There are many commercial applications in which heat pumps are an economical, dependable alternative. The units are essentially air conditioning condensers configured to work “in reverse” in the wintertime when heat is needed rather than cooling. They serve as an efficient alternative to traditional furnaces.

Lochinvar recently launched 20 commercial heat pump models, ranging from 25,000 to 250,000 Btu/h and with modular installation capabilities up to 2 million Btu/h. The product line gives contractors additional options to meet energy-savings and sustainability goals when bidding on large commercial properties.

“Heat pump technology continues to gain momentum in the industry, and we are proud to now offer this product line as a solution to our customers’ biggest challenges, while providing their customers with the most environmentally-sound, cost-effective and reliable products for the job,” says Mike Lahti, vice president of sales, marketing and business development at Lochinvar. “As an industry leader, we feel this product line is a natural fit for our portfolio and marks another big step toward our continued tradition of excellence in sustainability and innovation.”

Unlike typical HVAC heat pump systems, heat pump water heaters are designed to provide hot water using atmospheric heat (air source) or geothermal/waste heat (water source). The air source models cool and dehumidify the surrounding ambient air, cutting down on air conditioning usage and costs. The water source units absorb heat from water sources, including return chiller water, process and groundwater.

Designed for indoor or outdoor use, heat pump water heaters work in conjunction with storage tanks and can be tailored to meet specific application requirements. Lochinvar’s line of glass-lined domestic water storage tanks offers engineers and contractors a wide-variety of solutions to integrate with most systems, offering turnkey solutions.

The Lochinvar commercial heat pump line offers six air source, six water source and eight modular water source units. The air and water source models range in capacity from 25,000 to 250,000 Btu/h and generate 50 to 500 gallons of hot water per hour. Modular water source units range in capacity from 270,000 to 2 million Btu/h and generate 323 to 2,584 gallons of hot water per hour. All units feature a maximum 160-degree water temperature and an ambient operating range of 40 to 120 degrees. They are designed for both new construction and retrofit projects and work well in large commercial applications, including universities, health care facilities, apartment buildings, hotels and restaurants. 615-889-8900;  www.lochinvar.com.