Kyungdong Navien Launches Air Source Heat Pump Water Heater Featuring Hybrid Heat Pump Technology

Four Times the Energy Efficiency of Standard Storage-Type Electric Water Heaters
Annual Hot Water Operating Cost Savings of Approximately 500,000 Won

On September 14, Kyungdong Navien announced the launch of the "Navien Air Source Heat Pump Water Heater (PCW351)," a hybrid system that combines a heat pump and an electric heater to supply hot water quickly and reliably.

This air source heat pump water heater utilizes heat pump technology, which draws on thermal energy present in the air to heat water. Standard storage-type electric water heaters rely solely on electric heaters to heat water, which means that once the stored hot water is depleted, supply slows and users may experience shortages during peak demand. In contrast, the air source heat pump water heater primarily uses thermal energy from the air to produce hot water with minimum electricity during normal operation, while its electric heater functions as a supplementary heating source when usage surges—in other words, it operates as a "hybrid system." This approach allows for both stable and ample hot water supply as well as high energy efficiency, significantly reducing overall operating costs.

Kyungdong Navien Air Source Water Heater

In fact, a model with the same specifications as the air source heat pump water heater released in Korea—launched in the North American market as the NWP500—demonstrated that over a cumulative four-hour period, it supplied approximately 60% more hot water than a typical storage-type electric water heater. It also achieved more than four times the energy efficiency, offering an expected annual operating cost saving of about 500,000 won. The company emphasized that these systems provide reliable hot water for commercial facilities where many users require continuous hot water, such as restaurants, cafes, pensions, hair salons, fitness centers, and office buildings. The greater the hot water usage, the more significant the cost reduction effect becomes.

User convenience has also been enhanced. The system offers five operational modes—Dedicated Heat Pump, Automatic Energy Saving, Rapid Overheat, Electric Heater Only, and Long-term Absence—enabling users to choose the most efficient mode for their environment. The Navien Smart App allows users to switch between operational modes and schedule them automatically based on the day of the week and time of day.

Improvements have also been made in hygiene, durability, and safety. The product is equipped with a corrosion-resistant stainless steel hot water tank and features an Anti-Legionella function that periodically manages the interior of the tank to provide a hygienic hot water environment. Additional safety features include a freeze protection function and an optional leak detection system that automatically shuts off the direct water line in the event of a leak, further safeguarding living spaces.

Meanwhile, in May, Kyungdong Navien opened the "Navien Heating Electrification Center" in Jeju, followed by the launch of its air source heat pump boiler in June, actively promoting the electrification of heating and hot water to achieve carbon neutrality. The company has established a domestic production system for heat pump solutions at its Pyeongtaek plant, where both air source heat pump boilers and water heaters are manufactured. Through this build-out, Kyungdong Navien is speeding up the expansion of its heat pump business by strengthening its integrated system for supply, installation, and service.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.