Chiller heat pumps

What are chillers and heat pumps for systems?

Chillers, or water chillers, are units that produce chilled water to feed hydronic air-conditioning systems, while heat pumps can work in both cooling and heating, exchanging energy with the air or with water. They are the heart of centralised systems, where high capacities and continuous operation are required, from offices to hotels to production warehouses. In this category you will find 230 products, all in stock, with prices from about 1,735 to 11,880 euros.

Chiller or heat pump: how to choose

The cooling-only chiller is designed for those who need to cool large volumes or chill technological processes. The reversible heat pump, on the other hand, covers the whole year, because in winter it delivers heat to the system and in summer it removes it. The choice depends on the building's thermal demand, the type of terminals installed and whether domestic hot water needs to be produced. For mixed systems, the heat pump is often paired with a condensing boiler in a hybrid configuration.

Capacity in kW and sizing

Unlike residential splits, here the capacity is expressed in kW and must be sized on the building's real thermal load. The broad guidelines are as follows:

• from 4 to 16 kW: small tertiary sector, shops, homes with underfloor systems.
• from 16 to 40 kW: medium-sized offices, commercial premises, B&Bs.
• from 40 to 80 kW: hotels, gyms, multi-family buildings.
• over 80 kW: warehouses, shopping centres, centralised systems.

Excessive oversizing makes the unit work poorly and raises consumption, so it is always best to start from an accurate load calculation.

Terminals and system types

The water produced by the chiller or heat pump feeds fan coils, underfloor radiant panels or coils in air-handling units. These terminals belong to the world of heating and hydronic air conditioning, different from that of direct-expansion air conditioners. For domestic hot water production combined with the system, also consider heat pump water heaters.

The brands available for the commercial sector

In the catalogue you will find the manufacturers most present in the systems sector, with official warranty and available spare parts: Ferroli, Aermec, Climaveneta, Clivet, Daikin and Hisense. These are brands chosen by designers and installers precisely for their performance at high capacities and in continuous operation.

Seasonal efficiency and running costs

On a system that works many hours a year, efficiency makes the difference on the bill. For chillers you look at the seasonal indices in cooling, for heat pumps those in heating: the higher they are, the lower the energy absorbed for the same output. Inverter technology, now widespread also in the medium sizes, modulates the capacity on the actual load and avoids the continuous start-ups typical of on/off units, reducing consumption and compressor wear.

Purchase, installation and support

As these are technical machines, installation requires correct sizing, the hydraulic connection to the system and commissioning by qualified personnel. The units are in stock and we have dedicated support for sizing and after-sales. If you are looking for promotional solutions, take a look at the active offers. You may also benefit from tax incentives where applicable, such as reduced VAT for renovation work.

Frequently asked questions