Low-temperature heating systems are the key for energy efficiency and something all domestic homes should operate with.

When paired with an air source heat pump it can provide a warm and comfortable home, with cheaper energy bills.

Plus there are huge benefits to traditional gas boiler installations.

What is a low-temperature Heating System?

A low temperature heating system is designed to meet the desired indoor temperatures but by operating at a lower temperature.

Traditional heating systems typically operate with a flow temperature of around 70 degrees.

Whereas, a low temperature system can operate effectively at 35-55 degrees for space heating, but still provide the right levels of warmth and comfort to your home.

There are 3 ways of achieving a low-temperature heating system.

  1. Increased emitter (radiator) sizes.
  2. Increased insulation to your home.
  3. Low-temperature controls.

Each of these ways can work individually, but the best way to get your flow temperature as low as possible would be to combine all three together.

The important part

The most important part is to set up and use modulating operational controls such as weather compensation or load compensation.

What is weather compensation?

Weather compensation for a heat pump is where the pump adjusts the flow temperature based on the indoor and outdoor temperatures to improve efficiency and lower the energy consumption, which results in cheaper energy bills.
The benefits of weather compensation controls are:
  1. Increased efficiency with lower operating temperatures
  2. Decreased energy waste with predicted demand for heat
  3. Less demand on the heat pump as weather compensation control is proactive

The difference between high temperature and low temperature heating systems

The nature of a high temperature heating is that it is more of an on/off system. The heat pulses and each room in your home will exceed the selected room temperature, then go below the desired temperature and kick back in on a constant cycle.

A lower temperature system can minimise this ‘on/off’ effect, and provide consistent and steady temperatures which will match the heat output of a high temperature system.

All this means that the same comfort can be achieved at lower temperatures which results in direct savings with energy bills.

Improved COP for Heat Pumps

There is even more efficiency to be gained from running air source heat pumps at a lower temperature.

A heat pump running radiators at 55 degrees can use 40% more electricity than a system running at 40°c.

Which is why badly designed and installed heating systems can cost just as much in electricity than a normal gas system.

 

If you would like some technical advice on the best low temperature heating system for your home, contact us and we will be happy to advise on the most efficient system possible for your home.