season in calculating the HSPF. Every day, scientists and engineers at Natural Resources Canadas CanmetENERGY research centres are working to find low-cost, clean-energy solutions to this issue. Having given up its heat, the refrigerant passes through the expansion device, where its temperature and pressure are dropped further before it returns to the first heat exchanger, or to the ground in a DX system, to begin the cycle again. DX systems use refrigeration-grade copper tubing. The only change in the water returned to the environment is a slight increase or decrease in temperature. CanmetENERGY: science at the service of all Canadians. What Is a Heat Pump, and How Does It Work? Of particular importance when considering efficiency is the role of new compressor designs in improving seasonal performance. A heat pump extracts heat from the cold outside air and transfers it inside our home. The evaporator is a coil in which the refrigerant absorbs heat from its surroundings and boils to become a low-temperature vapour. It is important that the ground heat exchanger be well matched to the heat pump capacity. No need for outdoor thermostats, as the electronic thermostat calls for supplementary heat only when needed. Split systems allow the coil to be added to a forced-air furnace, and use the existing blower and furnace. This section presents the basics of how a heat pump works, and introduces different system types. This water can then be used to serve terminal systems like radiators, a radiant floor, or fan coil units via a hydronic system. Air-Water Heat Pumps: Less common in Canada, air-water heat pumps heat or cool water, and are used in homes with hydronic (water-based) distribution systems such as low temperature radiators, radiant floors, or fan coil units. Different options are available: See the final section of this booklet, Related Equipment, for more information on systems that use supplementary heating sources. Heating energy cost savings compared with electric furnaces are around 65%. The indoor coil is located in the ductwork, close to the furnace. Ground-source heat pumps generally have a life expectancy of about 20 to 25 years. Indoor air is heated by the heat pump. For many air-source heat pump installations, this means that there is a temperature (called the thermal balance point) when the heat pump's heating capacity is equal to the heat loss of the house. Demand-frost controls monitor airflow, refrigerant pressure, air or coil temperature and pressure differential across the outdoor coil to detect frost accumulation. Systems that are not balanced and unable to replenish the energy drawn from the borefield will continuously perform worse over time until the heat pump can no longer extract heat. The vapour is then compressed, reducing its volume and causing it to heat up. As the outdoor air temperature drops, COPs are lower, as the heat pump must work across a greater temperature difference between the indoor and outdoor space. The amount of frost buildup depends on the outdoor temperature and the amount of moisture in the air. This vapour passes through the reversing valve to the accumulator, which collects any remaining liquid, and then to the compressor. For enquiries,contact us. Ground-source systems will reduce your heating and cooling costs substantially. In a closed-loop system, the antifreeze mixture or refrigerant is pumped back out to the underground piping system to be heated again. There has been a dramatic improvement in the efficiency of ground-source systems. The heat is transferred to the refrigerant, which boils to become a low-temperature vapour. This section explores how air-source heat pumps can benefit your household energy footprint. The ability of the heat pump to transfer heat from the outside air to the house depends on the outdoor temperature. Improper installation may result in poorer heat pump performance. The electricity input into the heat pump is used to transfer thermal energy between two locations. Neither vertical nor horizontal loops have an adverse impact on the landscape as long as the vertical boreholes and trenches are properly backfilled and tamped (packed down firmly). The outdoor unit is where heat is transferred to/from the outdoor air in an air-source heat pump. Finally, the reversing valve sends the gas, which is now hot, to the indoor coil, which is the condenser. The water requirement for a specific model of heat pump is usually expressed in litres per second (L/s) and is listed in the specifications for that unit. Sources: Two sources of thermal energy are most commonly used for heating homes with heat pumps in Canada: Sinks: Two sinks for thermal energy are most commonly used for heating homes with heat pumps in Canada: Furnaces and boilers provide space heating by adding heat to the air through the combustion of a fuel such as natural gas or heating oil. Heat pumps are a proven technology that have been used for decades, both in Canada and globally, to efficiently provide heating, cooling, and in some cases, hot water to buildings. If the home is used as a sink, thermal energy will be added, heating the space. This is how a heat pump operates in cooling mode, and is the same principle used by air conditioners and refrigerators. To reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, we must rethink traditional methods of heating and cooling. The compressor squeezes the molecules of the refrigerant gas together, increasing the temperature of the refrigerant. First, the reversing valve switches the device to the cooling mode. Horizontal loop installations use trenches anywhere from 150 to 600 mm (6 to 24 in.) The higher efficiency of the heat pump can translate into significant energy use reductions. The major benefit of using an air-source heat pump is the high efficiency it can provide in heating compared to typical systems like furnaces, boilers and electric baseboards. As this temperature drops, the ability of the heat pump to absorb heat also drops. Your well and pump combination should be large enough to supply the water needed by the heat pump in addition to your domestic water requirements. The occasional peak heating load during severe weather conditions can be met by a supplementary heating system. As with air-source heat pump systems, ground-source heat pumps must be designed and installed by qualified contractors. Tackling these issues first can allow you to use a smaller heat pump size, thereby reducing heat pump equipment costs and allowing your system to operate more efficiently. You should also have your water tested for acidity, hardness and iron content before installing a heat pump. How much servicing will the system require? A heat pump of 10-kW (34 000-Btu/h) capacity will use 0.45 to 0.75 L/s while operating. But the road to a low-carbon future has its challenges. The compressor is the critical component of the system. The condenser is a coil in which the refrigerant gives off heat to its surroundings and becomes a liquid. It is therefore important to have a good understanding of your heating load and what the heat pump operating characteristics are to achieve optimal energy savings. Apart from sizing, several additional performance factors should be considered: Air-source heat pumps should be installed by a qualified contractor. The liquid refrigerant absorbs heat from the outdoor air and boils, becoming a low-temperature vapour. The second type simply shuts off the air-source heat pump when the outdoor temperature falls below a specified level. Canadas natural resources are among the most diversified in the world. This device helps to transfer thermal energy between the source and sink. Heat pumps are one of the many technologies that CanmetENERGY believes will help make Canada a safer, healthier place, and create a low-carbon economy. Since air-source heat pumps have a minimum outdoor operating temperature (between -15C to -25C) and reduced heating capacity at very cold temperatures, it is important to consider a supplemental heating source for air-source heat pump operations. Lower-end systems typically employ two stage compressors, relatively standard size refrigerant-to-air heat exchangers, and oversized enhanced-surface refrigerant-to-water heat exchangers. A 200 ampere electrical service is normally required for the installation of either an all-electric air-source heat pump or a ground-source heat pump. In Canada, energy efficiency regulations prescribe a minimum seasonal efficiency in heating and cooling that must be achieved for the product to be sold in the Canadian market. To appropriately size your heat pump system, it is important to understand the heating and cooling needs for your home. Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER): The EER is similar to the COP, and describes the steady-state cooling efficiency of a heat pump. However, going up the hill requires a lot more work, as the bike is moving against the natural direction of motion. On a seasonal basis, the heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF) of market available units can vary from 7.1 to 13.2 (Region V). Your contractor or equipment manufacturer can tell you what level of water quality is acceptable and under what circumstances special heat-exchanger materials may be required. Supplementary heating may also be required when the heat pump is defrosting. On average, a well designed ground-source system will yield savings that are about 10-20% more than would be provided by a best in class, cold climate air-source heat pump sized to cover most of the building heating load. The most common approach is: One of two methods is used to determine when the unit goes into defrost mode: Unnecessary defrost cycles reduce the seasonal performance of the heat pump. Also, be sure that vents and air registers in your home are not blocked by furniture or carpeting, as inadequate airflow to or from your unit can shorten equipment lifespans and reduce efficiency of the system. Air-source heat pumps have a service life of between 15 and 20 years. To do this, the heat pump switches into defrost mode. You should have a qualified contractor perform annual maintenance once per year to ensure your system remains efficient and reliable. If the outdoor temperature falls to near or below freezing when the heat pump is operating in the heating mode, moisture in the air passing over the outside coil will condense and freeze on it. Will I need to make additional modifications to my home? Just like a steeper hill requires more effort to climb on a bike, greater temperature differences between the source and sink of the heat pump require it to work harder, and can reduce efficiency. Programmable heat pump thermostats are available today from most heat pump manufacturers and their representatives. The lifespan of the ground loop itself approaches 75 years. Using these questions as a guide, this booklet describes the most common types of heat pumps, and discusses the factors involved in choosing, installing, operating, and maintaining a heat pump. It then goes to the indoor coil, which acts as the evaporator. This ensures that the correct amount of supplementary heat is provided in response to outdoor conditions, which maximizes efficiency and saves you money. Determining the right size of heat pump to maximize seasonal efficiencies is critical. The heat pump can also provide cooling by transferring warm indoor air to the outside. The cost of installing an air-source heat pump depends on the type of system, your design objectives, and any existing heating equipment and ductwork in your home. They allow for a significant reduction in our energy consumption. For instance, open loop systems are permitted in Ontario, but are not permitted in Quebec. The incremental cost of such a system can be recovered through energy cost savings over a period as low as 5 years. The performance testing standards for air-source heat pumps are CSA C656, which (as of 2014) has been harmonised with ANSI/AHRI 210/240-2008, Performance Rating of Unitary Air-Conditioning & Air-Source Heat Pump Equipment. This liquid returns to the expansion device, and the cycle is repeated. The ground water is pumped to a heat exchanger, where thermal energy is extracted and used as a source for the heat pump. Most heat pumps are covered by a one-year warranty on parts and labour, and an additional five- to ten-year warranty on the compressor (for parts only). Relative savings will depend on whether you are currently using electricity, oil or natural gas, and on the relative costs of different energy sources in your area. This section provides a brief overview of common sources and sinks for residential applications in Canada. Heating and cooling loads should be determined by using a recognized sizing method such as CSA F280-12, "Determining the Required Capacity of Residential Space Heating and Cooling Appliances.". For those accustomed to thermostat setback and programmable thermostats, this may be a worthwhile investment. That is why our researchers are hard at work trying to adapt air-source heat pumps to our Canadian climate. This sends hot gas to the outdoor coil to melt the frost. A condensate drain connects this pan to the house drain. It is recommended that a heating and cooling professional be retained to undertake the required calculations. This liquid returns to the expansion device and the cycle is repeated. Care should be taken if considering their use with high temperature radiators that require water temperatures above 60C, as these temperatures generally exceed the limits of most residential heat pumps. This guide, along with a companion software tool, is intended for energy advisors and mechanical designers, and is freely available to provide guidance on appropriate sizing. For cost-effectiveness, the system should generally be sized to cover the majority of the households annual heating energy requirement. Given the wealth of different system types and options, it can often be difficult to determine if a heat pump is the right option for your home. Although this is accomplished in different ways by different manufacturers, the heat pump brings the house back to the desired temperature level with or without minimal supplementary heating. If transitioning from a natural gas or fuel oil based heating system, it may be necessary to upgrade your electrical panel. Because of this, air-air heat pumps generally try to optimize their efficiency by providing a higher volume of warm air, and heating that air to a lower temperature (normally between 25 and 45C). This is due to the fact that underground temperatures are higher in winter than air temperatures. Be sure to change or clean your air filter every 3 months, as clogged filters will decrease airflow and reduce the efficiency of your system. The minimum efficiency for each type is regulated at the federal level as well as in some provincial jurisdictions. They can be further classified according to the type of installation: Air-air systems are more efficient when the temperature difference between inside and outside is smaller. For hydronic systems, both the source and sink heat exchangers and compressor are in a single cabinet. Some of this excess heat can be used to preheat domestic hot water. A number of publications explaining how to do this are available from Natural Resources Canada. How much do heat pumps cost compared with other systems, and how much could I save on my energy bill? A heat pump uses additional electrical energy to counter the natural flow of heat, and pump the energy available in a colder place to a warmer one. more thermal energy is produced than the amount of electric energy used to pump it. At some point, the frost must be removed. This is higher than for air-source heat pumps because the compressor has less thermal and mechanical stress, and is protected from the environment. Heat pumps in general come at a higher cost compared to other systems such as furnaces or electric baseboards due the number of components in the system. It is important to check with local authorities to understand any regulations or rules regarding open loop systems in your area. It is important to work with your contractor or energy advisor to get an estimate of the economics of heat pumps in your area, and the potential savings you can achieve. The vapour is then compressed, reducing its volume and causing it to heat up. The cycle can be initiated every 30, 60 or 90 minutes, depending on the climate and the design of the system. This will reduce the savings that you might have expected to achieve by installing the heat pump. As in the heating cycle, the liquid refrigerant passes through the expansion device, changing to a low-pressure liquid/vapour mixture. NRCans ASHP-Eval tool is freely available and could be used by installers and mechanical designers to help advise on your situation. It is important to note that the efficiency of the heat pump depends greatly on the temperatures of the source and sink. New heat pump systems should be designed according to established practice. You should also ensure that your air vents and registers are not blocked by any furniture, carpeting or other items that would impede airflow. More recently, air-source heat pumps that are better adapted to operating in the cold Canadian climate have been introduced to the market. Check with your electric utility to assess the benefits of investing in a ground-source system. For air-based systems, self-contained units combine the blower, compressor, heat exchanger, and condenser coil in a single cabinet. The sensor is usually set to shut off at the temperature corresponding to the economic balance point, or at the outdoor temperature below which it is cheaper to heat with the supplementary heating system instead of the heat pump. This leaves bare areas that can be restored with grass seed or sod. So how does a heat pump heat or cool your home? wide. In DX systems, the refrigerant enters the compressor directly, with no intermediate heat exchanger. Steady state metrics include: Coefficient of Performance (COP): The COP is a ratio between the rate at which the heat pump transfers thermal energy (in kW), and the amount of electrical power required to do the pumping (in kW). If you live in an area where electricity is expensive, your operating costs may be higher. A coil is a loop, or loops, of tubing where heat transfer between the source/sink and refrigerant takes place. While an undersized system will still operate efficiently, you may not get the anticipated energy savings due to a high use of a supplemental heating system. The active cooling cycle is basically the reverse of the heating cycle. Actual energy savings will vary depending on the local climate, the efficiency of the existing heating system, the costs of fuel and electricity, the size of the heat pump installed, borefield configuration and the seasonal energy balance, and the heat pump efficiency performance at CSA rating conditions. As with air-source heat pumps, ground-source heat pump systems are available in a range of different efficiencies. The actual SEER or HSPF values depend on a variety of factors primarily related to heat pump design. No need for an outdoor thermostat control on add-on heat pumps. Units of measurement for capacity, or power use: Air-source heat pumps use the outdoor air as a source of thermal energy in heating mode, and as a sink to reject energy when in cooling mode. As a result, the demand-frost method is generally more efficient since it starts the defrost cycle only when it is required. Ductless residential air-source heat pumps are typically installed with a single stage heating/cooling thermostat or in many instances a built in thermostat set by a remote that comes with the unit. The unit takes heat out of the indoor air and rejects it outside. To understand this process, think about a bicycle ride over a hill: No effort is required to go from the top of the hill to the bottom, as the bike and rider will move naturally from a high place to a lower one. While many colder Canadian regions are still classified under Region 5, the HSPF value provided may not fully reflect actual system performance. If you have an air-based distribution system, you can also support more efficient operations by replacing or cleaning your filter every 3 months. At 8C, the coefficient of performance (COP) of air-source heat pumps typically ranges from between 2.0 and 5.4. Actual savings are highly dependant on the location of your heat pump installation. As such, their value can change significantly as source and sink temperatures, and other operational parameters, change. Residential units range in rated size (closed loop cooling) of 1.8 kW to 21.1 kW (6 000 to 72 000 Btu/h), and include domestic hot water (DHW) options. A variety of sizes of systems are available to suit the Canadian climate. Range, SEER in Market Available Products: 14 to 42, Minimum HSPF (Canada): 7.1 (for Region V), Range, HSPF in Market Available Products: 7.1 to 13.2 (for Region V), Range, Heating COP in Market Available Products: 3.8 to 5.0, Range, EER in Market Available Products: 19.1 to 27.5, Range, Heating COP in Market Available Products: 3.2 to 4.2, Range, EER in Market Available Products: 14.6 to 20.4. While efficiencies have continually improved, they still remain below 100%, meaning that not all the available energy from combustion is used to heat the air. Ground heat exchanger designs can be classified as either: The selection of outdoor piping system depends on the climate, soil conditions, available land, local installation costs at the site as well as municipal and provincial regulations. However, the age of the service and the total electrical load of the house may make it necessary to upgrade.