Monobloc v Split System Heat Pumps

29 Jul.,2024

 

Monobloc v Split System Heat Pumps

So you&#;ve decided that an air source heat pump is right for you (rather than their ground source heat pump counterparts), and you were hoping that would be the end of the decision-making, right? Not just yet. But don&#;t worry, even though the different air source heat pump types can feel like you&#;ve opened another can of worms, it isn&#;t so complicated, especially when experts like us here at Heat Pumps UK are guiding you through it all. 

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When it comes to air source heat pumps, there are two main types. Here we outline monobloc v split system heat pump types, including what each does, how they differ, plus their pros and cons, so you can make an informed choice of which is best for your home. 

What Are Monobloc Heat Pumps? 

Monobloc heat pumps work like all other air to water heat pumps in that they draw on the heat from the ambient temperatures of the outside air to heat a home, and expel that heat when cooling a home. But the reason a monobloc heat pump system gets its name is how the system does its job. 

A monobloc air source heat pump is a complete package in a single unit that is stored outside of the property. The compressor, heat exchanger and water are all contained in this single outdoor unit and connects directly to the home&#;s central heating system which can be controlled with a thermostat indoors. 

What Are Split System Heat Pumps? 

A split system heat pump system &#; as you might have already guessed &#; does exactly the same job, but across more than one unit. The system is effectively split between separate units, hence the name. Here, a condenser collects the heat from the air outdoors, before sending heated gas to an indoor unit inside the home, where the water is then heated and the radiators or underfloor heating heat up, too. 

Monobloc v Split System Heat Pumps: How They Differ 

So, the main difference is the way the system actually works. The end result will be the same: a warmer home using renewable green energy, rather than fossil fuels. But the journey is the difference. 

With a monobloc system everything happens in the same unit and the water is heated outdoors before moving inside your house to heat it. With split heat pumps the process is split in two, where the heat from the air is separated and sent indoors where it will then heat the water for your heating system. 

Pros & Cons Of Monobloc Heat Pumps

Pros 

There are many positives with monobloc heat pumps, which is part of the reason they are so popular. 

Don&#;t Take Up Indoor Space 

Space inside the home often comes at a premium, so any heating system that doesn&#;t require indoor units will already be appealing to many. The fact that a monobloc heat pump only requires one unit, and that unit is installed outdoors, is a huge benefit over split systems or even conventional heating systems. 

One Unit Maintenance 

An all-in-one unit will always be easier to maintain and troubleshoot than a system that&#;s split across multiple units &#; that&#;s just basic engineering. If something goes wrong with your heat pump, with a monobloc system it usually will be fixed much sooner than a split heat pump system. 

Quick Installation

Self-contained monobloc units are much quicker to install because of their all-in-one nature. They don&#;t connect at multiple points &#; just a simple installation to work with your current central heating system. Because they are so easy to install, it takes less time for a heat pump installer to get the system up and running, and therefore they&#;re even cheaper to install. 

Cons

There are, of course, some drawbacks to monobloc heat pumps too.

Unique Installation Requirements 

Since monobloc systems connect directly to your current central heating system, the single unit needs to be installed at a specific place on the outside of your property where it can be connected easily. There is practically zero flexibility here, too, meaning if you don&#;t have the space outdoors to install it where it needs to be, then you simply can&#;t have a monobloc heat pump system installed. 

Size Of The System 

Whilst an all-in-one system has many benefits, one thing that can&#;t be changed is the sheer size of the unit. So much technology has to fit into the single unit, making it much larger than split systems which consist of two much smaller units. These larger systems then need to fit in your outdoor space, taking up a significant amount of room, and monobloc heat pumps need additional space around the unit for it to work efficiently. 

Louder Operation

A monobloc heat pump has all of its technology inside one large unit, and because of that, they usually make more noise than a split system heat pump. If your system is going to be installed in a place where the noise won&#;t bother you, then it&#;s less of a concern, but it&#;s certainly worth bearing in mind.

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Pros & Cons Of Split System Heat Pumps 

Pros 

Split heat pumps also have their benefits.

Integrated Domestic Hot Water 

Plenty of split system air source heat pumps come with an integrated hot water storage tank included (notice we said plenty not all). This means that you can get hot running water for your home as standard, but most monobloc systems will need a separate hot water cylinder in order to provide you with domestic hot water as well as heat. Having a water tank incorporated saves on space, whilst also being much more convenient for you. 

More Flexible Installation 

Unlike monobloc heat pump systems, there is much greater flexibility when it comes to where the units can actually be installed. It&#;s only the indoor unit that actually connects to the central heating system, but the outdoor unit can go almost wherever you like. That means less noise and greater flexibility, so you can place it somewhere that&#;s truly convenient for you. 

Smaller Units

Splitting the system allows for two much smaller units than a monobloc system can have. And whilst, yes, that does mean you need to find space for two units rather than one, they&#;re much smaller and more convenient to house &#; both indoors and outdoors. Their smaller sizes also contribute to their quiet operation, too. 

Cons

As with anything, split heat pumps also have a number of drawbacks that must be considered before purchasing. 

Requires An Indoor Unit

Whilst we&#;ve already highlighted the benefits of installing two smaller systems, there&#;s no denying that having to find space for a unit inside can be frustrating. Thankfully, most split system heat pumps can have their indoor unit installed where your old boiler once was. The problem comes if your split system heat pumps don&#;t have an integrated water tank (not all of them do). When this happens, you&#;ll need to find additional storage for a water tank inside your home, creating a bit of a headache if your home is already limited on space. 

More Time Consuming Installation 

Split system heat pumps are slightly more complicated to install because of the separate units which will need your installer&#;s attention. Because of the added complexities, the installation will also take longer than a monobloc heat pump system, which will then push costs up a little more. 

Higher Upfront Costs

Speaking of costs, split system heat pumps are also just inherently more expensive than monobloc systems too. Their technology is a little more complex and therefore a little more expensive. With upfront and installation costs adding up, you can expect to pay more for a split system heat pump than a monobloc heat pump.

Which Heat Pump System Is Right For Me?

Choosing the right heat pump is important &#; get it right and you&#;ll be benefiting from a greener heating system in your home for years to come. When it comes to monobloc or split system heat pumps, it isn&#;t really you that gets to decide: it&#;s your house and its suitability for a specific type of heat pump. 

As we&#;ve already mentioned, both have installation requirements attached to them, meaning if you don&#;t have the outdoor space at a specific point on your exterior wall, then a monobloc system won&#;t work for you. Likewise, if you don&#;t have the interior space because you&#;ve opted for a split system heat pump without an integrated water storage tank, then it won&#;t be appropriate for you either. 

Your property ultimately determines the type of heat pump that is suitable for your home. If you&#;re unsure, contact a heat pump installer to carry out a home assessment to determine which heat pump system is best for you.

Trust Heat Pumps UK to put you in touch with the best heat pump installers in your area today. We can help you find out about available funding opportunities under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme plus finance options.  

Monobloc v Split System Heat Pumps: Final Verdict

Ultimately, neither system is necessarily better than the other. Both heat pumps will provide you with better air quality in your home, better regulated temperatures, improved energy efficiency, and all that whilst saving you money and reducing your carbon footprint.

By filling out your details with us today, we can put you in touch with heat pump installers in your area with the best deals. A quick inspection (usually free) from the installer you choose will tell you whether a monobloc or split system heat pump is best suited to your home, too, giving you added peace of mind that you&#;re making the right choice when installing a hot water heat pump at home!

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Monobloc air source heat pump

Air source heat pumps are a reliable, energy-efficient solution for heating, air conditioning and hot water supply. These systems use free energy from the surrounding air to generate heat, which is many times more economical than traditional heating systems, such as gas or pellet boilers. Air-to-water heat pumps come in two types of systems: monoblock and split. In this article, we will look at the air-to-water heat pump of the monoblock type, its features and differences in comparison with the split system.

Monoblock heat pump for heating and cooling 

Monoblock heat pumps have a single compact unit that contains all the components of the refrigeration system, including the compressor, evaporator, and condenser. This integrated design eliminates the need for refrigeration pipework connections between indoor and outdoor units, simplifying installation and reducing potential refrigerant leaks. Monobloc heat pumps are particularly suitable for indoor installation, giving homeowners greater flexibility in placement.


Key features of the air-to-water monoblock heat pump

  • Simplified installation, as installers do not need to obtain a special permit to use refrigerant.

  • No risk of refrigerant leakage, as it is supplied already charged and closed in the circuit.
  • Flexible installation - the use of wide pipes allows for virtually unlimited distance between the outdoor and indoor units


Comparison of monoblock and split systems


The choice between a monobloc air-to-water heat pump and a split system depends on several factors, including the specific requirements of your home and the climate conditions.


Monoblocs are generally the better choice for most homes due to their ease of installation and ability to be installed on properties of any size. Compared to split systems, which have certain restrictions on the distance between the heat pump elements (indoor and outdoor module), monoblocks offer more flexibility. Mostly, monoblock heat pumps are used in countries with mild climates where there are no critical low temperatures. This situation is due to the fact that the heat carrier circulating in the pipelines between the outdoor unit and the house is water, and in the event of an emergency power outage, there is a risk of freezing of the heat carrier in the outdoor unit or pipes.


For countries with colder climates and unstable power supply, when using monoblock heat pumps, it is recommended to use a non-freezing solution, such as polypropylene glycol, instead of water or to install uninterruptible power supply systems that ensure stable operation of the system even in case of a power outage. However, it should be remembered that the use of glycol reduces the efficiency of the heat pump, because the non-freezing solution has worse thermal characteristics than water.  Unlike a monoblock, a split system has no restrictions related to the danger of freezing when the power is turned off at low outside temperatures. Let's take a closer look at the features of using a split air-water heat pump in the article "Air-water split heat pump".


What can Hajster NEBO mono heat pumps do?

  • For Efficient heating down to -20 °C (at low temperatures, the backup electric heating element is switched on);

  • High COP (ratio of heating/cooling to electricity consumption) - 5.05;

  • &#;&#;Integrated energy efficiency meter;

  • Low noise level of the heat pump - no more than ... dB.

  • Colour touchscreen display of our design;

  • Remote control of the heat pump;

  • &#;&#;Inverter technology of compressor operation (economical regulation of heat output according to environmental conditions) 

  • &#;&#;Ozone-friendly R290 refrigerant;

  • Warranty - 5 years



Advantages of Hajster heat pumps:

  • For Official 5-year warranty for all products.
  • 24/7 service support with the possibility of individual problem solving.
  • A complete solution for heating, cooling and hot water: Hajster Nebo mono and Hajster Nebo split air-to-water heat pumps and Hajster GRUNT geothermal heat pumps.
  • A feature of Hajster's monoblock heat pumps is the presence of an integrated anti-freeze system that protects the system from damage due to low temperatures during power outages.

The Hajster NEBO split and Hajster NEBO mono air-to-water heat pumps are advanced solution for those who value quality equipment and low bills. 


Do you have any questions? Contact Hajster experts: they will provide a detailed answer and select an individual solution. Save your time - turn to professionals!