If you have a home that requires ducted heating or low-temperature radiant in-floor heating, a traditional geothermal or air source heat pump can be a perfect solution. But what about those homeowners who have hot water baseboard heating, or another high-temperature hot water application? For years, those homeowners were stuck with inefficient oil-fired boilers or electric boilers.
Fortunately, with the release of our new line of high temperature heat pumps, homeowners now have more options than ever before. But which heat pump is right for you? We offer two types of high temperature heat pumps, and each one is appropriate for a different application. Here are the distinct differences between the two heat pumps and which situations apply to them.
WH Series Heat Pump
WH Series High Temperature Heat Pump
The WH Series heat pump is a geothermal heat pump that needs a source temperature of between 50°F (10°C) and 122°F (50°C). This heat pump can take energy from any clean incoming liquid and boost it as high as high as 160°F (70°C). This heat pump is ideal if you have a home that has hot water baseboard heating and you need a higher temperature of output water, and your home is in a warmer climate with a water temperature of 50°F (10°C) or higher, such as the southern United States.
The WH Series can also be used in commercial applications for dedicated domestic hot water heating.
WC Series Heat Pump
WC Series hot water heat pump
If you live in Canada or the Northern United States, your ground water may not be warm enough for the WH Series. In places like Canada, the ground water is slightly cooler, usually between 40°F and 50°F (4°C and 10°C). In these colder areas, the ground water will not be warm enough for the WH Series heat pump to adequately lift the temperature up to 160°F (71°C).
This means that while the WH Series is an excellent solution for many homeowners, there were still a large number of homeowners without a more efficient heating option for their hot water baseboards. That’s why we designed the WC Series heat pump, a hot water heat pump that can make high temperature hot water from a regular geothermal ground loop.
WC Series heat pump uses a dual refrigerant system to take heat from a normal geothermal ground loop or open water well with temperatures as low as 40°F (4°C) and heats it up to 160°F (71°C). This is done using two complete refrigeration circuits, one with R410a refrigerant, one with R134a refrigerant, and an intermediate heat exchanger. Because this heat pump has two complete refrigerant circuits, it is a little more expensive, but it can easily give homeowners the high-temperature heat they need for hot water baseboard heating.
Here’s a quick comparison table showing the differences between the two types of heat pumps:
WH vs WC Series Heat Pump
| WH Series | WC Series | |
|---|---|---|
| Input Temperature | 50°F (10°C) - 122°F (50°C) | 45°F (7°C) or higher |
| Output Temperature | Up to 160°F (71°C) | Up to 160°F (71°C) |
| Refrigerant | R134a | R410a & R134a |
| Compressors | 1 | 2 |
| Coefficient of Performance | 2.5 - 6.5 | 2.8 |
| Available Sizes | 2 - 7.5 nominal tons | 1.5 - 6.5 nominal tons |
| Ideal For | Heat recovery in commercial applications, hot water baseboards, radiators | Dedicated residential hot water heating, hot water baseboards, radiators |
These two heat pumps cover all of the bases when it comes to heating hot water for baseboards or hot water radiators. Still not sure which heat pump is right for you? Book an appointment with a Nordic heat pump installer today for your free recommendation!
Photo Credit: Ged Carroll