6 ASSOCIATIONS
Qualified plumbers help property owners realise full benefit of heat pumps
By
IOPSA
Heat pumps have become extremely popular considering the significant savings in electricity that they provide property owners – whether for industrial , commercial or residential applications .
However , there are many important factors that need to be considered when installing and maintaining this equipment to ensure that it continues to provide maximum benefit over its between 15- and 20- year life span . High quality heat pumps that have been correctly installed and maintained have even significantly exceeded their design life , with property owners usually seeing a return on their investment within three to 10 years . This pay-back period is becoming shorter when considering the rising cost of electricity .
“ This technology can heat the same amount of water as a conventional electric water-heating system using just a third or a quarter of the electricity required by the latter , saving property owners between 30 % and 70 % on their monthly utility bill . The technology is also 50 % more cost-effective than gas and oil boilers to operate . Unlike solar water heaters , they also operate efficiently at any time of day as they are only slightly affected by variations in temperature . Moreover , heat pumps can be easier to install and because they only require minor servicing , they are very cost-effective to own . However , when they have not been installed and maintained correctly , they can actually cost the property owner a lot of money , undoing their intended benefits , which is to reduce electricity bills and the carbon footprint of
a premises . It is , therefore , imperative to always use a professional plumber to install and service this equipment ,” Brendan Reynolds , Executive Director of the Institute of Plumbing South Africa ( IOPSA ), says . IOPSA is the official voice of the local professional plumbing industry and comprises a strong membership of plumbers who are committed to quality workmanship . Many of these members also Brendan Reynolds specialise in the installation of heat pumps for a variety of applications . They have installed and are maintaining heat pumps for hotels , hostels , hospitals , schools , office blocks and universities , as well as for a host of industrial applications , including change houses and laundromats . This is in addition to the many systems that have been installed and are being serviced for homeowners . Bear in mind that it is a legal
IOPSA www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline June 2022 Volume 28 I Number 4