Forums

Forums
Renewable Heating
Air Source Heat Pum...
"Condensing" heat p...
 
Notifications
Clear all

"Condensing" heat pumps?

 
Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs)
Last Post by JamesPa 9 minutes ago
3 Posts
3 Users
0 Reactions
9 Views
RSS
 madbilly
(@madbilly)
Eminent Member Member
Joined: 5 months ago
Posts: 14
Topic starter 23/06/2025 3:42 pm  

Hi everyone,

I just need a sanity check please. I've heard/read (IIRC) a few times recently people talking about "condensing" heat pumps, like condensing boilers. Now, I know that ASHPs have condensors, they condense the water vapour out of the air and release the latent heat of evaporation in it, which is then transferred to the water (if I've understood correctly). But, is there something else specifically called a "condensing heat pump"? If not, and what I understand to be a normal ASHP is the only real condensing heat pump, then is there such a thing as a non-condensing ASHP?

Cheers 🙂


   
Quote
Majordennisbloodnok
 Majordennisbloodnok
(@majordennisbloodnok)
Noble Member Moderator
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 854
23/06/2025 4:20 pm  

I'm certainly not an expert and therefore not best placed to give a definitive answer, but I've never personally heard of a condensing heat pump in the sense of a home-heating unit. As you say, a heat pump will contain a condenser and may produce condensate as a byproduct of the way it works, but that's not what you're asking.

One thing that might be worth mentioning, though, is that an air source heat pump is not trying to release the heat from the moisture content in the air; merely heat from the air in its entirety. As other threads on this forum have mentioned before, a heat pump will actually work at its most efficient when dealing with dry air, hence why they can work with surprisingly good efficiency in very cold countries like the Nordics.

In contrast, heat pumps do also exist in condensing tumble driers and in that situation condensation is precisely what they want to achieve, whilst at the same time recirculating the recovered heat back into the drum to maximise energy efficiency. If I were pushed to suggest (and it's only a guess) what someone might mean by "condensing heat pump", I'd point somewhere like there and guess it might be to describe a heat pump where the focus is on water removal rather than heat transfer. All in the context.

I may, of course, be talking complete rubbish. I have done so plenty of times in the past and I'm sure I'll continue for some time to come.

105 m2 bungalow in South East England
Mitsubishi Ecodan 8.5 kW air source heat pump
18 x 360W solar panels
1 x 6 kW GroWatt battery and SPH5000 inverter
1 x Myenergi Zappi
1 x VW ID3
Raised beds for home-grown veg and chickens for eggs

"Semper in excretia; sumus solum profundum variat"


   
ReplyQuote
 JamesPa
(@jamespa)
Illustrious Member Moderator
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 2567
23/06/2025 5:12 pm  

Same here as above.  Where have you seen this terminology?

4kW peak of solar PV since 2011; EV and a 1930s house which has been partially renovated to improve its efficiency. 7kW Vaillant heat pump.


   
ReplyQuote
Forum Jump:
  Previous Topic

Currently viewing this topic 2 guests.

Recently viewed by users: JamesPa 9 minutes ago, Majordennisbloodnok 28 minutes ago.

Share:

Join Us!

Login   Register

Trusted Installers

Struggling to find a reliable heat pump installer? A poor installation can lead to inefficiencies and high running costs. We now connect homeowners with top-rated installers who deliver quality work and excellent service.

✅ Verified, trusted & experienced installers
✅ Nationwide coverage expanding
✅ Special offers available

👉 Find your installer now!

Latest Posts