Benefits of Water Source Heat Pumps
A water source heat pump (WSHP) is a type of heating system that uses heat energy from water to provide warmth and hot water for your home. Like air source heat pumps, even though the water temperatures are lower than the air temperature you need inside your house, a WSHP can still extract energy from the water and convert it into heat.
[Check out our in-depth guide to heat pumps for more information on how they work, including typical savings, system design, and control.]
There are two types of water source heat pumps systems: closed-loop and open-loop systems. Closed-loop systems are mainly used in lakes, large ponds or lochs, while open-loop systems are designed for areas with suitable geological conditions such as boreholes near rivers.
In a closed-loop system, pipes filled with an anti-freeze fluid are placed under the water. The fluid is then circulated through the pipes and absorbs heat energy from the water, which is then sent back to the heat pump. This heat energy is used to warm up your home.
On the other hand, an open-loop system does not use any fluid to transfer heat energy. Instead, it takes water from a borehole, extracts the heat energy, and then returns the cooled water to another borehole. It is important to note that open-loop systems require a lot of water flow and proper sizing of the heat pump to prevent pipes from freezing.
Open-loop systems are more efficient than closed-loop systems since they can move larger volumes of water through the heat exchanger. However, they are more expensive to maintain and operate. Consult with your installer for advice on working with either open or closed loop systems based on your specific site location.
In both systems, electricity is needed to power the compressor, but the amount of heat energy delivered to your home is more than the amount of electricity used by the system. This means that installing a heat pump could help you save on energy bills and reduce carbon emissions.
