Panasonic Aquarea: Which Model Do You Need?

Below we’ll review the Panasonic Aquarea range which includes the T-Cap, High Performance All-in-One and the Big One. 

Across the range, there’s an Aquarea heat pump suitable for the majority of residential and commercial properties.

According to Panasonic, you can expect to save up to 80% on your energy bills when using an Aquarea heat pump over an old boiler.

Panasonic is a top quality brand, with heat pump prices comparable to the likes of Ideal Heating, Vaillant and Grant. 

And that’s going to mean you’d expect to pay somewhere in the region of £11,000 for a 5kW including installation. This is discounted to just over £4,000 when accounting for the £7,500 government grant (Boiler Upgrade Scheme).

Most households in the UK will qualify for this grant. And you can check if you qualify by using our eligibility checker here.

Is Panasonic A Good Air Source Heat Pump Brand?

Panasonic has an above-bar reputation as a heat pump brand in the UK, helping properties increase their efficiency thanks to the high COP/SCOP ratings of their units.

If you're looking for a high efficiency pump from the Panasonic range that works well in cold temperatures, it's going to be their Aquarea T-Cap.

At 7 °C outdoor temperature and a flow temperature of 35°C, you'd expect a COP of approximately 5. Essentially, this means for every 1kWh of electricity consumed, your Panasonic air source heat pump is going to produce 5kWh of heat (it's up to 500% efficient).

Naturally, efficiency drops considerably as flow temperature is increased. With the same 7°C outdoor temperature but flow temperature set to 55 °C, expect a COP of around 3; up to 300% efficiency.

Their units are reasonably quiet, with their average pump operating at 60dBa. This drops by roughly 4dBa (to 56dBa) when set to Quiet mode. 

That said, if you're specifically looking for a quiet heat pump, something like the Samsung EHS HT Quiet R32 is going to be more suitable; this operates as low as 35dBa. 

Not sure if Panasonic is the right heat pump for you? Check out other reputable manufacturers in our guide to the best heat pump brands here. 

How Much Does A Panasonic Air Source Heat Pump Cost?

Panasonic air source heat pumps tend to be at the mid-high end in terms of price.

Depending on the exact Aquarea model you choose and what deals are currently available, you’d expect to pay around £3,000-£3,400 for a unit with a 5kW output.

This is similar in price to other leading brands offering heat pumps. Some of the most popular units we install include the Ideal Logic Air (review here) and the Vaillant aroTHERM R290 (review here). 

As you can see from our Vaillant aroTHERM quote below, you’d pay just over £4,000 for a 5kW including installation. You’d expect to pay the same price for the Panasonic Aquarea 5kW unit.

Whilst £4,139 is the price you pay, the total price is over £11,000. However, we’re able to apply for a grant via the government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) on your behalf. This qualifies the majority of households for £7,500 in funding. 

To determine exact pricing for your heat pump: 

• Check out our guide to heat pump installation costs here for a more detailed breakdown of what you should expect to pay
• Jump over to our heat pump quotation tool here. There you’ll be able to get a fixed price on your heat pump (up to £7,500 discount thanks to the government grant) on a unit from a top brand. 

Which Panasonic Heat Pump Do You Need?

Panasonic offers a range of air source heat pump models and an array of outputs. 

We’ll review their popular models below but the best way to check which model and what size heat pump you need, is ask one of our heat pump experts here.

In summary:

• T-CAP: Perfect for light commercial and medium-large residential properties that consistently see harsh temperatures 
• High Performance All-in-One: This is the most popular unit Panasonic provide for small-large residential properties
• Big One: Best suited to commercial properties

Aquarea T-CAP

The Aquarea T-CAP Hydraulic M is available as a 9kW-30kW unit, perfect for medium-large residential properties and light commercial units.

You'll be able to maintain 55°C flow temperature even at -15°C, with a max flow temperature of 75°C. The T-CAP can operate at temperatures as low as -28ºC and down to -15ºC it won't even need to use the backup heater. 

The other two options in the range include T-CAP Split and T-CAP Mono-bloc, both available as a 9-16kW. So, they're best suited to medium-large properties. These both work perfectly with any current heating setup, whether that's radiators or underfloor heating. 

The T-CAP is perfect for those upgrading an old and inefficient boiler but are exposed to harsh temperatures. 

Aquarea High Performance All-in-One

In their Aquarea High Performance range, there's an option for almost all small to large residential properties. For instance, compact small homes can make use of the K-Gen 3kW, with large homes using the 12kW outdoor unit.

Typically, the Aquarea High Performance air source heat pump is most suited to new-builds or those with excellent insulation.

If that sounds like yours, you could see COP ratings of up to 5.33 (J Generation 3kW). Put simply, for every 1kWh of electricity consumed, your unit could generate up to 5.33kWh of electricity. 

That's an efficiency rating of 533%, compared to the likes of a new A-rated gas boiler that typically works at a COP of 0.94 (94% efficient).

One thing mid-low end heat pumps struggle with, is maintaining flow temperature as outdoor temperature drops; they struggle to keep up with heating demand. 

That's not going to be an issue with the Aquarea High Performance. Many models are able to maintain up to 60 °C flow temperature, even when the outdoor temperature is as low as -10 °C. 

But, what does that even mean? Typically, heat pumps work on a low flow temperature (sometimes as low as 35°C), compared to a gas boiler that typically works at 60-70 °C. 

Put simply, even in the colder months of the year, an Aquarea High Performance All-in-One will be able to keep up with your heating demands.

Aquarea Big One

As the name suggests, the Panasonic Aquarea Big One is only suited to commercial properties and extremely large residential properties. 

Units available sit in the 20kW-30kW range, but they can be used as a cascade to provide up to 300kW in output. 

Maximum flow temperature is high at 75°C, up there with the most powerful air source heat pumps on the market. And to keep efficiency as high as possible, flow temperature up to 65°C only relies on the compressor. 

Like all the Aquarea units, this will operate even at ridiculously low outdoor temperatures (as low as -25°C).

And that wraps up our Panasonic Aquarea review. For spec sheets on a specific unit, jump over to Panasonic’s page here. 

To ensure you get £7,500 in government funding towards your air source heat pump, use our eligibility checker here.