Indoor heat pumps
Indoor heat pumps are used in homes where an outdoor unit is not desirable or possible. Consider renovations, apartments, or situations with limited outdoor space. The heat pump is located entirely indoors, usually in a technical room or storage area.
How does a heat pump work without an outdoor unit?
An air/water heat pump without an outdoor unit extracts heat from a source and converts it via a refrigeration cycle into usable energy for heating and hot water.
The source can consist of:
- Outdoor air via ventilation ducts between dwelling and outside
- Ground energy via a closed or open loop system
- Water from a spring or aquifer system
In airborne systems, air is channelled to and from the outside. The heat pump uses this air as an energy source. In ground and water-based systems, energy is supplied via a liquid circuit.
The generated heat is used for:
- Space heating, for example via underfloor heating
- Tap water
- Or a combination of both
What does an indoor setup look like in practice?
The heat pump market is currently in full development regarding indoor installations. As a result, more and more models and versions without an outdoor unit are appearing on the market. The exact installation depends on the type of system, the available space, and how heating and hot water are configured.
In many cases, the indoor unit is located in a technical room or storage area. From there, air ducts run to the roof or facade for air supply and extraction.
This setup requires good coordination of channels, connections, and conduits. Especially in compact spaces, it's important that everything is logically placed and remains easily accessible.
The indoor unit is often combined with:
- A buffer tank for stable operation of the heating system
- A domestic hot water storage cylinder
- Or an integrated system in which multiple functions are combined
This results in a solution that suits the property and is practical to implement.
Solutions suitable for indoor heat pumps
For heat pumps without an outdoor unit, we offer system solutions that help to carry out installations properly and practically.
Burgerhout Elytra Combined Roof Flue
The Burgerhout Elytra combined roof duct has been developed for indoor air/water heat pumps without an outdoor unit. This roof duct combines air supply and exhaust air into a single solution.
Advantages
- Fewer parts on the roof
- Compact design suitable for both renovation and new construction
- Water and airtight connection
- Easy and quick to install by one mechanic
The Elytra combined roof terminal is used in situations where air is supplied to and extracted from the roof. The combination of functions keeps the installation compact and manageable.