--- title: Things to consider when choosing a heat pump for commercial buildings description: Choosing the right heat pump demands proper care and consideration. The variables affecting the performance and efficiency are numerous, and striking the optimal balance between application, performance and cost can be tricky. image: https://blog.swegon.com/hubfs/thingstocons.png --- [![](https://www.swegon.com/Static/img/logo.svg?v=3)](https://www.swegon.com/) Menu - [Solutions & services](https://www.swegon.com/solutions-and-services/) - [Products](https://www.swegon.com/products/) - [References & Insights](https://www.swegon.com/references-and-insights/) - [Support & software](https://www.swegon.com/support/) - [Sustainability](https://www.swegon.com/sustainability/) - [Why Swegon?](https://www.swegon.com/why-swegon/) - [Product Search](https://www.swegon.com/product-search-result/) - [Document Search](https://www.swegon.com/support/find-documents/) - [Career](https://www.swegon.com/career/) - Global - [Contact](https://www.swegon.com/contact/) ## Choose a market [Or visit our global site](https://www.swegon.com) - [Belgium - French](https://www.swegon.com/fr-be/) - [Belgium - Dutch](https://www.swegon.com/nl-be/) - [Denmark](https://www.swegon.com/da/) - [Finland](https://www.swegon.com/fi/) - [France](https://www.swegon.com/fr/) - [Italy](https://www.swegon.com/it/) - [Germany](https://www.swegon.com/de/) - [Norway](https://www.swegon.com/no/) - [Poland](https://www.swegon.com/pl/) - [Spain](https://www.swegon.com/es/) - [Sweden](https://www.swegon.com/sv/) - [Switzerland - German](https://www.swegon.com/de-ch/) - [Switzerland - French](https://www.swegon.com/fr-ch/) - [Switzerland - Italian](https://www.swegon.com/it-ch/) - [United Kingdom](https://www.swegon.com/uk/) - [United States](https://www.swegonnorthamerica.com) - [Canada](http://swegonnorthamerica.com/) Explore ## Filter articles ### By topics - [Indoor Climate Knowledge (56)](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/indoor-climate-knowledge) - [Cooling & Heating (27)](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/cooling-heating) - [Energy Efficiency (24)](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/energy-efficiency) - [Sustainability (23)](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/sustainability) - [Air Handling Units (22)](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/air-handling-units) - [Room Units (19)](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/room-units) - [Heat Pumps (12)](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/heat-pumps) - [Acoustics (9)](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/acoustics) - [Optimisation Systems (9)](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/optimisation-systems) - [Humidity (7)](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/humidity) - [Renovation (7)](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/renovation) - [Services & Connectivity (7)](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/services-connectivity) - [Knowledge (5)](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/knowledge) - [Schools (4)](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/schools) - [Software (4)](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/software) - [Air Quality (3)](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/air-quality) - [BIM (3)](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/bim) - [Gender Equality (3)](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/gender-equality) > Fler ### By authors - [![Alberto Ferrandi](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bild%20alberto.png?width=75&name=Bild%20alberto.png) Alberto Ferrandi 6](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/alberto-ferrandi) - [![Alberto Frison](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/alberto.jpg?width=75&name=alberto.jpg) Alberto Frison 2](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/alberto-frison) - [![Alessandro Lora](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/lora.webp?width=75&name=lora.webp) Alessandro Lora 3](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/alessandro-lora) - [![Alessandro Pinato](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/alessandro.webp?width=75&name=alessandro.webp) Alessandro Pinato 9](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/alessandro-pinato) - [![Anders Jakobsson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/andersj.png?width=75&name=andersj.png) Anders Jakobsson 3](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/anders-jakobsson) - [![Andreas Söderholm](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/andreassoderholm.webp?width=75&name=andreassoderholm.webp) Andreas Söderholm 1](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/andreas-söderholm) - [![Andreas Örje Wellstam](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/andreas-orje-wellstam.webp?width=75&name=andreas-orje-wellstam.webp) Andreas Örje Wellstam 5](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/andreas-örje-wellstam) - [![Anna Sundell](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Anna.jpg?width=75&name=Anna.jpg) Anna Sundell 1](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/anna-sundell) - [![Bastien Stocq](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bastien.png?width=75&name=Bastien.png) Bastien Stocq 1](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/bastien-stocq) - [![Björn Erlingsson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/bjornerling.png?width=75&name=bjornerling.png) Björn Erlingsson 1](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/björn-erlingsson) - [![Börje Lehrman](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Authors/SE-SV%20-%20PRO%20-%20BACV/B%C3%B6rje_Lehrman.jpg?width=75&name=B%C3%B6rje_Lehrman.jpg) Börje Lehrman 3](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/börje-lehrman) - [![Carl-Johan Strömwall](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/sigvardsson_220628_0008_small_webb%20(1).jpg?width=75&name=sigvardsson_220628_0008_small_webb%20(1).jpg) Carl-Johan Strömwall 1](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/carl-johan-strömwall) - [![Caroline Jacobsson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Authors/Caroline%20Jacobsson.jpg?width=75&name=Caroline%20Jacobsson.jpg) Caroline Jacobsson 15](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/caroline-jacobsson) - [![Elvis Kokot](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/elviskokot.png?width=75&name=elviskokot.png) Elvis Kokot 1](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/elvis-kokot) - [![Fabio Polo](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Fabio%20Polo-1.jpg?width=75&name=Fabio%20Polo-1.jpg) Fabio Polo 9](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/fabio-polo) - [![Francesco Artusi](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Francesco%20Artusi%20CUT.jpg?width=75&name=Francesco%20Artusi%20CUT.jpg) Francesco Artusi 1](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/francesco-artusi) - [![François Jouvray](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/francois%20Jouvray2.jpg?width=75&name=francois%20Jouvray2.jpg) François Jouvray 1](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/françois-jouvray) - [![Jan Scheuring](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Photo_Jan-1.jpeg?width=75&name=Photo_Jan-1.jpeg) Jan Scheuring 2](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/jan-scheuring) - [![John Wibrand](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/John%20Wibrand.jpg?width=75&name=John%20Wibrand.jpg) John Wibrand 2](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/john-wibrand) - [![Josh Emerson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Josh_Emerson_Headshot.jpg?width=75&name=Josh_Emerson_Headshot.jpg) Josh Emerson 1](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/josh-emerson) - [![Luca Filippetto](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Luca%20Filippetto%20Hubspot.jpg?width=75&name=Luca%20Filippetto%20Hubspot.jpg) Luca Filippetto 4](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/luca-filippetto) - [![Luca Zordan](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/lucazordan.png?width=75&name=lucazordan.png) Luca Zordan 1](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/luca-zordan) - [![Magnus Andersson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/magnus%20andersson_550x550%20(1).jpg?width=75&name=magnus%20andersson_550x550%20(1).jpg) Magnus Andersson 1](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/magnus-andersson) - [![Malin Höij](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/malinh.webp?width=75&name=malinh.webp) Malin Höij 5](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/malin-höij) - [![Markus Schomaker](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Dr.-Ing.%20Markus%20Schomaker_Quadratisch.jpg?width=75&name=Dr.-Ing.%20Markus%20Schomaker_Quadratisch.jpg) Markus Schomaker 1](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/markus) - [![Martin Ottersten](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Authors/Martin_Ottersten.jpg?width=75&name=Martin_Ottersten.jpg) Martin Ottersten 4](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/martin-ottersten) - [![Mike Ward](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Michael_Ward_photo.jpg?width=75&name=Michael_Ward_photo.jpg) Mike Ward 5](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/michael-ward) - [![Mikael Börjesson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Authors/Mikael%20B%C3%B6rjesson.jpg?width=75&name=Mikael%20B%C3%B6rjesson.jpg) Mikael Börjesson 30](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/mikael-börjesson) - [![Mirko Sauvan](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Swegon_Mirko%20Sauvan_web_3.jpg?width=75&name=Swegon_Mirko%20Sauvan_web_3.jpg) Mirko Sauvan 2](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/mirko-sauvan-1) - [![Niklas Jacobsson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/authorniklas.png?width=75&name=authorniklas.png) Niklas Jacobsson 2](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/niklas-jacobsson) - [![Paola Moschini](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/forfattare.webp?width=75&name=forfattare.webp) Paola Moschini 1](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/paola-moschini) - [![Philip Andersson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Philip_Andersson_pressbild_small_webb.jpg?width=75&name=Philip_Andersson_pressbild_small_webb.jpg) Philip Andersson 2](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/philip-andersson) - [![Robert Siverby](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/MicrosoftTeams-image%20(3)-4.png?width=75&name=MicrosoftTeams-image%20(3)-4.png) Robert Siverby 1](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/robert-siverby) - [![Stefan Lay](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/1517033472060.jpg?width=75&name=1517033472060.jpg) Stefan Lay 1](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/stefan-lay) - [![Swegon](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/swegsw-1.png?width=75&name=swegsw-1.png) Swegon 3](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/swegon) - [![Timo Schreck](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Timo%20Schreck.jpg?width=75&name=Timo%20Schreck.jpg) Timo Schreck 2](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/timo-schreck) - [![Tobias Nordström](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TobiasNordstromPHOTO.jpg?width=75&name=TobiasNordstromPHOTO.jpg) Tobias Nordström 5](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/tobias-nordström) - [![Tomi Laakso](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Authors/TomiLaakso.jpg?width=75&name=TomiLaakso.jpg) Tomi Laakso 1](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/tomi-laakso) - [![Tony Olsson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Tony%20Olsson.webp?width=75&name=Tony%20Olsson.webp) Tony Olsson 6](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/tony-olsson) - [![Tony Pettersson](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/tonyp.jpg?width=75&name=tonyp.jpg) Tony Pettersson 1](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/tony-pettersson) - [![Ulf Hörman](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Authors/Ulf%20H%C3%B6rman.jpg?width=75&name=Ulf%20H%C3%B6rman.jpg) Ulf Hörman 1](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/ulf-hörman) - [![Welat Han](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Welat%20Han.jpg?width=75&name=Welat%20Han.jpg) Welat Han 3](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/welat-han) - [![William Lawrance](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/William_lawrance.jpg?width=75&name=William_lawrance.jpg) William Lawrance 12](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/william-lawrance) - [![Åsa Norén-Lundh](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/A%CC%8Asa%20Nore%CC%81n-Lundh.webp?width=75&name=A%CC%8Asa%20Nore%CC%81n-Lundh.webp) Åsa Norén-Lundh 6](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/åsa-norén-lundh) Explore - - - [The Swegon Blog](https://blog.swegon.com/en?hsLang=en) Subscribe Share - - - Explore Share Subscribe [« go back](https://blog.swegon.com/en) # Things to consider when choosing a heat pump for commercial buildings [Alberto Ferrandi](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/alberto-ferrandi) 2/8/23, 10:45 AM Choosing the right heat pump demands proper care and consideration. The variables affecting the performance and efficiency are numerous, and striking the optimal balance between application, performance and cost can be tricky.   In recent years, heat pumps have become increasingly popular in chilling and heating applications, in large part due to superior energy performance. But where you used to optimize for example chiller performance by dimensioning it for the maximum expected outside ambient temperature (OAT), the optimal heat pump is trickier to pick. Unfortunately, there is no one-unit-to-solve-it-all heat pump, capable of covering the needs of every possible application. Firstly, while chillers are mostly used in southern Europe, heat pumps can be used within a wide range of OATs in the EU – from the chilly winter climate up north to the mild mid-season conditions in the south. Secondly, different heat pumps are designed to produce water of temperatures between 20 and 80 degrees Celsius, depending on the application. Thirdly, reversible heat pumps are usually optimized for either heating or cooling. To add to the complexity, the refrigerant of choice will also affect performance. In general, we would recommend a propane-based refrigerant – they have excellent properties in low OATs and for producing high water temperature. So, these are a few of the factors you need to consider before picking the best unit for your needs. Another factor to consider is the fact that heat pumps, unlike chillers, produce excess water from dehumidifying the air. In cooler climates, this can manifest as ice around the coils, turning to water during the defrosting cycles. If you switch out an existing chiller for a heat pump, you have to also provide a solution to catch and take care of this excess water. In heat pump designed for milder climate ,a condensate drain tray caught and led away the excess water. This, however, turned out to be insufficient for the Nordic countries. Swegon has designed a new and improved, tray, which provides a perfect outflow of the water. We are also developing better logic for defrosting the coils, customized for the Nordic climate. In this way, we can for example avoid ice formation when the unit is stopped for an extended amount of time. We are looking at ways to optimize defrosting even further, for example by having control systems stagger the defrosting of heat pumps in a system, avoiding the simultaneous shutting down of all units. To conclude, there are quite a few things to consider when you are in the market for a heat pump – not only the application, but climate conditions and other factors will affect the choice. [If you want to learn more about selecting the heat pump that is right for you, we are here to help!](https://www.swegon.com/contact/) Topics: - [Cooling & Heating](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/cooling-heating) - - - [![Alberto Ferrandi](https://blog.swegon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bild%20alberto.png?width=200&name=Bild%20alberto.png)](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/alberto-ferrandi) [Alberto Ferrandi](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/alberto-ferrandi) Alberto Ferrandi is product manager for cooling and heating products at Swegon. Alberto has a wide experience in HVAC products and renewable energy and has a number of blogs about cooling and heating as well as energy efficiency. ## Recommended reading - [Cooling & Heating](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/cooling-heating) - [Sustainability](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/sustainability) ### [Luca Filippetto](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/luca-filippetto) ## [Our experts explain Europe's adoption of propane as a refrigerant](https://blog.swegon.com/en/our-experts-explain-europes-adoption-of-propane-as-a-refrigerant?hsLang=en) The transition to more sustainable alternatives in the HVAC industry … - [Cooling & Heating](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/cooling-heating) ### [Fabio Polo](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/fabio-polo) ## [How to choose the right chiller](https://blog.swegon.com/en/choosingtherightchiller?hsLang=en) There are aspects to consider when choosing the right chiller. A few … - [Indoor Climate Knowledge](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/indoor-climate-knowledge) - [Cooling & Heating](https://blog.swegon.com/en/tag/cooling-heating) ### [Fabio Polo](https://blog.swegon.com/en/author/fabio-polo) ## [How to simplify product comparisons - explained through an e-bike example](https://blog.swegon.com/en/how-to-make-it-less-complex-to-compare-a-bike-example?hsLang=en) In today’s world, things are moving at record speed, and it may seem … Get updates from the blog directly to your inbox. #### Get to know us - [Why Swegon?](https://www.swegon.com/why-swegon/) - [Solutions & services](https://www.swegon.com/solutions-and-services/) - [Products](https://www.swegon.com/products/) - [References & Insights](https://www.swegon.com/references-and-insights/) - [Support & Software](https://www.swegon.com/support/) - [Sustainability](https://www.swegon.com/sustainability/) #### More Swegon - [About us](https://www.swegon.com/about-swegon/) - [Our Brands](https://www.swegon.com/about-swegon/our-brands/) - [News](https://blog.swegon.com/en/news?hsLang=en) - [For suppliers](https://www.swegon.com/for-suppliers/) - [The Swegon Blog](https://blog.swegon.com/en) - [Swegon Air Academy](https://www.swegonairacademy.com/en/) #### Subscribe to The Swegon Blog [![](https://www.swegon.com/siteassets/logos/logo.svg?v=1620107735)](https://www.swegon.com/) Swegon Group AB, JA Wettergrens gata 7, SE-421 30 Västra Frölunda, Tel +46 (0)31-89 58 00, Fax +46 (0)31-89 94 69, info@swegon.com - [Privacy statement](https://www.swegon.com/privacy-policy/) - [Cookies](https://www.swegon.com/cookies/) - [Processing personal data](https://www.swegon.com/privacy-policy/processing-personal-data/) - [![Youtube](https://www.swegon.com/Static/img/youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/user/SwegonAB) - [![Linkedin](https://www.swegon.com/Static/img/linkedin.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/swegon-ab/) - [![Facebook](https://www.swegon.com/Static/img/facebook.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/swegongroup)