When shopping for a hot water system, you may have considered a heat pump water heater. Heat pump water heaters are becoming increasingly popular due to their energy efficiency and cost savings. But how does the performance of a heat pump water heater vary with outdoor temperature?
In short, the colder the outside temperature, the less efficient your heat pump water heater will be. As outside temperatures drop, so too does the performance of the heat pump. This is because the colder air has less energy available to be extracted and converted into hot water.
However, this doesn’t mean that a heat pump water heater isn’t suitable for colder climates. It simply means that you should factor in outdoor temperatures when selecting your system and ensure it is powerful enough for your needs. For example, if you live in an area with regular freezing temperatures, you may need to invest in a more powerful system than someone who lives in a warmer climate.
Fortunately, most modern heat pumps are designed to operate efficiently in temperatures as low as –7C (or 20F). They also come with features such as reverse cycle defrosting which helps them keep operating efficiently even at lower temperatures. In addition, they can often be connected to an auxiliary electric booster element which allows them to maintain hot water output even when it’s very cold outside.
So if you’re considering investing in a heat pump water heater for your home, make sure you factor in your local climate when selecting your system and always check that it is suitable for operation at low temperatures as well as high ones. Doing so will help ensure that your new system runs at its best whatever the weather brings!