Heat Pumps to heat water

[Pietleeu]

My neighbour has an expensive top-of-the-line vacuum-tube solar water heater. I have a heat pump. Discounting the fact that his system has blown a head twice since new in 2010 (overheating), for the past few weeks he's had to run the kettle element in his geyser because it's been overcast and rainy. My heat pump has been reliably producing hot water, even on the coldest nights here in the Little Karoo, at a third of the electricity usage of an element geyser. I'm pretty chuffed.

If it is sized correctly and you have enough storage, you will always be smiling...vacuum tubes tend to have that problem (they were actually designed for europe/ colder climates) and in South Africa's climate they can be very dangerous. Some salesman use the "Super Efficiency" as a selling point... What they dont ask the client is how they will use 90'C water everyday(coz if the don't, it will over heat and damaged the unit/geyser). I am not anti-vacuum tubes, I just dont think they belong in the domestic market... They work wonders in the industrial applications.

We have many happy clients, some with heat pumps and some with solar (but both reporting considerable changes in their water heating costs) and the ONLY reason for this is we actualy try to advise the client which technology we opt for.

I have a 300 lt solar on my roof, we are 5 people and during summer we switch off the backup(unless we know bad weather is coming) . In winter, we do keep the backup on, but its mostly because we only have a bath (we do not have a shower in our home) so we tend to use a lot more water than we should. But our electricity as a whole, came down about 33%.

My advice will always be.... If you can afford a big enough Solar Geyser and aesthetics allow it (and if your roof is either flat or face north) go for solar, But a good Quality Flat Plate Indirect system.

If you are on a tighter upfront budget go for a Heat Pump....both work and both save you money.

[Flowerhat]

a friend of mine bought heat pumps for around R6k

was bulk sale of about 5 units and might have excluded labour

we shouldn't support the companies who are trying to ruin your savings by charging ludicrous installation costs.

Will edit my post when i get the company's contact details