A heat pump of the type vzduch/vzduch works by drawing heat from the outdoor environment (the air) and warming the air inside the heated building. In practice, it is an air conditioner running in reverse.
The air-to-air system heats the indoor air directly, without an intermediary heating system, and as a result achieves a higher coefficient of performance compared with other heat pumps.
A single indoor unit can therefore heat only one open space or a few smaller connected rooms. To heat an entire building, a separate indoor unit would need to be placed in every room, which may not be a desirable or economical solution.
Air-to-air heat pump must be supplemented with a backup heating source that will heat the building when outdoor temperatures are lower.
Features of an air-to-air heat pump
Pros
- Quick and easy installation.
- Provides both heating and cooling.
- The lowest purchase costs compared with other types of heat pumps.
- Can be connected to direct electric heating, an electric boiler or underfloor heating.
- Additional functions such as dehumidification or air purification.
- A suitable solution for cottages, country houses and apartments.
Cons
- Noise from the indoor unit – especially when running at full power.
- Not suitable for buildings with a large number of small rooms.
- A limited number of indoor units can be connected to one outdoor unit.
- An air-to-air heat pump cannot be used to heat domestic hot water.
When is an air/air heat pump right for me?
The pump is often used as a supplement for houses or apartments heated by electricity. It can save significantly on electricity. The air-to-air system can be combined with solid-fuel boilers, an electric boiler or electric underfloor heating. During the heating season, the air-to-air heat pump supplies as much heat to the building as possible, and the existing system tops it up when temperatures are low.
An air-to-air heat pump is also useful in cottages and holiday homes, where it can maintain a temperature of 10 °C while you are away and then switch to full power when you arrive, heating the cottage quickly. In cottages and holiday homes, keeping a certain temperature helps protect against damp, while also giving you fast heating on arrival.
What our work looks like – references
Take a look at more heat pump references.
