Cleaver-Brooks Introduces ClearAir® High-Efficiency, Air-to-Water Heat Pump for Sustainable Hydronic Heating

Cleaver-Brooks today announced the launch of ClearAir®, an advanced air-to-water heat pump engineered to deliver energy-efficient hydronic heating performance with reduced environmental impact. As companies seek effective strategies to decarbonize, the ClearAir heat pump offers a powerful, future-ready solution.

“With more than 70 years of innovation in hydronic technology and industry-leading hot water and steam-generation products, our engineers have optimized the ClearAir heat pump specifically for hydronic heating applications,” said Catie VanWormer, vice president of Modular Products for Packaged Boiler Systems at Cleaver-Brooks. “By adding ClearAir to our product line, Cleaver-Brooks offers one of the most diverse and comprehensive hydronic heating portfolios on the market today.”

Capable of delivering supply water temperatures up to 176°F (80°C), the ClearAir heat pump is ideal for high temperature-rated coils, radiators and terminal units commonly found in existing buildings. This enables efficient system upgrades without costly terminal device retrofits. The heat pump also offers a nominal capacity of 350 MBH (102.6 kW) and a nominal COP of 2.7.

The ClearAir heat pump is environmentally friendly. It uses R-513A refrigerant, classified as A1 under ASHRAE 34, for lowest toxicity and flammability. With an ozone depletion potential (ODP) of 0, it does not harm the ozone. In addition, it has a global warming potential (GWP) of 573, for a significantly lower climate impact compared to legacy refrigerants.

The ClearAir heat pump comes equipped with a factory-installed, pre-programmed controller with a 4.3-inch color touchscreen for easy setup, operation and service. The controller provides full functionality without any additional controls and manages internal components for optimal performance. The system integrates seamlessly with building management systems through BACnet or Modbus® and supports remote monitoring via Prometha® from Cleaver-Brooks.

Engineered for versatility, the ClearAir heat pump is well suited for schools, universities, offices, hospitals, multi-family housing, and other facility types. Its modular, compact and integration-ready design supports both new construction and retrofit applications, adapting easily to existing hydronic systems or new designs.

System engineers can tailor the ClearAir heat pump to meet the needs of any facility through simple and scalable configuration options. Single-unit installations offer a compact, cost-effective entry point ideal for smaller loads. Multi-unit banks provide scalable capacity, built-in redundancy, and optimized load sharing for higher efficiency. Hybrid system designs maximize heat pump use while ensuring reliable boiler backup during peak demand or extreme weather, reducing a facility’s carbon footprint without compromising performance.

All major components, including the compressor, fans and expansion valve, are factory-assembled and pre-charged with refrigerant, significantly reducing installation complexity and eliminating the need for onsite refrigerant piping or handling. Every ClearAir unit is fully charged and tested at the factory to ensure proper refrigeration pressure and simplified startup and commissioning.

Installation is streamlined through a fully packaged, outdoor-rated design that keeps noise-producing components away from indoor operations. The only required field connections are electrical and water inlet/outlet.

For more information about the ClearAir high-efficiency hydronic heat pump, contact your local Cleaver-Brooks sales representative or visit cleaverbrooks.com/clearair-heat-pump.