The difference between a split heat pump and an integral heat pump

More and more homes are choosing heat pumps to heat their homes. It's the environmentally friendly solution. Air-to-water heat pumps work by converting the energy in the outdoor air into usable heat, which helps reduce heating costs by up to 60% and CO2 emissions by 50%. There are two types of heat pumps, a split heat pump and an integral heat pump. What is the difference between them?

 

 

Monoblock heat pumps

A monoblock heat pump is similar to a boiler because it is an "all-in-one" system where all the components (except for the hot water tank inside the house) are located in a single unit outside the house. They are different from split heat pumps because the components of the cooling cycle are located in the outdoor unit. Only water is connected to the back of the heat pump, and there is a wiring center in either the indoor or outdoor unit for connection to the pump, etc.

 

Split Heat Pumps

As you may have guessed from the name, unlike integral heat pumps, split system heat pumps use multiple units. The condenser collects heat from the air and transfers the heated gas to the indoor unit located in the room. This is where the incoming hot gas is used to heat water. The indoor unit can also house your hot water tank.

 

The main difference between a split and integral heat pump is the setup and equipment required. While an integral heat pump requires only a separate outdoor unit, a split heat pump requires an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. An integral heat pump heats the outdoor water, while a split system stores all the hot water indoors.

 

The choice between a split heat pump and an integral heat pump really depends on the individual needs of your property. Integral heat pumps are less expensive to purchase and easier to install, but more expensive to operate because the heat pump must work harder to heat the water from the outside and deliver it in. Split units are less expensive to run because they are contained in the building, and outdoor units are usually smaller and quieter. However, the installation of the system is usually more complex.