When deciding to purchase a heat pump, building owners can choose between a single appliance (monoblock) or a two-part split version. Both systems have their benefits and drawbacks, particularly with respect to difficulty of installation and space requirements. The question of whether to go with a monoblock or split heat pump is a complex one that should be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the conditions at hand. We will show you what is important when making this decision.
Before we go into the specifics of the different designs, we will briefly explain the working principle of a heat pump. Regardless of which type of heat pump you use, they are always efficient heating systems that extract free environmental heat by consuming a small amount of energy in the form of electricity.
The heat pump works like an inverted refrigerator, extracting thermal energy from the ambient medium and routing it to the heating system in the building. There, the energy can be used for DHW heating and/or central heating backup. In the private sector, the primary energy sources used are the ambient air, groundwater and geothermal heat.
Since the initial investment is higher for water-to-water heat pumps and brine-to-water heat pumps (also known as a geothermal heat pumps), many building owners opt for air-to-water heat pumps. They have many plus points, particularly in terms of flexible installation. This can be a deciding factor when renovating existing buildings, for example.
When we talk about monoblock heat pumps, we are actually referring to air-to-water heat pumps in which all components are housed in a single compact housing. This means that the entire refrigerant cycle takes place within the appliance. Therefore, fitters do not need a refrigeration certificate (generally only held by qualified refrigeration technicians) to install these appliances.
If refrigeration piping has to be installed, non-professionals are not permitted to carry out this work because there is a risk of climate-damaging gases escaping into the environment. The effort and expense of installing and maintaining monoblock heat pumps is therefore inherently lower than that of other variants. In principle, the design of monoblock heat pumps makes them suitable for both indoor and outdoor installation.
The entire refrigerant circuit is located inside the housing of a monoblock heat pump whether it is installed inside or outside the building. If you opt for a monoblock heat pump installed indoors, you will need to install air ducts in the building to supply and discharge the required ambient air. For outdoor installation, on the other hand, you will need to lay connection lines to the heating system through the walls. The most suitable type of installation usually depends on the space available in the building. Even if you opt for outdoor installation, you will need to allow for space for the associated indoor unit of the appliance. However, the indoor unit is significantly smaller than an indoor monoblock heat pump.
In new buildings, the space required for indoor installation of a monoblock heat pump can be taken into account from the outset. In contrast, outdoor installation is particularly suitable for retrofitting such heat pumps in existing buildings. However, indoor installation is also possible in existing buildings if there is sufficient space in the cellar, for example, or if an oil tank is discarded when modernising the heating system.
Overall, the installation costs for monoblock air-to-water heat pumps are lower because neither installation nor maintenance require a refrigeration certificate. However, the space requirements and weight of a monoblock heat pump are comparatively high, which can make it difficult to find the ideal installation site.
There are several advantages to the appliance components being divided into an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The outdoor unit is much lighter and more compact than a monoblock heat pump with a comparable output. The noise level in the house is lower if the compressor is situated outdoors.
Inside the building, space requirements are lower for a split heat pump than for the indoor installation of a complete monoblock appliance. Split appliances cannot be installed entirely outside or entirely inside. Therefore, heat pumps of this kind are mainly installed where the available space necessitates a compromise between indoor and outdoor installation.
One disadvantage is that installation and maintenance are more complex and costly as technicians working on the refrigerant line require a refrigeration certificate. If the amount of refrigerant in the appliance exceeds the applicable reference value for the CO2 equivalent, building owners may be subject to an obligatory refrigerant test, which will result in additional costs every year.
The efficiency of both types of appliance is similar, but they are very different in size &#; the footprint and weight of monoblock appliances is always greater. Although monoblock heat pumps can be positioned more flexibly (indoor installation vs. outdoor installation), the size and weight of the monoblock version can slightly increase the complexity and cost of planning, depending on the space available on the property and inside the building.
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In terms of noise, there is not much difference between monoblock and split heat pumps as long as their performance is suitably similar. Noise regulations in densely built-up areas can preclude outdoor installation, preventing split appliances from being used at all. A monoblock heat pump, on the other hand, could be installed indoors.
There is no point in making direct price comparisons of the two heat pump types as this does not reflect the whole picture. Monoblock and split heat pumps with similar performance rates and energy efficiency have very different installation costs that depend on the structural conditions on site. Maintenance costs and other elements must also be factored in.
Air-to-water heat pumps come in two main types: monobloc and split systems. Here are their main features and differences:
A monoblock heat pump is a single outdoor unit that houses all the main components: compressor, condenser, expansion valve and evaporator.
Modern monoblocks use the more environmentally friendly refrigerant R290, which allows the heating medium (usually an antifreeze solution) to be heated to about +75°C. It is sufficient for efficient home heating and hot water supply.
Advantages of a monoblock:
Disadvantages of monobloc:
Advantages of a split system:
Split systems consist of two units.
The outdoor unit contains a compressor and condenser, while the indoor hydronic module contains an expansion valve and a plate heat exchanger that heats the heat transfer fluid that circulates through pipes between the units.
Disadvantages of a split system:
So, a monoblock is easier to install and can reach higher temperatures, but it is bulkier. A split system is more compact but has limitations on installation, maximum temperature, needs condensate drainage and is limited by pipe length.
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