Beginner's guide to good living with a heat pump

In this guide, we'll look at the difference between having a heat pump compared to district heating, a wood boiler or electric heating, for example. You'll learn about the different heating systems and be able to decide which is right for you. After reading, you'll know what to consider when you meet with a reseller and receive a quote.

What is good about a heat pump?

With ground source, geothermal or water source heating, you're not just able to heat your home: You can also cool down your bedroom or any room that gets bathed in sunshine. You can supplement your heating system with virtually everything in terms of heating and become self-sufficient in heating, hot water and cooling. If you decide to add solar cells, you'll also be self-sufficient in electricity. We firmly believe that locally manufactured products are the best.

Free and renewable energy

Heat pumps work with renewable energy sources that are completely free. Think about it: Energy is abundant all around us. There is no shortage of energy — just a lack of ways to capture and convert it. A heat pump is a great way to capture and convert energy from the ground, water and air.

Save money

With a heat pump, not only are you doing your part for the environment, but you also save on your heating costs. A heat pump can save you up to 85 percent on heating and hot water. It draws little electricity for its operation, but gives much more energy back.

Large properties

If you own a large property, you can get the solution that fits you best, including advice and support. A heat pump from CTC can work with up to ten other units, which makes us unique in the industry.

Some important things to consider when choosing a heating system are how large an area will be heated, how much hot water will be used, what heating system the house currently has, where in the country you live and what the surroundings look like.

Water-based, electric or air source?

1. Water-based heat in radiators or underfloor coils. This is the most common and usually the most energy-efficient way to heat a house. The water is heated by a heat pump, district heating, a boiler or electricity.
2. Electric heat via radiators or underfloor heating. Connected directly to the electrical grid.
3. Air source heating system. Does not require radiators to distribute heat, but it is important to have good air circulation in all rooms. Indoor and outdoor air is heated by different systems.

Heat pumps

A heat pump from CTC draws renewable energy from outdoor air, ground or water and saves you up to 85 percent on your energy costs. You get even and comfortable heating all year round. The only requirement is that the house must have water-based heating. For every kWh of electricity that the heat pump draws, it gives back 4–5 kWh.

Another advantage of a CTC heat pump is that you can create a system with up to ten different heat and electricity sources for your property. For example, you can connect the heat pump together with a water-jacketed wood-burning stove or wood boiler and have a backup. You can also heat a pool or cool a room. If you have solar panels, you'll also be self-sufficient with electricity and heating for most of the year.

Pellets or wood boiler

Pellets and wood are cheaper than electricity and district heating, but you need to manually charge the boiler. If you have free wood, you will, of course, get free heat, but it is also labour-intensive. Burning pellets or wood also means that you emit some air pollutants, which can be harmful to human health and the environment.

Electric heating

Electric heating is the most expensive form of heating, and electricity bills can get particularly high in winter. Electricity prices can also vary greatly during the year, and having control over costs can be difficult. An advantage of electric heating is that no investment is needed apart from electrical radiators or heating coils.

Airborne heating

The most common heating system is an air-to-air heat pump, which converts energy from the outdoor air. The system needs to be supplemented with a water heater because an air-to-air heat pump does not heat water. The heat pump is installed in a strategic position in the home. There must be good circulation in all rooms to distribute the heat optimally. The rooms located furthest from the heat pump usually have to be supplemented with radiators. Another option is an exhaust air heat pump, which works with water-based heat. The pump extracts heat from the indoor air and also heats hot water. The house must have appropriate ventilation ducts and valves for fresh air intake, otherwise this solution is not suitable.

Heat pumps have reduced the need for hundreds of thousands of Swedish households to buy electricity. A heat pump draws little electricity for its own part but gives back several times more energy.

A heat pump can draw energy in several different ways. Energy is available and stored around us: In bedrock, water, air and in the ground. It all starts with the sun. The sun is the basis for using a heat pump to harness energy and convert it into heat. Even in the middle of a cold winter, a heat pump extracts energy and delivers heat — it's almost like magic.

Ground source heating

• Suitable for small plots
• Little impact on the plot
• High efficiency
• Comfortable cooling

Heating your home with geothermal heat can result in savings of up to 85 percent. Installation requires drilling holes in the bedrock. A ground source heating system draws energy from solar energy passively stored in the ground, bedrock and groundwater. Groundwater is often found at a depth of ten metres, but to get enough energy for an entire house requires significantly deeper boreholes, usually 90 to 200 metres.

A collector hose functions as a heat exchanger and is inserted in the borehole, which is approx. 15 cm in diameter. A heat transfer fluid (brine), which is usually a mixture of bioethanol and water, circulates in the collector hose.

The ground source heat pump is the heart of the system and ensures that the heat transfer fluid circulates. Even at 4°C, the temperature is sufficient for a heat-sensitive refrigerant inside the pump to start boiling and evaporating.

The steam formed when the refrigerant evaporates is then compressed by a compressor. The heat generated is transferred to the water circulating in the radiators and to the water used for showering, dishwashing, and cleaning.

With a ground source heat pump, you can save up to 85 percent of your energy consumption for heat and hot water. A ground source heat pump has very low operating costs, which means the investment usually pays for itself within 5–8 years.

A permit is usually required to install a heat pump. Check with your representative to find out what applies to you.

Air-to-water heat pumps

• Low installation cost
• No drilling
• High efficiency
• Does not affect the lawn or plot

Air-to-water heat pumps convert the energy in the air into heat and hot water. And since an air-to-water heat pump does not require boreholes or coils in the ground, it is easy to install.

The energy used is free, environmentally friendly and helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With an air-to-water heat pump from CTC, you can save up to 75 percent on your heating costs.

An air-to-water heat pump has very low operating costs, which means the investment usually pays for itself within 5–8 years.

Air-to-water heat pumps are available throughout the country and work even if the temperature drops to -20°C.

The heat pump's outdoor unit is placed outside the house, close to the wall. The pump contains a heat-sensitive refrigerant that boils and evaporates.

A permit is usually required to install a heat pump. Check with your representative to find out what applies to you.

A heat pump extracts its energy from the ground, air or water, no matter if it's warm in the summer or cold in the winter. But how does it actually work?

The technology in your heat pump works by drawing energy from the surroundings and directing it into your system. A refrigerant with a very low boiling point circulates in your system. It is always colder in the system than the surroundings, even at very low temperatures.

This small temperature difference is crucial for the technology to work. The refrigerant accumulates energy, begins to boil and eventually evaporates. The steam is led into the compressor where the air is compressed, which raises the temperature considerably.

This is the same reason a bicycle pump becomes hot when you inflate a tyre. When the steam is hot enough, it is released into the heat pump system and heats the surrounding water, which you then use to heat your house or tap water.

Once the refrigerant has given off its heat, it needs to be cooled so that the process can begin again.

Example of the process in a heat pump:

1. A liquid circulates in a collector hose. The liquid absorbs heat from the bedrock, ground, air or water.
2. Via a heat exchanger, also called an evaporator, the liquid comes into contact with the refrigerant which evaporates.
3. The compressor increases the pressure on the refrigerant, which raises the temperature.
4. The heat is transferred to the property via a heat exchanger (condenser).
5. The pressure on the refrigerant cools down and the process begins again.

Have you decided to buy and install a heat pump? Here are some valuable tips before you contact a distributor.

1. Things to consider when choosing a retailer.

The retailer is your main contact before, during and after installation. A good distributor takes responsibility for the entire installation. It all starts with determining your energy needs by performing a unique energy calculation for your property.

Once this work is done, you and the distributor identify a suitable system for your property. Lastly, make sure you get a clear quote that includes everything.

Some installers choose to specialise in heat pump installations because it takes both knowledge and experience to perform an accurate energy calculation and a good installation. It's important to use a reputable operator to ensure that you get a heating system that delivers maximum efficiency at the best possible price.

2. Make sure that you get an accurate energy calculation.

The retailer will prepare an energy calculation using a special program. The calculation takes into account the estimated annual consumption and the height to determine which heat pump and installation solution is most suitable. It also describes the estimated drilling depth and coil length, and shows how quickly the investment will pay for itself.

3. The key concept: Annual performance

Annual performance shows how your system will perform once installed in your home. The goal is for your new heat pump to give you the most energy possible — at the lowest possible cost. There are terms that show the effect of a single pump in a protected lab environment: These are known as coefficient of performance (COP) or seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP).

However, comparing these values alone without taking all local factors into account may result in an incorrectly dimensioned system. In reality, the output of the pump varies based on the unique conditions in your home. Your distributor will help you to calculate the annual performance.

4. Sizing hot water correctly

How much hot water do you use? Hot water accounts for a small, but very important, part of the pump's total operating economy. The aim should be to keep costs down while ensuring that there's enough hot water — even if many people in your household take baths and showers and it's -20°C outside.

It must be possible to heat fresh hot water quickly. For example, if you have a large bathtub that consumes a lot of hot water, you may need to choose a heat pump that can cope with this, or you may even need to add an additional hot water heater.

5. Checklist for comparing quotes: Use this to keep track

When you get a quote that looks "cheap and good", there is a risk that not everything has been calculated. Go through the quote carefully using the checklist below.

The offer must contain a clear energy calculation that has been adapted to your unique conditions. Don't fixate on the installation cost — the most important thing is the total saving over time, as shown by the energy calculation.

The quote must provide a clear recommendation regarding which heat pump or pumps are suitable. It must be clearly state everything that is included and not included in the installation.

Checklist:

• How is energy efficiency calculated?
• Who is responsible for removing any waste material and restoring the garden?
• Are materials and time for protecting the yard and property included?
• Is the removal of older boilers, pumps and radiators included?
• Are all electrical installations included?
• Does the quote include casting of a base slab or other solid surface on which to place the air-to-water heat pump, along with connection of a condensation drain?
• How many metres of casing are included and how much does extra casing cost?
• What warranty and insurance are included in the price?
• Will radiators also be replaced?
• Are all elements specified and plotted on a timeline?
• Does the quote indicate a date for when the work will be completed?
• Will the retailer help you apply for a permit and fill in all the paperwork for you to sign?

6. How long does the installation take?

Normally, it takes about two or three days, and often the electricity in the house does not need to be switched off for more than a few hours. If you need to install anything extra, such as new radiators, it will take longer. Check with your retailer and ask for an estimate.

7. Warranties and insurances included

Anything can happen — although we do all we can to ensure that you have a comfortable, affordable and completely problem-free heat pump system throughout its lifetime. We want you to feel completely secure in your purchase and with CTC. Check with your representative to find out what applies to you.

Remote control

With the myUplink app, you can monitor and control your system directly via your smartphone. For instance, you can adjust the temperature or be alerted if the system shuts down for any reason. You can download myUplink free of charge from all app stores.

With myUplink, you can also control your home while on holiday. Lower the temperature when you are away and raise it when you are on your way home.

CTC SmartControl

This function ensures that heating, hot water and ventilation are optimised.

The system is based on CTC SmartControl Gateway, a base unit that is able to control up to seven optional wireless accessories. The series includes several smart accessories: A wireless room sensor powered by solar cells and a multi-button that can control several different functions, such as extra hot water.

Humidity and CO₂ sensors are also available that can control ventilation as needed. The humidity sensor automatically increases ventilation in shower or laundry rooms when the air humidity increases. The CO₂ sensor ensures that ventilation is decreased when no one is home, and is able to increase ventilation when family or friends come to visit.

CTC SmartControl ensures that ventilation is always optimised to provide consistently good air quality while maintaining both ventilation and consumption at optimal levels.

Warm up the pool

Pools are becoming more common in gardens. To make sure it is comfortable to swim, you need to heat the pool, but this is no problem if you have CTC heat pump installed.

With a minor upgrade, you can easily get Mediterranean temperatures in your pool all summer long. Since the need for heating decreases during the summer, your heat pump can distribute the energy to heat the pool at a much lower cost.

Passive cooling in the summer

Passive cooling or "free" cooling as it is also called, is achieved by the ground source heat pump pumping up cool heat energy from the bedrock in summer. The excess heat is then returned to the borehole, increasing the output in colder parts of the year.

By connecting a fan convector to your heat pump, the borehole is used for air conditioning in the warmer parts of the year. This results in very low investment and operating costs compared to a conventional air conditioner.

For homes with geothermal heating, passive cooling works best until June, before the ground has had time to warm. Later in the summer, the cooling effect decreases.

To make passive cooling easy to use, we have developed a flexible accessory that we call CTC EcoComfort. The unit is supplied pre-connected from the factory and is easy to connect to the system. The cooling function is controlled entirely from your control unit, and you can adjust the settings according to how and when you want the pleasant cool air to spread through your home.

Connect and supplement your heating system with virtually anything in the way of heating. Future-proof with Energy Flex.

Many users connect their heat pump with other units to take advantage of a heating and energy system with multiple functions: Solar panels — Pool heater — Pellet boiler — Fireplaces — Wood boiler — Indoor module

High-efficiency variable speed heat pumps make the CTC GSi 600 series and CTC EcoAir 600M series some of the best heat pumps in their class.

When you choose a heat pump from CTC, not only do you get a Swedish-made quality pump, but also much greater freedom to choose a heat source in the future thanks to EnergyFlex being built in.

When you invest in a heat pump from CTC, you can rest assured knowing that you are installing one of the most reliable and long-lasting heat pumps on the market. Development and manufacturing are carried out in our factory in Ljungby, in the Swedish province of Småland, where consideration for quality and innovation go hand in hand.