Kyung Dong Navien announced Monday the launch of the Navien air-source water heater (PCW351), which combines a heat pump with an electric heater. [Kyung Dong Navien]
Kyung Dong Navien announced Monday the launch of the Navien air-source water heater (PCW351), which combines a heat pump with an electric heater. [Kyung Dong Navien]

PCW351 combines heat pump and electric heater

Company says energy efficiency is more than four times that of conventional electric water heaters

Launch follows air-source boiler debut in June, expanding heat pump lineup

Kyung Dong Navien is bringing an air-source water heater to the domestic market, using thermal energy drawn from the air to heat water. The move follows the June launch of its air-source boiler and extends the company's push to expand its electrification business across heating and hot water.

The company announced Monday the launch of the Navien air-source water heater, a product that pairs a heat pump with an electric heater.

Unlike conventional storage-type electric water heaters that heat water directly with an electric resistance element, the air-source water heater draws thermal energy from the surrounding air through a heat pump to produce hot water.

Kyung Dong Navien applies a hybrid approach, combining the heat pump with an electric heater. Under normal conditions the heat pump handles hot water production, while the electric heater kicks in as a supplement when demand spikes. The company is targeting commercial facilities with high hot-water consumption — restaurants, cafes, guesthouses, hair salons and sports facilities.

Heat pumps are inherently more energy-efficient than electric resistance heating. The Korea Energy Agency's energy and greenhouse gas information platform EG-TIPS notes that air-source heat pumps typically achieve a coefficient of performance (COP) of 3 or higher, compared with a COP of 1 for electric resistance water heaters, meaning they use significantly less electricity for the same output.

According to Kyung Dong Navien, tests on the NWP500 — a North America model with the same specifications as the PCW351 — showed that cumulative hot water output over four hours was about 60 percent greater than that of a standard storage-type electric water heater, with energy efficiency more than four times higher. The company estimates the product could cut annual hot water operating costs by around 500,000 won ($371), though actual savings will vary depending on usage volume, electricity rates, and installation and operating conditions.

The unit offers five operating modes: heat pump only, auto-save, rapid heat, electric heater only, and extended away. Users can switch modes or set day- and time-based schedules through the Navien Smart app.

The hot water tank uses corrosion-resistant stainless steel and comes with an anti-Legionella function that periodically sanitizes the tank interior, along with freeze protection. An automatic water shutoff that activates upon leak detection is available as an optional feature.

Kyung Dong Navien has been building heat pumps into a new pillar of its heating and hot water business. The company opened a Navien Heating Electrification Center on Jeju in May and launched the air-source boiler in June. Both the air-source boiler and the new water heater are produced at its Pyeongtaek factory.

The Korea Energy Agency also includes heat pumps among the high-efficiency equipment eligible for support under its energy efficiency market development program. Air-source heat pump water heaters are classified as facilities that can improve the power efficiency of buildings and business premises, as they transfer thermal energy from the air using electricity.

"The air-source water heater combines hot water technology and heat pump technology accumulated in domestic and overseas markets," a Kyung Dong Navien official said. "We will provide efficient heating and hot water solutions centered on the air-source boiler and air-source water heater."


hong@heraldcorp.com