Installing a heat pump – a master heating engineer reports
Andreas Hanf from Essen is an experienced installer and master craftsman in his field. Together with his team, he successfully installed around 100 heat pumps in western Germany alone last year. Although he and his entire team already have extensive experience in this technology, he decided to deepen his knowledge by undergoing specialized further training at Bosch as a heat pump specialist. “I think it's good that a manufacturing company is offering this further training. We heating engineers have traditionally specialized in gas and oil heating systems due to our training.” And he adds: “In view of the demand and shortage of skilled workers, these training courses are very important. Well trained, we are not only better in terms of work quality, but also around 20 percent faster.”
Heat pump for a single-family house
The premises of HaWe GmbH, an established heating and air conditioning company and long-standing partner of Bosch in the field of heating technology, are located in the middle of a busy industrial estate in the Ruhr metropolis of Essen. Just as dawn breaks, a delivery van rolls up. It is carrying Bosch Compress 6800i AW heat pumps. Immediately after unloading, one of them is lifted into a specially built company van by a team of employees. Andreas Hanf and his team prepare for the transport, as several people are needed to install the heat pump safely at its destination.
Transportation and installation
Transporting the heat pump into the company van is no easy task. Even without refrigerant, the Compress 6800i weighs around 140 kilograms. However, Andreas Hanf notes: “It is much more compact than the previous generations and is therefore much easier to transport.” At just 25.8 decibels, measured at a distance of three meters, the background noise of such a pump is barely perceptible. What's more, the new Bosch models use the natural refrigerant R290 (propane), which has a low global warming potential. This is not only economical, but also ecologically beneficial for the customer. After installation, the heat pump must be electrically connected and linked to the home's heating system. It must also be programmed so that it supplies heat as required in all weather conditions and provides hot water for the bathroom and kitchen.
The Bosch “Klimahelden Schmiede”: specialized training to become a heat pump specialist
Bosch offers a comprehensive training program for tradespeople in order to successfully drive forward the heating transition. The focus is on sustainable technologies, industry-relevant topics and knowledge about practical applications such as the installation of heat pumps. Bosch is thus creating a platform for the exchange and transfer of in-depth specialist knowledge. The Bosch training courses take place both online and on-site at 14 locations in Germany. With the “Klimahelden Schmiede”, Bosch has also developed a comprehensive certification program together with the specialist trade that focuses on the area of business development and thus goes far beyond traditional training formats in terms of content and form. Bosch partners are trained in areas such as work process optimization, hands-on solutions and tips and tricks on electrification and sustainability. They can then install heat pumps more efficiently, more easily and more quickly.