Choosing between R290 and R32 heat pumps involves more than comparing refrigerant names. A European homeowner needs a system that suits the building, can be installed safely and has a clear service route. For an importer or installer, the equipment category and intended market date also matter. The most useful comparison therefore begins with the complete product and its intended use, then separates regulatory questions from heating performance.
Identify the Product Before Comparing It
Record the exact model, refrigerant, rated capacity and system configuration for each proposal. Ask whether it is self-contained or uses refrigerant connections between separate units. Do not infer the classification from an attractive product photograph or from a general family name. The supplier’s technical documentation should identify what is actually being offered.
Devotion’s Thermalux R290 monoblock heat pumps provide an R290 product option for this comparison. Review the chosen model rather than treating every capacity in the range as interchangeable. Keep the house assessment beside the product data, so a discussion about refrigerants does not displace the practical question of which equipment meets the home’s design requirement.
Check the Relevant European Market Rules
The European Commission identifies R290 as propane, a non-fluorinated refrigerant, and R32 as an HFC. Its guidance describes EU restrictions from 1 January 2027 for self-contained heat pumps up to and including 12 kW using F-gases with GWP of at least 150, subject to safety exceptions. It also specifies restrictions for other capacity bands and split systems. This is not a single rule covering every heat pump in every European country.
For a new EU supply decision, have the responsible importer confirm the equipment classification, applicable restriction and placing-on-the-market timing under Regulation (EU) 2024/573. The UK and other non-EU destinations require separate checks. A broad European marketing claim should not replace this country-specific review, and the comparison should distinguish a new product’s market access from decisions about an existing installation.
Keep Safety Separate From Marketing Language
The Commission lists R290 in safety group A3 and R32 in A2L. Those classifications call for attention to the applicable product instructions and installation requirements. A low climate impact does not remove refrigerant safety considerations. Nor should a household assume that one product can be substituted into another installation without a technical review.
Ask the installer to explain the proposed outdoor location, access requirements and any site constraints before the order is released. If a location is rejected, request the reason and an alternative proposal. The homeowner’s role is to understand and approve the design, not to improvise clearance distances or modify refrigerant equipment. Installation and service work should be handled by appropriately qualified professionals.
Compare Performance on the Same Basis
Use the same building heat requirement and design water temperature when evaluating the alternatives. Request comparable capacity and seasonal information for each model, including the assumptions about supplementary heating. If one offer is assessed with underfloor heating and the other with existing radiators, the results are not a clean refrigerant comparison.
Give equal attention to the proposed installation work. A quotation may include a new cylinder, emitter changes or electrical upgrades that another omits. Mark these differences before concluding that one product is cheaper. Also ask which functions are included and which depend on additional equipment. The refrigerant label does not define the entire heating system delivered to the home.
Evaluate Service as Part of the Decision
Devotion presents both R290 and R32 product categories. A European buyer should request a written proposal for the current model, destination and delivery period, with the relevant documentation attached. A catalogue listing is useful for discovery but does not establish that every configuration is appropriate for a new project.
Finally, identify the local service provider, spare-parts arrangements and the division of responsibility between installer and manufacturer. Keep these answers alongside the technical comparison. A good selection is one the homeowner can understand: the product fits the assessed house, its supply route has been checked for the destination, and someone is responsible for keeping the installed system supported. Neither a refrigerant slogan nor an isolated efficiency figure can establish all of that.