The biggest problem we see in heat pumps not installed by us is that homeowners are still trying to run them like gas boilers, the reality is that this is killing your efficiency and is most likely the reason why your not warm enough in winter with a heat pump.
So if you’re new to heat pumps, just had one installed and this is your first winter or maybe you are doing some research before pulling the trigger on buying one. Strap in because this should tell you all you need to know!
With traditional gas boiler we have most of the time an on/off control, meaning the only data the boiler receives is to either be on or off. It’s a spit and saw dust way of controlling a boiler by modern standards but none the less it does work…kind of. Controlling your heating this way intermittently means that you need to have to radiators running much hotter but for shorter periods. This sounds great but it means that when your relaxing in the evening watch The Traitors, your in a constant battle of either being too hot or too warm as often the heating will over shoot these temperatures especially in the milder seasons of autumn and spring.
The other major problem with controlling your heating this way is that the boiler has no way of knowing what the outside temperature is, this is vital for a comfortable home as the amount of heat your home loses changes based on the outside temperature, if your home loses 9kw of heat on the coldest days (eg -2.7 degrees) then it may only lose 7.5kw’s of heat on the milder days say 10 degrees outside. With your on off controls the boiler will treat heating your home like it’s -2.7 degrees every time it’s turned on. Wasting energy, making you uncomfortably hot or pretty chilly. None of this is really a major problem though with gas boilers as they are often oversized and have lots of energy available to them all the time.
You won’t get away with this type of control on a heat pump, the heat pump is designed to achieve a desired temperature indoors of say 21 degrees and maintain it, like a fridge! In the same way your fridge, when turned on from new, runs for a long time to chill the inside of the box down to 10 degrees and then periodically comes on to maintain the temperature. A heat pump is the same thing! Only now your home is the inside of the fridge and instead of trying to keep it cold, it’s trying to keep it warm.
All of our heat pumps are installed fully weather compensated meaning the heat pump is only looking at the outside temperature to controls your chosen indoor temperature. This is the best and most effective way of controlling your heating that will mean lower energy bills and a more comfortable home! The heat pump will then simply modulate up and down depending on what it required in terms of energy and then at night you simply set a “set back” temperature of 2-3 degrees lower than your day time temperature. eg if you like your heating at 21 the set it to 18-29 degrees over night.
That’t it, it really is that simple!
So in conclusion here’s some quick tips:
- Use only the manufacturer of your heat pumps controls
- Make sure to have it on pure weather compensation
- Don’t turn it on and off like a gas boiler
- Do set a set back temperature of between 2-3 degrees lower than your design temperature (Usually 21 degrees)
Controls are massive when it comes to heat pumps and not to be overlooked!
If your in South London or Surrey and are thinking about a heat pump why not book a FREE call with me, I’m a heating engineer not a salesman and I can maybe answer any questions you might have?