FEATURE
37
Heat pumps:
Winter beckons like a warm blanket
By Eamonn Ryan
“Electricity
prices may
soon be going
through the
roof. It’s
therefore a
smart move
for plumbers
to suggest to
customers
to go for
alternatives
to their water
heating
needs.”
Winter – a cruel time for many, through affectionately known as
‘geyser season’ to plumbers – is approaching, as temperatures
start to plummet from April onwards. It’s also a time when lots
of insurance claims are made, and this holds the potential for
upgrading geysers to heat pumps.
Plumbers who are savvy enough to send regular
newsletters to customers should perhaps give
their customers advance notice of the option to
upgrade to a green, energy-saving heat pump
should they be one of the unfortunate ones whose
geyser pops. However, when that happens and
their water freezes, panicked homeowners rarely
think rationally – so the seed needs to be planted
well in advance.
Marketing of heat pumps
The challenge for growing the market share of
alternative water heating systems such as solar or
heat pumps, is that the ultimate user – the homeowner
– is never involved in either the decision to install or
its replacement. The plumber, in turn, is not going to
invest time in persuading a homeowner to go with
one system or another: he receives instructions and
it becomes a job like any other to be completed as
rapidly as possible – he’s not there to do a selling job
on alternative options.
Many insurers allow policyholders the option to pay in the
difference between the claim settlement and the cost of a
heat pump (or solar geyser). It’s still a hefty cost, but with
Eskom pushing the regulator for much steeper increases
in its tariff in 2020, electricity prices may soon be going
through the roof. It’s therefore a smart move for plumbers
to suggest to customers to go for alternatives to their
water heating needs. A heat pump can save up to 50% on
water heating costs and it’s a great step towards greener
living. And plumbers shouldn’t forget to remind customers
– once installed, they need to add the heat pump asset to
their building insurance cover.
The water heat pump market is being driven less
by this replacement market as by new residential
developments through the requirement that 50% of
energy in developments must derive from alternative
energy sources, stipulated by SANS standard 10400-XA.
However, this has so far had little impact on the installed
pool of traditional geysers. Insurance could be the spur to
this market need.
Supplier companies involved in this business include: SA
Heat Pump Engineers; Heat Tech. Kwikot, Stiebel Eltron;
Thermowise; GMC; Alliance Air.
March 2020 Volume 26 I Number 01
Energy-efficient water heating devices such as heat
pumps and solar heaters cost roughly double what a
geyser does – but they can pay for themselves within two
to five years based on various factors such as usage. For
those with the spare cash, it is worth it in the long run.
Stiebel Eltron heap pump equipment.
www.plumbingafrica.co.za