Frequently Asked Questions2024-03-01T08:38:44+00:00

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

How much can I expect to save using a heat pump?2017-09-27T11:59:42+00:00

Your savings depend on many factors such as your local cost per kWh, how much hot water usage you require, and what other systems are in place. Typically payback is reached within 5 years, with a 25 year product lie. For a free financial analysis and expert consultation please get in touch. Here are some examples:

Domestic hot water (DHW) only, without heating
Let’s consider a conservative example of a 5 inhabitant home with a local kWh average cost of €0.13 (EU average is €0.20*). With an average power consumption using a standard electric hot water boiler, the annual consumed power of 4500 kWhs would cost €585. With a TermoPlus domestic hot water pump the consumption would drop to 1100 kWhs annually costing €143. That would be an annual saving of €442 which over the 25 year life of the product would amount to €11.025, and that isn’t even taking into account the rising cost of electricity. If the cost per kWh was €0.29 as it was for an average household in Germany in 2016, the annual savings would be €986 and the lifetime savings would amount to €24.650.

Air-source (with and without DHW)
Let’s consider an example of a 200m² house with average insulation and underfloor heating. With the existing heating system an estimated annual requirement of 2700lts of heating diesel at a current estimated cost of €0,9 per litre would result in a yearly cost of €2.430. If this same house switched to a TermoPlus Hydrobox / Zubadan combo with an annual consumption of 5450kWh, the annual cost would be €709 assuming a rate of 0,13 EUR/kWh. That would be an annual saving of €1721 which over the 25 year life of the product would amount to €43.025 and that isn’t even taking into account the expected rise of fuel costs. Besides the above savings from the use of the air-source heat pump installation you would also have the additional savings from lower domestic hot water heating costs by using a Hydrotank instead of a Hydrobox. Let’s consider the above conservative example of a 5 inhabitant home with a local kWh average cost of €0.13 With an average power consumption using a standard electric hot water boiler, the annual consumed power of 4500 kWhs would cost €585. With a TermoPlus Hydrotank the consumption would drop to 1100 kWhs annually costing €143. That would be an annual saving of €442 which over the 25 year life of the product would amount to €11.025, and that isn’t even taking into account the rising cost of electricity. If the cost per kWh was €0.29 as it was for an average household in Germany in 2016, the annual savings would be €986 and the lifetime savings would amount to €24.650.

Geothermal
Let’s consider an example of a 200m² house with average insulation and a radiator system. With the existing heating system an estimated annual requirement of 3000lts of heating diesel at a current estimated cost of €0,9 per litre would result in a yearly cost of €2.700. If this same house switched to an Aquapump installation with an annual consumption of 6300kWh, the annual cost would be €819 assuming a rate of 0,13 EUR/kWh. That would be an annual saving of €1881 which over the 25 year life of the product would amount to €47.025 and that isn’t even taking into account the expected rise of fuel costs.
Air-source Eco Inverter with domestic hot water (DWH)
Let’s consider a small apartment of 60m² using liquid natural gas for heating 5 months a year at a monthly cost of €250 and €40 monthly for domestic hot water (DHW) all year round (totalling €1.730). Installing a passive heat pump with DHW tank would reduce the monthly cost of heating to €40 and of hot water to €8. That would be an annual saving of €1434 which over the 25 year life of the product would amount to €35.850 and that isn’t even taking into account the potential rise of natural gas costs. This real example achieved payback in less than 3 years with a 33% annual return on the investment.

Commercial / industrial
Since TermoPlus commercial / industrial heat pumps are custom built for specific needs, savings exceed any other commercial out of the box solution and any other existing technology. Particularly if a processes from which thermal energy can be harnessed exists.

*http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statisticsexplained/
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Can a geothermal heat pump work with my existing boiler, wood stove or biomass installation?2017-09-27T11:59:09+00:00

It depends on the heat pump manufacturer. All TermoPlus units can be combined with an existing heating boiler, biomass or woodstove.

Are heats pump for new buildings only? Can they replace existing hot water systems?2017-09-27T11:58:38+00:00

TermoPlus heat pumps (as well as most other heat pumps) can installed in both new buildings and older buildings. The units can work with underfloor heating, radiators and fan coils alike. The TermoPlus Hydrotank can replace or upgrade existing hot water facilities. A heat pump in most cases can replace existing systems if you want to save space (heat pumps usually take up significantly less space) however you also have the option of keeping an old system as a backup.

What kind of applications is the commercial / industrial heat pump suitable for?2017-09-27T11:58:17+00:00

Any kind of business that requires heating or cooling at a medium to large scale can benefit from installing a commercial geothermal heat pump. The higher the demand for heating and / or cooling, the greater the financial return on a heat pump investment. Fantastic results have been achieved for hotels, gyms, spas / wellness centers and swimming pools, hospitals, educational facilities, restaurants, shopping malls, office buildings, housing, heavy and light industries, manufacturing, warehousing, wineries, pharmaceutics, food processing and distribution and energy intense operations.

What applications are good examples of a hybrid heat pump system in use?2017-09-27T11:57:50+00:00

The hybrid system is ideal for situations where both cooling and domestic hot water are used. While the air is cooled by the air conditioner, the heat generated is not disposed of but instead used to heat water for domestic use. This is ideal for homes, heated pools, hotels, restaurants, gyms, offices, server rooms and many more situations. Consider the following examples of spaces that currently use air-to-air cooling systems and an electric or combination hot water boiler.

Bars and Restaurants
While dining and bar areas are cooled through the air conditioning system, the heat extracted from the spaces is used to heat the water for dishwashing.

Gyms with showers or pools
While the gym is cooled through the air conditioning system, the heat extracted from is used to heat the water for the showers or even the swimming pool.

Offices or server rooms
While an office or server room is cooled through the air conditioning system, the heat extracted is used to heat the communal kitchen water or bathroom tap water.

What is the life expectancy of a heat pump?2017-09-26T10:27:02+00:00

TermoPlus’s very first heat pump built in 1984 is still fully operational. The minimum life expectancy of all our heat pumps is 25 years and they are covered by a 2+3 year warranty. This means that with a quick check-up every year you are guaranteed 5 years of absolute peace of mind. We’ll support our products for their entire lifetime and guarantee spare part availability. This is compatible with many solar photovoltaic manufacturers and allows for a useful integrated system life expectancy of at least 25 years. Ground source collectors have an estimated life expectancy of 50 years, so long as they are maintained and tested annually.