Where Should a Heat Pump Water Heater Be Installed?
Where Should a Heat Pump Water Heater Be Installed? Don’t just dump a heat pump water heater anywhere – choose a spot with plenty of air flow, a comfy temperature, loads of space around it and easy access to a condensate drain, water connections and power supply. In an average UK home, suitable locations are things like a utility room, garage, plant room or a decent sized service area. The best spot really depends on whether the heat pump water heater is ducted or not, its operating temperature range, cylinder size, how loud it is and the installation requirements specified by the manufacturer.
Will a heat pump water heater work in a utility room?
A utility room can be a good spot, provided it’s big enough and has decent air circulation.
A heat pump water heater works by sucking in air and using it to generate heat. If the unit sucks in and then shoots out the cooler air back into the room, the room needs to be big enough to prevent the air getting too chilly from the exhaust air.
The manufacturer will probably give you a minimum room size, ventilation requirements or some minimum clearances around the air intake and outlet. Make sure you check these out for the specific model you’ve got.
Find more information about our complete heat pump water heater range on these dedicated pages:
Wall hung heat pump water heaters
Home heat pump water heaters
Commercial heat pump water heaters
Can you put a heat pump water heater in a garage?
A garage can also be an option, especially as you won’t really notice the noise from the fan and compressor within the main living area.
But what about the temperature? Heat pump performance drops as the air temperature drops. That’s because the air temperature affects how much heat the unit can actually extract. The manufacturer’s minimum and maximum operating air temperatures should be checked before you install it.
Will a heat pump water heater fit in a cupboard?
Technically, yes – but installing one in a tiny enclosed cupboard is usually a bad idea unless the whole installation has been specifically designed for it.
The heat pump needs to have a bit of air moving past its evaporator to work properly. If it just recirculates air within a very small space, it’ll suck the heat out of that air and progressively chill the cupboard.
That can knock your efficiency, make hot water take longer to come through and even force the unit to reach its minimum operating air temperature.
If you do want to install a heat pump in a cupboard, make sure you get a purpose-designed ducted installation.
What about ducted heat pump water heaters?
Some heat pump water heaters can be connected to air ducts, which gives you loads more flexibility over where you draw in the air and where you discharge the cooled air.
Depending on the manufacturer’s rules, the system might suck air in from outside, blow the cooled air outside or use ducting for both the intake and exhaust. Just make sure your ductwork is the right size – too long or too narrow and it can affect airflow, heat output and efficiency.
You’ll need a condensate drain nearby.
Heat pump water heaters produce water that comes off the evaporator as a byproduct of the water vapour condensing. This water needs to be collected and piped out through a suitable condensate drainage arrangement.
So the installation position should be close to a suitable drain, and the condensate pipework should be routed correctly and protected against freezing where necessary.
Don’t forget about noise.
Unlike a traditional hot water cylinder, a heat pump water heater’s got moving bits that can make some noise.
The fan, compressor and airflow all contribute to the noise level. For that reason, it’s probably not a good idea to install it right next to a bedroom or other sensitive area.
You should also consider vibration transmission – make sure the pipework, ductwork and the appliance itself aren’t transferring the compressor vibration into floors, walls or other parts of the building.
Keep the cylinder close to the taps.
There’s a bit of a trade-off here: the position of the hot water cylinder relative to the taps and showers it serves can affect performance.
If the cylinder is too far away, it’ll cause unnecessary heat loss and it’ll take longer for hot water to come out at the taps and showers.
UK installation requirements to keep in mind
If the heat pump water heater incorporates an unvented hot water cylinder, its installation needs to meet the applicable UK requirements, including Building Regulations relating to safe and hot water storage. In England, that includes Approved Document G and G3.
The installation also needs to follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions, electrical requirements, pressure and temperature relief arrangements, discharge pipework and water installation rules. At the end of the day, the ideal spot for a heat pump water heater is somewhere that gets decent airflow, has reasonable temperatures, allows for efficient condensate drainage, keeps noise at a minimum & has good access for installers to get in there and do their thing. Picking the right location can have a big impact on efficiency, how fast it can get the hot water going, how reliable it is & how well the whole system functions overall.