The difference between a condensing boiler and a heat pump lies in the way the heat is produced. A boiler can only provide the level of heat provided by the quantity and heating value of the fuel. On the other hand, a heat pump is not restricted in this way with regard to energy input. With suitable operating temperatures and fluids, a heat pump can carry huge amounts of heat compared to the same amount of electricity.

A good heat pump produces a lot of ambient heat for very little operating energy (electricity): up to 5 kWh of thermal energy is produced from 1 kWh of electricity.

The heat pump also does not use fossil fuels and does not emit combustion gases into the environment.

A heat pump not only provides heating when it is cold, but can also be used to cool rooms when it is hot.

Depending on the type of pump, it can be installed in various locations: inside the house in a technical room, in the basement, or on the landing; or outside the house, on the balcony, etc.

The specialist technicians look for the most appropriate solution for any type of house, and for the particular needs in terms of heating, cooling and air purification. As far as possible, the pump can be installed where the customer chooses, while also observing any structural or regulatory constraints (e.g. for buildings in historic centres).

There are no special requirements for installing a heat pump.

We advise you to contact a company that offers a wide range of heat pump systems, to meet the needs of different types of home.

Clivet can recommend the right heat pump for a new-build home with almost zero energy consumption; for a condominium; for houses where you cannot make any changes to the exterior, and for houses with old systems or fitted with radiators.

Installing a heat pump is worthwhile because:

• It reduces your heating bill by half compared to a condensing boiler;
• it provides heat for heating and cooling with a single unit;
• It uses renewable energy and, therefore, meets the requirements of Legislative Decree 28/2011 on the use of renewable thermal energy for new-build homes with reduced investment costs compared to solutions such as boiler + solar thermal systems;
• it does not use fossil fuels or release emissions from combustion into the environment;
• a heat pump does away with the need for a solar thermal system since the heat pump already covers the share of renewable energy required by law;

• heat pumps allow access to various incentives.

There are different types of incentives and tax deductions depending on the country. Get in touch with your local heating engineer for more information.  

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The costs of a heat pump system vary depending on the power needed to heat and cool the building and therefore also on the size and insulation of the building.

There are heat pumps that incorporate all the elements of the system such as the storage tank for domestic hot water, or heat pumps that require external installation of the elements required to complete the system.

Reversible heat pumps are not only used for heating in winter, but also for cooling in summer, ensuring comfort all year round.

You simply need to reverse the work cycle of the unit.

The system is therefore also more economical to set up as it does away with the need for an air conditioner. This is because the heat pump produces chilled air.

For the correct sizing of a heat pump, the following must be considered:

• insulation of the building
• climate area
• heated spaces
• number of inhabitants
• type of terminals (radiant panels, fan coils, radiators).

These assessments must be carried out with the advice of specialised technicians contacted through the Clivet sales network.

The heat pumps allow you to save on heating, reducing energy consumption and therefore costs by up to 50% compared to a condensing boiler.

Although powered by electricity, these units use renewable energy, because they transfer heat from an external source to the environment to be air-conditioned or to the water of a heating circuit.

In particular, air-air and air-water heat pumps take heat from the outdoor air, while water-water or ground-water heat pumps take it from water (groundwater, lake, river or sea) or from the ground, by means of a geothermal probe.

With a heat pump, moreover, there are no direct emissions of C02, while indirect emissions from our electrical system for the generation of electricity are reduced by about 50%.