Combined Water and Space Heating (Combi Heat Pumps)

One system. All seasons. Heat, cool, and even heat your water—effortlessly with a single heat pump! Join us as we dive into combination water and space heating systems, also known as combi heat pumps. Water heating, space heating and space cooling, all using one outdoor unit. By combining these systems into one, there’s ample opportunity for efficiency and cost savings, by sharing the most expensive part of the system. But this brings with it a new level of complexity that has raised questions about its practicality. We’ll discuss the benefits of combined space and water heating, including the cost efficiency of installing just a single compressor, the energy efficiency of a single system that makes use of smart coordinated heat recovery, and the need for just a single 240V circuit breaker—which helps homeowners avoid costly panel or service upgrades. We’ll also explore potential challenges with combi heat pumps including the more complex systems, higher upfront costs, the ability of hydronic systems to heat in colder climates, and questions about the available workforce to install and maintain equipment.