This is how air heaters work together with a heat pump

Air heaters heat a house much faster and more directly than, say, radiators. But until now, air heaters have generally been direct-fired and thus operate on gas. For sustainability, that heat would be better coming from a heat pump, which is why Brink Climate Systems is introducing a complete turnkey set of an air heater combined with a hybrid or all-electric heat pump from ATAG. Both units are perfectly matched.

Brink's Elan air heater heats the home using hot water that comes from a heat pump. 'There is a heat exchanger in it, and we use that to create heated air,' says Albert van Lohuizen of Brink. 'It's a smart device that tracks the water temperature from the heat pump. There is a fan in it that sends the air through the heat exchanger, which modulates along with the temperature of the water sent out by the heat pump. This happens automatically; the user only has to set the thermostat to the desired temperature, just like any other system. The advantage of heating on air is that you can climateize the house very precisely.'

Can also cool

In addition to the Elan heating a home, it is also possible to cool a home in combination with a heat pump. 'The heat pump then supplies cool water, which the Elan then uses to cool the air,' says Lohuizen. 'In one of our types, that cooling block is integrated, complete with condensation drain. For the other units, you can put in a separate cooling block as an extension.'

Ventilate with the same air ducts

Because the home with an air heater already has air supply ducts to the living room and bedroom, for example, it is then only a small step to add WTW ventilation to the mix, Lohuizenen continues. 'That way with ventilation, no heat is lost and you still have a supply of fresh filtered air. It has combined controls and is all coordinated. Moreover, if you choose this solution, you can often get by with a smaller heat pump.'

Brink and ATAG

Cooperation with ATAG is obvious, as both companies are part of the Ariston Group. The kits come with a hybrid or all-electric ATAG Energion heat pump (5 kW, 8 kW and 12 kW).

An all-electric heat pump operates completely gas-free and is suitable for new construction and very well-insulated homes. A hybrid heat pump works in conjunction with a boiler (existing or new) and is highly suitable for use in existing homes. The kits are easy to install and provide home improvement with a higher energy label. All heat pumps are eligible for the ISDE subsidy for replacement.