ᐅ Air-to-Water Heat Pump Heating: Indoor vs. Outdoor Installation, Advantages and Disadvantages

Good day.

Although we have not built a house yet, we already know with 95% certainty that we want to use an air-to-water heat pump. Since we plan to build without a basement, the air-to-water heat pump system would need to be installed in the utility room, unless we choose a unit designed for outdoor installation, which of course saves space.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of an air-to-water heat pump for outdoor installation versus one installed indoors in the utility room? (pros and cons)

The prefab house company Gu... (I am not sure if I am allowed to mention the company’s full name here) offers, among other products, the 'Elco Aerotop G,' which is intended for outdoor use. Has anyone heated their prefabricated single-family home with this unit and can share their experiences?

Thank you.

Best regards

Now I’m digging up this old post again. There were no responses before, but the topic is really important to me right now. Outdoor installation is clear—it saves space. Possibly better, because of direct access to air, no ducts or wall penetrations are needed. However, it is exposed to weather conditions and can be completely damaged by flooding. Indoor installation: easier to maintain because it’s warmer inside 🙂 but takes up indoor space. Requires two thick wall penetrations, risk of condensation or freezing, possible thermal bridges, and potentially somewhat less efficient since air has to be drawn through installed ducts.

Can you think of anything else? And why did you choose one option over the other? At the moment, despite everything, I’m somehow leaning toward indoor installation.

Volume

This is not an issue with the one I chose. It is so quiet, you don’t hear anything.

I wouldn’t be so sure about that... in a quiet house, you can hear a pin drop... so a low-frequency humming noise can definitely be disturbing.

Are you considering a Vitocal xxx-A?

At least the neighbors probably wouldn’t be disturbed, which is important to me.