Heating

As climate conditions in South Africa can differ substantially among the different parts of the country heating methods are varying widely. Movable open and oil fired fireplaces in the warmer regions, electrical driven radiators and floor heating in newer modernized apartments are in use as well as high power European style boiler systems in the mountain regions.
Most heating devices are electrically driven. Electrical heating is known to be the least efficient alternative and often leads to power sheddings in South Africa in case of cold weather conditions and rising demand for heating. A change to a much more efficient heating technology could improve the prevailing situation.
Efficient Heating by means of a heat pump – preferably in connection with an European style (water driven) underfloor heating system is the solution: more than 750,000 installations in private homes, offices and industrial complexes in Germany and Switzerland are proving the advantages of the technology.

Such a system is using lower water temperatures (30-35°C) than radiators or fan coils for heating which makes it much more efficient than traditional installations. Fan coils for example need 55-60°C for heating. As an underfloor heating system is using the whole mass of the floor material (screed, tiles…) it works like a buffer or battery for energy and can easily perform even if there is a power outage for a decent time.

In case of the absence of a UFH/UFC system traditional fan coils or cassettes of every size can be serviced with hot water via a simple closed loop and up to 4 different service temperatures can be provided by a single heat pump.