Villa in Talamanca: Daikin Altherma 4 R290 with press-fit stainless

What was installed?

What was the challenge?

The house was under full renovation and had a gas boiler. The goal was an installation that would not need touching for many years:

• No combustion in the house: the heat pump replaces the boiler, and the gas and flue go.
• Plenty of hot water for a villa: 500 litres stored.
• A basement plant room, tidy and easy to maintain, with the units brought down and set in place.

Why a Daikin Altherma 4 with R290?

R290 is a natural refrigerant with a global warming potential of 0.02, compared with 675 for R32, and it is not affected by the European bans on fluorinated gases. We explain it in R290: the natural refrigerant.

The hydrokit compact indoor unit combines the hydraulic module and the hot water cylinder in one unit, which simplifies the plant room.

Why press-fit stainless steel pipework?

In the plant room, distribution was done in Geberit press-fit stainless steel. We chose it for three reasons:

• Durability: stainless steel does not rust inside.
• Water quality: it adds no rust to the circuit or the hot water.
• Speed of installation: joints are pressed, without soldering or flame, and every joint is the same as the last.

How is the heat distributed?

Through Uponor low-inertia underfloor heating with aluminium diffusers: it takes up little height and responds faster than a floor with a thick screed. It is the emitter that makes best use of a heat pump, because it works with lukewarm water. More in underfloor heating and heat pumps.

Controls are Airzone Acuazone, which regulates the underfloor heating by zone: each room at its own temperature.

What did the installation include?

• Supply of the outdoor and indoor units.
• Hydraulic installation in the plant room, with supports and thermal insulation.
• Safety and control set: isolation valves, non-return valves, dirt filter, magnetic filter, air vents, pressure gauges and thermometers.
• Heating and hot water expansion vessels, with their safety group and thermostatic mixing valve.
• Drains and condensate removal.
• Power and control wiring in the plant room.
• Plinth, anti-vibration mounts and fixings.
• Transport and placing of the units in the basement.
• Filling, bleeding, pressure test, configuration and commissioning for heating and hot water.
• Technical documentation and a walkthrough for the client.

What is the result?