The sale of air-to-air heat pumps gained momentum during the previous economic boom. Over the past 10 years, nearly 50,000 air-to-air heat pumps have been sold and installed in Estonia. Heat pumps have become a significant heating option and the most popular heating solution for many new constructions.
In the early years of heat pump sales, the first air-to-air heat pumps adapted for Nordic market needs featured an electric base heater cable added to the external unit during installation or at the importer’s warehouse. At that time, the guaranteed operating range from the manufacturers was up to -15 °C, which, after modification with the base heater cable, was lowered to -25 °C under the importer’s responsibility. The most popular devices were models with a heating capacity of 9 kW, which completely disappeared from the market after the implementation of the ErP minimum energy efficiency requirements in 2013, as they did not meet the new standards. Ten years later, the market for air-to-air heat pumps has stabilized. Public awareness of heat pumps has increased, and nearly every manufacturer now has an official version of a Nordic heat pump, with devices designed and tested to operate down to -25 °C. No reputable company attempts to sell a -15 °C model as a heat pump anymore, and even the fortune-seekers from the previous boom era who marketed regular on/off air conditioners as heat pumps have disappeared from the market. However, it’s still wise to compare various offers cautiously even 10 years later, as data manipulation and consumer deception still occur.
Three well-known consumer traps:
1) OEM Brands
Nowadays, it’s easy to order a container of heat pumps from China and brand them with a made-up name. Typically, this comes with active marketing, impressive promotional materials, and grand promises about the product’s quality and efficiency. In the Estonian market, OEM products are marketed as being produced with special Japanese technology and have model names strikingly similar to those of genuine Japanese brands. In reality, these models have nothing in common with the brand-name products except the name. The made-up brand might even be registered to a store by a U.S. highway.
The main risk with OEM products isn’t their Chinese origin but the data presented in the promotional materials. For instance, the seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) is often presented for a warmer climate instead of the average (mandatory) climate without proper labeling. Estonia is located in a cold zone, so this data manipulation misleads consumers. Comparing the technical specifications in an OEM product’s brochure with those of a real manufacturer’s can easily reveal differences in power consumption, noise levels, guaranteed operating range, etc.
Recommendations:
- Prefer well-known brands that produce and market devices under their own name and whose products are certified by an independent lab (e.g., Eurovent).
- For OEM brands, verify the manufacturing factory and, if possible, compare the technical data. If discrepancies arise, ask the seller for clarification.
- When comparing SCOP values, ensure the baseline conditions for the compared data are the same. Manufacturers are required to show data for an average climate (data for cold and warm climates are voluntary). If only one SCOP value is given, it must be for the average climate, otherwise, it’s misleading.
2) Minimum Operating Temperature
In recent years, marketing campaigns have increasingly used the minimum operating temperature of air heat pumps as a key selling point. As a result, we see devices advertised to operate down to -25 °C, -27 °C, -30 °C, and even -35 °C. Although the design temperature for heating systems in Estonia is generally -22 °C, some consumers might think that a lower operating temperature device is better in winter. It’s important to distinguish whether the minimum temperature in the advertisement is based on official factory data or just an importer’s promise. This can be easily verified with a Google search or by downloading the manufacturer’s official product catalog. Preferably, check the technical manuals as they are produced by the manufacturer, and the likelihood of data being altered by the importer is minimal.
Overall, there’s no technological difference between a -25 °C and a -30 °C device, and a -25 °C device performs just as well at lower temperatures as a -30 °C one. How manufacturers position their devices is more related to their origin: Japanese manufacturers are more conservative, while Chinese manufacturers, needing more selling points for their products, are more liberal. Remember that despite the stated outdoor temperature in the brochure, physical laws apply to all products equally, and heating with a heat pump at lower temperatures becomes inefficient and can reduce the device’s lifespan.
Recommendations:
- Don’t base your device choice on the minimum outdoor temperature (ranging from -15 °C to -25 °C). Presenting an operating range below -25 °C is more of a marketing trick and doesn’t offer any advantage in device operation.
- Ensure whether the stated lower temperature is an official factory value or an importer’s promise. In case of doubt, ask the provider for a power table showing the maximum heating power at different outdoor temperatures.
- A reputable manufacturer won’t have discrepancies between technical and sales documentation.
3) Longer Warranty
Similar to car sales, some heat pump importers offer longer warranties for their devices than others. At the same time, well-known providers with established market shares remain quite conservative regarding warranty conditions.
It’s important to remember that today’s manufacturing technology ensures very high product quality. Devices in major factories undergo numerous tests before leaving the production line, and any slightest deviation sends the devices back for inspection. As a result, the defect rate is nearly negligible, and malfunctions are rare. The main problems that may arise during use are usually due to poor installation or power fluctuations. No manufacturer compensates for such damages, and the responsibility generally falls on the installer or buyer. A longer warranty may provide some reassurance, but be extremely cautious about what the warranty covers and any additional costs. Is the extended warranty from the factory or the installer? Does obtaining a longer warranty require a financial commitment from the customer (e.g., signing a regular maintenance contract)? Will the warranty for installation work still apply if the company goes bankrupt during the insurance period? Such cases have occurred in Estonia.
Recommendations:
- Verify whether the extended warranty is from the manufacturer or the importer.
- Calculate the cost of the additional warranty and add it to the purchase price of the device.
- If the building/apartment has home insurance, it generally extends to the heat pump.
- Proper installation and the installation company’s background (company age, taxes paid, number of employees, MTR registrations, licenses, etc.) are more important than the warranty period length.
It’s Time to Replace Your Air Heat Pump
It’s well-known that all manufacturers constantly develop and improve their products. In different fields, the product cycle varies, and in the heat pump field, significant changes occur approximately every five years. The year 2017 is significant because almost all heat pump manufacturers have introduced new flagship models. Current heat pump trends undoubtedly include the new refrigerant R32, an outdoor unit without a base heater cable, and the ability to control the heat pump via smartphone. Naturally, new pumps are quieter and even more efficient, offering consumers greater comfort than their 10-year-old predecessors.
Today's heat pump uses R32 refrigerant
R32 is a new refrigerant that is significantly more environmentally friendly, with a global warming potential (GWP) three times lower. Thanks to the new refrigerant, the amount of refrigerant in the system can be reduced, and the devices' efficiency increased. Although the previously used refrigerant R410A is not explicitly banned, the European Union has implemented measures to gradually minimize its use. From 2025 onwards, the use of R410A in single split systems, including air heat pumps, will be completely banned.
The new generation refrigerant R32 is significantly more environmentally friendly and efficient than its predecessor.
- R32 is significantly more environmentally friendly, with a GWP three times lower.
- The amount of refrigerant in the system is smaller.
- Considering the reduced refrigerant amount, the environmental impact of an R32 device is up to five times smaller compared to an equivalent R410A device.
Today's heat pump does not need a base heater
The base heater cable has been an indispensable aid for the heat pump for years, helping keep the condensate drain openings at the base of the external unit free from snow and ice. From primitive and inaccurate control (a base heater cable with a power of about 100 W was switched on for most of the winter, consuming electricity constantly), we have reached today’s solutions, where a slightly more powerful base heater cable (about 150 W) is only switched on by the external unit’s automation during defrosting. There are other alternatives to the electric base heater. In some products, the base heater cable is replaced by a hot gas pipe, where hot gas is directed to the defrost circuit only during defrosting. A true breakthrough is the base heater-free solution, where the external unit’s design lacks a base under the heat exchanger, and the water generated during defrosting flows freely down.
A device with a broken base heater cable quickly clogs the condensate drain openings and becomes covered with ice.
- Such a device’s productivity and efficiency are very low as the heat exchanger is partially blocked by ice.
- The ice forming at the base of the device can damage the heat exchanger or the external unit’s fan blade.
- Ice formation on the external unit can indicate insufficient heating power or refrigerant leakage.
Today's heat pump can communicate over the internet
It’s hard to imagine life without the internet or smart devices. Today’s heat pump is smart and can share information about its operating parameters and any issues over the internet. An online module is available for nearly all heat pump models. For those few without a manufacturer’s solution, a universal online controller can be purchased. However, if possible, prefer the manufacturer’s solution, as it can send commands and receive feedback on operating parameters, energy consumption, and error messages. Using the increasingly popular IFTTT (If This, Then That) tool, various programs can be created to automate the heat pump’s operations based on your location, calendar events, etc.
Finding the right heat pump for your needs requires time, as it affects your heating bills, user comfort, and safety. The simplest option is to trust well-known brands and choose a solution that offers quality heating, not one that requires constant adjustment, repair, and attention from winter to winter. Make the right choices!
Daikin online controller
The Daikin Online Controller allows convenient control of the heat pump and enables the creation of different temperature regime weekly programs and provides an overview of the electricity consumed.