Heat pumps
Heat pump installation and servicing in Stellenbosch and the Winelands
A heat pump heats your geyser water using a fraction of the electricity an element uses. ProSol installs heat pumps on new and existing geysers, converts electric geysers to heat pump, and services and repairs them across Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek, Somerset West and the surrounding towns.
- Since 2013
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How much electricity a heat pump saves
A heat pump moves heat out of the air into the water rather than making it from electricity. A good one delivers three to four units of heat for every unit of electricity it uses, a figure called the coefficient of performance (COP). On the coast it sits near the top of that range; on cold inland nights, lower.
Heat pump or solar geyser?
Both cut the geyser’s share of your electricity bill. Which one wins depends on the house:
| Solar geyser | Heat pump | |
|---|---|---|
| Running cost | Close to nothing in sun; the element tops up in poor weather | About a quarter to a third of an element’s electricity |
| Needs | A sunny, unshaded roof facing roughly north | A ventilated spot outside or in a large roof space |
| Works at night | Only from stored heat | Yes |
| Best for | Most family homes with a good roof | Shaded or heritage roofs, guest houses, high steady demand |
Converting an electric geyser to a heat pump
Most conversions keep the existing geyser as the tank. We mount the heat pump outside, run insulated flow and return pipes to the geyser, and wire the controls so the element stays off unless it is needed. If the geyser itself is near the end of its life, we replace it in the same visit rather than coming back.
Servicing
A heat pump needs a yearly service: clean the evaporator fins, check the refrigerant pressures and the water flow, clear the condensate drain and test the controls. Neglected units lose efficiency slowly, so the bill creeps up before anything visibly fails. We install and service ITS heat pumps.
Questions people ask
Is a heat pump worth it?
For most households yes, if hot water is a large part of the electricity bill. A heat pump uses roughly a quarter to a third of the electricity an element uses for the same hot water.
Are heat pumps noisy?
A domestic heat pump makes about as much noise as an air conditioner’s outdoor unit. We place it away from bedroom windows and the neighbour’s wall.
Can a heat pump work with my existing geyser?
Usually yes. Most installs keep the existing geyser as the storage tank, provided it is in good condition.
Does a heat pump use more electricity than a geyser?
No, far less. A heat pump uses roughly a quarter to a third of the electricity an element uses for the same hot water, because it moves heat out of the air instead of making it.
What is the main disadvantage of a heat pump?
It costs more to buy and install than an element, it has moving parts that need a yearly service, it makes about as much noise as an air conditioner’s outdoor unit, and it works less efficiently on cold nights.
Related
- Solar water heater installationSolar geysers installed, retrofitted and serviced in Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek and Somerset West since 2013. Thermosyphon and split systems.
- Geyser repair and replacementBurst or failing geyser in Stellenbosch, Somerset West or Paarl? ProSol repairs and replaces geysers to SANS 10254, with the certificate your insurer asks for.
- Solar PV geyser and backup power installationPV panels that heat your geyser straight off the sun, plus inverter and battery backup sized to what you use. Stellenbosch and Cape Winelands.
Where we do this
What customers say
“During the huge April 2024 storm in Stellenbosch, I phoned Malan at Prosol on Sunday morning. I had thought with so many houses damaged here, it would be nearly impossible to get help at short notice. By 10 am his two men were here.”
“Prosol plumbing is very proffesional, efficient and cares about their ckients. They are very reliable and the staff is very patient and pay attention to detail.”
“Malan & his Prosol team were commented as being very professional and efficient with the geyser install at Consol Shop Stellenbosch.”
Tell us what’s wrong. We’ll tell you what it takes.
Phone for anything urgent, at any hour. Otherwise send a photo and a few words on WhatsApp, and Malan comes back to you with what it needs. Planned work gets a free written estimate before we start.