Heat pumps are the heating systems of the future. According to estimates by the Polish Organization for the Development of Heat Pump Technology, in the first half of 2023 they already accounted for more than 60% of heating equipment sold to single-family buildings.
New solutions from manufacturers increasingly allow heat pumps to be used also in retrofitted multifamily and commercial buildings. To connect outdoor and indoor units of monoblock air-to-water heat pumps, contractors can successfully use Viega press systems. This makes installation extremely simple, efficient and safe.
One of the most popular variants of installing air-to-water heat pumps is to place the outdoor unit close to the wall of the building, which minimizes the length of pipes needed to connect to the indoor unit. This saves material, and the entire piping installation can usually be done using the same system. In the case of limited space between the wall of the house and the heat pump housing, press connections, made with handy Viega press tools with rotating heads and articulated jaws, are ideal.
Quick and convenient connection of air/water heat pumps with Viega systems
© VIEGA
Pipe material selection
Even if only a short section of the piping system is exposed to the weather (when the unit is located against a building wall), only corrosion-resistant materials should be used. Thus, unalloyed steel will not be a suitable solution. The economical Viega Temponox system will perform much better in such a situation. The press fittings are made of stainless steel 1.4301, and the pipes are made of stainless steel 1.4520. This product was developed specifically for closed heating and cooling circuits. It is not suitable for domestic water installations, unlike Viega's second Sanpress Inox stainless steel system, which can be used both for drinking water and for connecting heat pumps. This solution will be optimal if, for example, all other installations in the building are already designed with the Sanpress Inox system.
Quick and convenient connection of air/water heat pumps with Viega systems
© VIEGA
To prevent confusion between the two stainless steel Viega systems when working on site, the entire Temponox range is clearly labeled with two brown lines on the pipes and dots of the same color on the fittings. The fittings additionally have the symbol of a crossed-out faucet (not suitable for domestic water) and easily felt finger notches on the ends.
When installing heat pumps, stainless steel pipes can also be connected with Sanpress fittings made of silicon bronze. Still another solution is to use copper pipes and press fittings of the Profipress system.
Guaranteed safety with SC-Contur
Regardless of the material used, all Viega fittings are equipped with the characteristic SC-Contur profile. In an unpressed state, they always remain leak-free. Thanks to this solution, any mistakenly unpressed connection will be immediately detected during the central leak test. Once properly pressed, the fittings become reliably leak-proof. This provides additional safety when installing a heat pump system.
Quick and convenient connection of air-to-water heat pumps with Viega systems
© VIEGA
Summary
All forecasts indicate that the heat pump market will continue to grow rapidly. On the one hand, more environmentally conscious consumers are increasingly looking for sustainable and economical heating solutions. On the other hand, the European Union and member governments are promoting RES technologies for heating buildings. The shortage of specialized installation companies is considered to be one of the most serious problems limiting the growth opportunities of the heat pump market. However, when it comes to piping installation, HVAC contractors can use ready-made and proven solutions. Viega's popular press-fit systems are ideal for connecting monoblock heat pumps.
