How do water source heat pumps work?

We’re all looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint and take control of our energy bills.

And guess what? A heat pump is a renewable energy source that provides a genuine alternative to your traditional heating systems – both at home and in commercial properties.

Here, we’ll give you the full lowdown on water source heat pumps. But make sure to check out our guides to air source and ground source heat pumps too, to get clued up on all there is to know!

What are water source heat pumps?

A water source heat pump is a device that uses electricity to heat or cool a building.

It absorbs solar energy from water sources such as lakes, rivers, ponds, aquifers and more, through a submerged network of pipes.

It then uses a compressor to convert this low-temperature energy to a higher temperature, so that it can heat buildings and hot water in a way that feels similar to a traditional boiler.

In this way, a water source heat pump works very similarly to a ground source heat pump. In fact, the unit itself can even be the same. But the way the heat is collected and the heat source itself are different.

Ultimately, a water source heat pump is a renewable energy source that provides a genuine, cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional heating systems. And any building located close to a large water source could benefit from one.

Should you switch to a water source heat pump?

Umming and ahhing about whether your should switch to a water source heat pump? Let’s take a look at both sides of the coin.

Advantages of switching to a water source heat pump

Water source heat pumps are highly regarded as an affordable and effective option when looking at different ways to switch to a low-carbon heating source for your building.

Not only are they effective for a wide range of building types, but they’re also highly efficient, with water always close to the pipes and a constant source of energy replenishment.

In fact, water source heat pumps provide an even faster heat transfer rate than ground source heat pumps, with temperatures around 5-6 degrees higher in most cases.

This high efficiency can lead to lower energy bills. But costs are reduced up-front too, due to the lack of drilling and digging required to set up a water source heat pump.

Disadvantages of switching to a water source heat pump

There aren’t many disadvantages to water source heat pumps.

However, they tend to be less popular than air source heat pumps for both residential and commercial buildings.

Why? Well, not every building will have a water source they can draw from. But almost every building will be able to benefit from an air source heat pump.

Not only that, but air source heat pumps are generally less expensive and easier to install – they work in a similar way to water source heat pumps except that they extract warmth from the air instead of from water.

At Clade, we offer commercial air source heat pumps as we believe they’re the best option for the majority of businesses. Get in touch with our team to learn more.

What applications can water source heat pumps be used for?

It’s a common misconception that water source heat pumps can only be used in new build properties.

Rather, water source heat pumps can be used in a variety of applications, and in buildings both old and new. The only real prerequisite is that the building is located close (within about 100 metres) to a large water source.

Providing this is the case, a water souce heat pump can provide both heat and hot water for buildings of all kinds. In fact, they can often be found in houses, businesses, boats and any other property type close to a large body of water!

With that in mind, if you are close to a water source, your property is most likely a suitable location for a water source heat pump.

Water sources that can be used with a water source heat pump

There are many different types of water sources that are used effectively for water source heat pumps to be efficient.

Water sources that are suitable include rivers, streams, ponds, lakes, and the sea to name just a few.

You can also find good heat sources in underground aquifers, sewers, industrial effluents, and wells.

How does a water source heat pump work?

A water source heat pump system works by absorbing heat energy from a large water source.

This heat is taken from the surrounding water in a similar way to how ground source heat pumps extract heat from the ground.

A submerged network of pipes – typically a closed loop system such as pond mats – transfer heat energy from the water to the heat pump.

This is then compressed, and the temperature increased before it is delivered to the property to be used as part of the heating system (to radiators or underfloor heating) or for hot water.

Open-loop versus closed-loop for water source heat pumps

While all water source heat pumps extract heat energy from a water source, how exactly they do this can vary.

Most rely on a closed-loop system such as a pond mat. But you’ll also come across open-loop systems, which work slightly differently. Here’s the lowdown.

Closed-loop systems

Closed-loop systems effectively extract heat energy from the source by using an antifreeze liquid.

This liquid is circulated through a loop pipe that’s been installed in your water source, in order to absorb the heat from the water.

The key point to note is that the loop is only filled once and the liquid is used again and again – hence why it’s called a closed-loop system.

These systems are more common than open-loop systems. They’re better for particular property layouts and are also ideal for properties with a sufficient body of water closeby –  so long as the necessary piping can be routed underground to the water.

They’re generally a cheaper option, too. This is because they’re simpler to install and may not require the same specific conditions for installation as open-loop systems.

Open-loop systems

Just like closed-loop systems, an open-loop water source heat pump operates by efficiently extracting thermal energy from a water source close to the property which requires heating.

But this time, the liquid that flows through the pump is water that comes directly from your water source. After the the heat is extracted, this water is then discharged back to the source.

In other words, the water is only used once (which is why these systems are often referred to as ‘pump and dump’).

However, there are additional regulations to consider and you’ll need to gain consent from either the Environment Agency for England and Wales or the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to install and use one of these systems.

This is because these systems actively pull water into the system for operation. With that in mind, the water needs to be clean, safe and sufficient for the system to draw and filter the water to and from the main water source.

Talk to our team about heat pumps

Keen to reap the benefits that a heat pump can bring to your business? From lowering your energy bills to reducing your carbon footprint, these green heating systems have a lot to offer.

At Clade, we only design, manufacture and install air source heat pumps (although we used to work with water and ground source heat pumps too). This is because we believe they’re the most cost-effective and simplest option for the majority of businesses.

If you’re not sure what system would work best in your business premises, don’t worry. Our friendly team is on hand to chat and answer your questions.

And if you decide an air source heat pump is the way to go, we’ll be here to create a bespoke system that meets your business’ needs.

Get in touch to learn more.