ᐅ Alternatives to Outdoor Installation of an Air Source Heat Pump
Created on: 12 Jan 2022 17:45
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ConnyJashC
ConnyJash12 Jan 2022 17:45Hello dear house building forum,
We are building a KFW55 semi-detached house with approximately 150m² (1,615 sq ft) of living space. The project is being carried out with a general contractor. During planning, it turned out that the proposed location for the air source heat pump (behind the garage, at the neighbor’s property line) is not allowed because:
Our general contractor has suggested the following options:
ConnyJash
We are building a KFW55 semi-detached house with approximately 150m² (1,615 sq ft) of living space. The project is being carried out with a general contractor. During planning, it turned out that the proposed location for the air source heat pump (behind the garage, at the neighbor’s property line) is not allowed because:
- The location is behind the building boundary line
- The required setback of 3m (10 feet) from the neighboring property is not met
Our general contractor has suggested the following options:
- Ground source heat pump, with additional costs of at least 15,000 EUR
- Exhaust air heat pump, probably no additional costs
- Where can I find reliable information about alternatives to outdoor installation of an air source heat pump? Which organizations or professionals could provide expert advice (possibly for a fee)?
- What is the difference between an air source heat pump and an exhaust air heat pump?
- Is an exhaust air heat pump even suitable for a KFW55 house?
ConnyJash
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WilderSueden12 Jan 2022 18:21It depends on what is meant by an exhaust air heat pump. I know of two concepts that the term can refer to:
1. An air-to-air heat pump integrated into the ventilation system, meaning there is no traditional heating system anymore, and heating is done solely through the ventilation.
2. An air-to-water heat pump that uses exhaust air to heat water for domestic hot water and space heating. Compared to an air-to-water heat pump with an external air source, the disadvantage is that there is only a limited amount of warm air exhausted outside. This is not enough to heat the house; otherwise, you would have a perpetual motion machine. Therefore, additional heating with an electric heating element is regularly required.
There are also units installed inside the house that receive and expel air through openings in the wall (or light wells in basements).
1. An air-to-air heat pump integrated into the ventilation system, meaning there is no traditional heating system anymore, and heating is done solely through the ventilation.
2. An air-to-water heat pump that uses exhaust air to heat water for domestic hot water and space heating. Compared to an air-to-water heat pump with an external air source, the disadvantage is that there is only a limited amount of warm air exhausted outside. This is not enough to heat the house; otherwise, you would have a perpetual motion machine. Therefore, additional heating with an electric heating element is regularly required.
There are also units installed inside the house that receive and expel air through openings in the wall (or light wells in basements).
An exhaust air heat pump is essentially an air-source heat pump that obtains the required heat not from the outside air but from the warm, used indoor air. Built-in fans draw in the air and direct it into the unit. This way, the existing heat is not wasted – a process known as heat recovery.
The exhaust air heat pump uses this heat energy to warm and evaporate a refrigerant that circulates in a closed loop. The refrigerant vapor then flows into a compressor, where it is compressed using electricity, causing its pressure and temperature to rise.
Thus, electrical energy is added to the heat energy from the exhaust air. The vapor then transfers its accumulated heat energy to the heating circuit being supplied, for example, to a thermal storage tank that provides heat for heating and domestic hot water. In the final step, the pressure of the now cooled refrigerant is reduced via an expansion valve, allowing the cycle to start again.
For a 150m2 (1,615 square feet) house, however, I would advise against using an exhaust air heat pump. These are far less efficient than "standard" air-source heat pumps or air-to-water heat pumps.
It would be worth considering whether a fully indoor installation is possible, or as a last resort, installation in the attic or even on the roof of the house.
The exhaust air heat pump uses this heat energy to warm and evaporate a refrigerant that circulates in a closed loop. The refrigerant vapor then flows into a compressor, where it is compressed using electricity, causing its pressure and temperature to rise.
Thus, electrical energy is added to the heat energy from the exhaust air. The vapor then transfers its accumulated heat energy to the heating circuit being supplied, for example, to a thermal storage tank that provides heat for heating and domestic hot water. In the final step, the pressure of the now cooled refrigerant is reduced via an expansion valve, allowing the cycle to start again.
For a 150m2 (1,615 square feet) house, however, I would advise against using an exhaust air heat pump. These are far less efficient than "standard" air-source heat pumps or air-to-water heat pumps.
It would be worth considering whether a fully indoor installation is possible, or as a last resort, installation in the attic or even on the roof of the house.
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Myrna_Loy13 Jan 2022 10:17I would have it checked again whether the installation is truly prohibited. There are now several rulings in different federal states that allow installations even in boundary areas.
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Deliverer13 Jan 2022 10:43What about the other two sides of the house? A few more meters (yards) of piping are not a big deal.
How does the neighbor handle it?
How does the neighbor handle it?
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Benutzer20013 Jan 2022 10:55ConnyJash schrieb:
What is the difference between an air-source heat pump and an exhaust air heat pump? Exhaust air heat pump = heat pump designed for passive houses or solely for domestic hot water heating.
ConnyJash schrieb:
Which professionals or organizations could provide expert advice here (possibly for a fee)? Indoor installation only.
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