Do Heat Pumps Use Refrigerant?

Heat pumps are fast becoming a go-to solution for homes and businesses across the UK. While they’ve already become a standard heating option in Scandinavian countries, UK adoption rates have steadily increased.

As more households move away from traditional fossil fuels and embrace heat pumps, it’s important to understand how they work. Heat pumps have numerous components, but refrigerant is one of the most important.

In this blog post, we’ll explore how refrigerants work in heat pumps, the different types available and environmental considerations.

How do heat pumps work?

Before exploring refrigerants in heat pumps, we need to understand how these heating and cooling systems work. Heat pumps don’t burn fossil fuels; they collect heat from a natural source and transfer it to your property.

Heating mode works by extracting heat from the ground, air, or water and transferring it indoors. In contrast, cooling mode reverses the process by removing heat from the property and diverting it outside.

Both processes are only possible due to a refrigeration cycle, which has four components:

1. Compressor: The refrigerant will enter the compressor as a low-pressure gas, but its pressure and temperature gradually increase due to the compressor. The process turns it into a high-temperature and pressure gas.
2. Condenser: Once the gas reaches its optimal temperature, it flows into a condenser and releases heat into the environment. This process ensures that the gas can condense into a liquid.
3. Expansion Valve: When the refrigerant leaves the condenser, it passes through the expansion valve, which decreases the pressure and temperature.
4. Evaporator: The evaporator then absorbs heat as the refrigerant evaporates into gas.

It’s this cycle that facilitates the dual functionality of heat pump technology, enabling properties to benefit from ongoing heating and cooling.

So, what is refrigerant?

Refrigerant is a chemical compound that can change between liquid and gas. It’s a vital component of heating and cooling systems, as it maintains consistent temperatures and facilitates heat transfer.

Heat pump refrigerant has unique characteristics, including:

• Thermal Properties: Refrigerants are renowned for absorbing and releasing heat, which means a small amount of refrigerant can transfer large amounts of energy. These thermal properties are one of the reasons why heat pumps offer significant energy savings.
• Non-Corrosiveness: To avoid damage to the system’s components, all heat pump refrigerants must be non-corrosive. Using a corrosive option could damage the evaporator, compressor and condenser, resulting in expensive replacements.
• Stability: Refrigerants maintain their stability under different operating conditions, ensuring they continue to perform throughout the lifecycle.

What are the types of refrigerants used in heat pumps?

Each refrigerant type is categorised based on its potential environmental impact and chemical composition. An older heating system will use a less efficient refrigerant than modern systems, so it’s worth considering upgrading to the latest heat pump technology.

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

HFCs are the most popular heat pump refrigerants as they’re less harmful to the ozone layer and more sustainable than older refrigerants.

The most common types available are R-134a and R-410A. While both are more sustainable than chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), each HFC has various levels of GWP (global warming potential). For this reason, there are international efforts to phase out the use of HFCs for more environmentally friendly refrigerants.

(HCFCs). However, HFCs have varying levels of global warming potential (GWP), which has led to growing concerns about their environmental impact. Efforts are underway globally to phase down their use in favour of more sustainable alternatives.

Hydrocarbons (HCs)

Propane (R-290) and isobutane (R-600a) are two forms of hydrocarbons. These natural refrigerants have a minimal environmental impact and won’t contribute to ozone depletion. With negligent global warming potential, HCs are one of the more sustainable options for heat pumps.

The main downside is their flammability, which means heat pump manufacturers must take special steps to handle isobutane and propane safely.

Natural Refrigerants

Natural refrigerants are becoming more popular due to their sustainability and minimal environmental impact. For example, ammonia is already used for numerous industrial applications, while carbon dioxide has a very low GWP rating of just 1.

A modern heating system designed with robust safety measures can accommodate an ammonia-based refrigerant, but it can be toxic when mishandled.

Each refrigerant offers unique benefits, and all of the above are more sustainable than chlorofluorocarbons, which you’ll find in older air-source heat pumps or a traditional air conditioner.

Do heat pump refrigerants require lots of maintenance?

Heat pumps offer a range of benefits, but the most important are energy efficiency and a positive impact on the environment. Opting for modern systems will also decrease the electricity consumption of heat pumps, leading to lower energy bills.

You may wonder whether a heat pump refrigerant requires much maintenance, but heat pumps are sealed systems, so they shouldn’t require refilling.

However, a refrigerant leakage will require attention from a professional technician. Maintaining your heat pump and taking the following steps can help you spot potential leaks before they damage the heat pump and impact its performance:

• When considering heat pumps, home installation services are the best way to ensure your system reaches its full potential. Certified technicians also know how to handle refrigerants in heat pumps safely.
• Schedule annual inspections by accredited HVAC professionals. A professional can identify potential refrigerant fluid leaks and fix the issue before it worsens.
• Clean the components of your heat pump – including fans, filters, and coils to maintain efficiency and ensure adequate airflow.
• Never leave a potential issue to worsen. Most heat pumps should maintain consistent performance levels; decreases could often mean something’s not working.

Final thoughts

In the UK, heat pumps will continue to grow in popularity as more people realise their benefits when compared to traditional heating and cooling options. As technology continues to advance, we can expect to see more heat pumps utilising the most sustainable refrigerant choices.

If you want to install a heat pump, please contact us for a free quote.