2024 Modern Hydronics Summit: Air to Water Heat Pumps - Canadian Lessons Learned

Recorded live at the 2024 Modern Hydronics Summit (September 12, Paramount EventSpace, Vaughan, Ont.) this moderated panel explores the experiences of vendors who have been selling and installing air-to-water heat pump systems in Canada, both residential and commercial. Panelists include Benoit Maneckjee (ThermAtlantic),
Roger Abdo (Hydro Solar
), and Chris DesRoches (Swegon).

[@solarguy4850]

I recently consulted on a HP project in Alberta where the home owner was furious over his power bill. Turned out the system was working as designed, but since his utility charged separately for kWh and kW demand .. it was the demand charges that were the problem. We stopped the system from using its 9kW resistance heaters .. relying on their propane backup boiler instead to solve this. My belief is we will start to see more and more utilities charging for peak power .. so something to consider for all installs IMHO.

[@solarguy4850]

Heat Geeks recommend eliminating buffer tanks for all but very large systems. Can you comment on this. Also, I’m waiting for R290 (Alberta installs) for better cold weather performance and their ability to heat to domestic HW to 50+ C. When will they be here if you know? Also .. simple .. fewer zones .. seem to be better right?

[@pavalenta]

Siegenthaler I think has a "buffer less" A2W video/webinar out there. I went that route with my home, I got luckily in that my j-load was "close enough", without an accurate j-load though I would not go "buffer less".

[@solarguy4850]

@@pavalenta Yeah .. no professional would design without calculating an accurate heat loss at design temperature. In practice, it seems, buffer tanks and too many circuits just result in lower efficiency and higher cost. It seems the best air to water systems are designed at the smallest justifiable HP size, fewer circuits, no buffer tank, and R290. I was hoping a panelist would respond. Ill be contacting them directly and will post what they say if I can get a response.

[@tunezghb9794]

First