How does a full electric heat pump work?

To face the winter cold and heat the house in a sustainable way, we can use cutting-edge systems such as a full electric heat pumpbut how does it work and what exactly does this type of system consist of?

During the winter monthsthat of domestic heating represents a significant item on the list of expenses of an average family. Furthermore, some of the most common types of heating – such as those based on the use of fossil fuels – have a significant and unsustainable environmental impact on the Planet.

For several years, however, the heat pumps have attracted the attention of consumers who are more attentive to climate and environmental issues.

Moreover, if properly powered, this technology could prove to be the ideal solution for reduce emissions of pollutants and, a factor not to be underestimated, also the consumption on the bill.

What is a full electric heat pump and how does it work?

In short, the full electric heat pump (powered exclusively by electric energy) works by absorbing heat from the outside, that is from elements present in nature such as air and water, and then releasing it into our homes in the form of heatafter a specific transformation cycle.

But not only that. This system It can also produce hot water and even air-conditioning rooms in summer. To do this, the system uses the same mechanism as the refrigerator in our kitchen. The appliance extracts heat from food and disperses it into the environment through a coil, and in the same way, the heat pump in summer “removes” heat from an environment and expels it outside, cooling the house.

In short, with a single heat pump system you could satisfy three of the main household needs: heating, air conditioning, availability of hot water.

Unlike the hybrid heat pump (consisting of a gas-fired condensing boiler and a heat pump that is activated by electricity), the full electric typology is based exclusively on the use of electrical energy.

With the right precautions, therefore, you could satisfy your domestic needs in a completely sustainable way. But how?

Electric heat pump: a sustainable choice

We have seen that, in order to function, the full electric heat pump requires electric energythanks to which it will be able to heat or air-condition rooms and produce domestic hot water. But how can this system be made completely eco-sustainable and in line with the global process of energy transition what are we facing?

Per minimize environmental impactthe electricity used to operate the heat pump should come from renewablessuch as geothermal energy or a photovoltaic or solar system, thanks to which we could obtain 100% clean electricity, also recording a significant economic savings.

Advantages and disadvantages of the heat pump

In order to make satisfactory choices both from an economic and sustainability point of view, it will be useful to draw up a list of potential benefits and the (few) disadvantages of the full electric heat pump. Let’s first review what the advantages of this technology are:

• If powered by renewable energy, electric heat pumps allow you to reduce environmental impact of domestic heating, with a substantial reduction in polluting emissions.
• The system allows you to combine domestic heating, cooling and the production of domestic hot water in a single system.
• Improvement of the Energy classification of the building and, consequently, increase in the value of the house.
• The plant can be used all year roundin winter to heat the house and in summer to cool the rooms.
• These are devices that, if subjected to regular maintenance, can guarantee aoptimal efficiency for a long time.
• Savings on your bill: this solution can offer significant savings in terms of energy consumption and, consequently, can make our bills lighter.

Disadvantages of heat pumps

Potential disadvantages of this solution include the size and the level of noise from some devices. Additionally, heat pumps may require rather high initial costs currently being installed.

However, to encourage the energy transition, there are available economic incentives ed state ecobonuses which can significantly reduce the initial investment, making this technology highly cost-effective in both the short and long term.

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