Why heat pump water heaters are the best choice for sustainable hot water solutions.

Choosing energy-efficient systems for hot water production is becoming increasingly important as environmental pressures rise and energy costs increase. Heat pump water heaters have established themselves as one of the most sustainable alternatives, thanks to their innovative use of ambient heat. They combine state-of-the-art technology with high efficiency, significantly reducing both energy consumption and operating costs. Oekoboiler Swiss AG is a leader in this technology. Learn more about the benefits and efficiency of heat pump water heaters!

How a heat pump water heater works

As the name suggests, a heat pump water heater is based on the same operating principle as a space-heating heat pump. The difference is that a heating heat pump heats the heating water, while a heat pump water heater heats only domestic hot water. That’s why the terms domestic hot water heat pump are also commonly used. Extracting heat from the surrounding air is the heart of a domestic hot water heat pump. The unit draws in ambient air, which is routed through a heat exchanger. A refrigerant circulates in the system and evaporates even at low temperatures. This refrigerant absorbs heat from the air and is compressed in a compressor. This process significantly raises the refrigerant’s temperature, enabling efficient use of the heat energy for hot water production.

Technical details: energy conversion and hot water production.

A heat pump water heater operates with a closed refrigerant circuit that efficiently uses heat from the environment and converts it into heat for producing hot water. This circuit consists of four main components: evaporator, compressor, condenser and expansion valve.

1. Refrigerant

The refrigerant is the central medium in the system. It has the property of starting to evaporate even at very low temperatures. It continuously flows through the refrigeration circuit, absorbs heat, transports it and releases it again. In doing so, it switches several times between liquid and gaseous states.

2. Evaporator

At the evaporator, room air—for example from a basement—is brought into contact with the refrigerant. The thermal energy contained in the air is transferred to the refrigerant. This energy is sufficient to turn the refrigerant into a gaseous state, even when the air temperature is low.

3. Compressor

This is where compression (i.e., the gas is compressed) takes place. Compression causes a sharp increase in pressure and therefore a sharp rise in temperature. The now highly heated refrigerant gas contains the usable energy needed to heat the water.

4. Condenser

In the condenser, the heated refrigerant is routed to a heat exchanger that transfers the heat to the water stored in the tank. During this heat transfer, the refrigerant cools and condenses, returning to a liquid state. The hot water can now be used in the kitchen or bathroom.

5. Expansion valve

The liquid refrigerant is cooled via an expansion valve. Here, the refrigerant pressure is reduced, which cools the refrigerant to a temperature below the ambient temperature. This allows the refrigerant to absorb heat from the surrounding air on the next pass. The cycle starts again.

Hot water production and energy efficiency.

The energy conversion process is used to generate the maximum amount of heat energy with minimal energy input to produce hot water. Heat pump water heaters require only about a quarter of the energy of conventional electric water heaters because they draw most of their energy from the surrounding air. This is effective not only because of the low energy consumption, but also because they can provide consistently high hot water temperatures.

Heat pump water heater benefits.

Heat pump water heaters stand out in particular for energy savings, sustainability, cost efficiency and flexibility.

Energy savings

By using ambient heat as the primary energy source, a heat pump water heater can save up to 80% electricity compared to a conventional electric water heater. Only about a quarter of the energy demand is covered by electricity. The advanced technology of heat pump water heaters, which extracts heat from the room and converts it into usable energy, makes this high efficiency possible. Households benefit from significantly reduced consumption. This not only lowers the electricity bill, but also minimizes the ecological footprint—an important advantage in times of rising energy costs.

Sustainability.

By using renewable energy sources, heat pump water heaters are an environmentally friendly solution. The energy stored in the air is used instead of fossil fuels or electricity alone. This sustainable use of natural heat sources helps reduce CO₂ emissions and decrease dependence on non-renewable energy. Compared to conventional hot water systems, a domestic hot water heat pump is therefore a climate-friendly alternative. They make an important contribution to a low-emission, resource-efficient future in Switzerland.

Cost efficiency

The investment often pays for itself after just a few years, as operating costs drop significantly due to low electricity consumption. Since a domestic hot water heat pump is independent of the season compared to solar energy, households benefit from consistent energy efficiency. Low operating costs and a long service life also make a domestic hot water heat pump an economically attractive solution.

Flexibility.

Heat pump water heaters are characterized by their versatile applications. They are suitable for single-family and multi-family homes, new builds and renovated older buildings alike. Thanks to their compact design, installation in basements, laundry rooms or boiler rooms is straightforward. In addition, the domestic hot water heat pump does not need to be connected to an existing heating system and can operate independently. Efficiency and independence are further increased when combined with photovoltaic systems. With its adaptability and integration options, a domestic hot water heat pump is a great choice for almost any household.

Comparison with other technologies.

Electric water heaters, gas water heaters and solar thermal systems have disadvantages compared to an air-to-water heat pump.

Electric water heater

With electric water heaters, electricity is used exclusively to heat the water directly. This leads to high energy consumption, and operating costs are correspondingly high. Heat pump water heaters, on the other hand, use ambient heat and require up to 80% less electricity. Electric water heaters are easy to install, but not particularly efficient or environmentally friendly. Especially in households with high hot water demand, an air-to-water heat pump is cheaper and more sustainable in the long run.

Gas water heater

Solar thermal systems.

Solar thermal systems are environmentally friendly because they use the sun’s energy to heat water. However, they are highly weather-dependent and often require backup systems for days with little sun. A domestic hot water heat pump works independently of weather or time of day and provides consistent hot water production. In addition, a heat pump water heater is less complex to install. When connected to a photovoltaic system, it can also use solar power.

Why heat pump water heaters are superior.

A domestic hot water heat pump combines energy efficiency, eco-friendliness and flexibility. It uses significantly less electricity than an electric water heater, is more environmentally friendly than gas water heaters, and—unlike solar thermal systems—is independent of weather conditions. A domestic hot water heat pump is therefore the most sustainable and efficient solution for hot water production.

Applications.

A domestic hot water heat pump is versatile and offers solutions for a wide range of building types and requirements. Thanks to its efficiency and flexibility, it is suitable for use in both private households and commercial buildings. We would be happy to provide you with individual, no-obligation advice to tailor it to your specific needs.

Single-family homes

In single-family homes, the heat pump water heater is the ideal choice for efficient and sustainable hot water supply. Especially in new builds, it fits perfectly into a holistic sustainable energy concept, as these are often equipped with modern insulation and energy-efficient systems. Thanks to its compact design, the heat pump water heater can be installed in the basement without taking up much space.

Multi-family homes

The heat pump water heater also proves its strengths in multi-family homes. Here, a central unit can supply all apartments with hot water. This can significantly reduce energy consumption compared to individual electric or gas water heaters per apartment. Especially for larger residential units, heat pump water heaters are an economical and sustainable solution thanks to their efficiency and scalability.

Commercial buildings

A heat pump water heater also offers significant advantages for commercial buildings with high hot water demand, such as hotels, restaurants or gyms. With the ability to provide consistently high hot water temperatures while minimizing energy consumption, it is a worthwhile investment.

Frequently asked questions.

How much does it cost to buy one?

If you would like to purchase a heat pump water heater from Oekoboiler, you’ll find products in our online shop priced from CHF 2’999.00 to CHF 5’840.00.

How efficient is this type of hot water heating compared to other methods?

A heat pump water heater can be up to 80% more efficient than a conventional electric water heater. It uses ambient heat as the main energy source and requires only a small amount of electricity. This results in significant savings on operating costs and a much better environmental footprint.

Can I control the heat pump water heater via an app?

If you want to control the water heater via an app, you can choose our models 13 and 14. These have Wi-Fi built in.

What temperature can be reached?

Hot water temperatures of up to 70°C can be easily achieved with our heat pump water heaters. This is sufficient for most kitchen or bathroom applications and meets all requirements for a heat source.

Is there protection against Legionella?

If you purchase one of our Oekoboilers, you are protected against Legionella. Every two weeks, a fully automatic anti-Legionella cycle is run. The hot water is heated to 65°C, killing any potential bacteria in the water.

What role does the ambient temperature play?

Ambient temperature affects how efficiently a heat pump water heater operates. At very low temperatures, performance decreases because less ambient heat is available. That’s why the surrounding air should not be cooled unnecessarily—for example, by leaving a basement window open in winter.

What is an instantaneous water heater?

Especially in terms of efficiency and sustainability, an instantaneous water heater differs significantly from a heat pump water heater (domestic hot water heat pump). While an instantaneous water heater heats the water in real time, a heat pump water heater stands out for its innovative use of ambient heat. This significantly reduces electricity consumption compared to an electric instantaneous water heater. In addition, the heat pump water heater stores the heated water in a hot water tank, ensuring a constant hot water supply. A domestic hot water heat pump also has the advantage of using sustainable energy sources, minimizing CO₂ emissions.

Conclusion.

Heat pump water heaters are the ideal solution for a sustainable, future-proof hot water supply. They impress with energy savings, low operating costs, and flexibility for different building types. The domestic hot water heat pump is one of the most important innovations in hot water production. It combines ecological responsibility with economic benefits—a concept that will become increasingly important. Would you like to equip your property with a sustainable hot water solution and significantly reduce your CO₂ footprint? Then discover our latest models in the shop. We’ll be happy to advise you to find the perfect solution for your needs!