Why Are Some Heat Pumps Costing a Fortune to Run?
Most of the time, the high energy bills come down to issues with installation rather than the heat pump itself. We don’t believe this is entirely the installer’s fault—there’s a bigger problem within the industry. Heat pumps are still relatively new in the UK market. As we move away from gas boilers, there’s a lack of proper training and experienced engineers to handle these low-temperature systems correctly.
What’s Going Wrong with Heat Pumps?
There are a few common issues with heat pump installations that can cause inefficiencies:
- Incorrect Weather Compensation Settings: Weather compensation settings adjust your heating based on the outdoor temperature, which should make the system more efficient. However, if these settings are too high, your heat pump ends up working harder than it needs to, wasting energy.
- Third-Party Controls: Some systems are controlled by third-party thermostats that turn the heat pump on and off. This can cause the system to “cycle,” which reduces efficiency and drives up your energy bills.
- Undersized Pipework: If the pipes used in your system are too small, the heat pump struggles to circulate heat properly, making it harder to keep your home warm.
These problems are preventable with proper design, setup, and commissioning. This is why industry-specific training is so important.
The Importance of Proper Training
To install heat pumps correctly, engineers need specialised training in system design, especially for low-temperature heating. Our lead engineers at Custom Renewables have had the privilege of learning from industry leaders like Heat Geek and Northampton Academy. These training companies focus on how to design systems that run at lower temperatures and optimise flow rates for efficient heat transfer.
We are proud to be Heat Geek Elite registered installers, as well as winning the Heating Installer of the year award.
Without this kind of training, it’s easy to make mistakes that lead to a heat pump performing below its potential—often with a Coefficient of Performance (COP) lower than 2. This means the system is using a lot more electricity than necessary to generate heat. This can be costly for homeowners.
What Can You Do?
If your heat pump isn’t performing as expected, there are steps you can take:
- Have Your System Checked: Get an experienced engineer to review your installation. They can optimise your settings, especially the weather compensation. This ensures everything is running as efficiently as possible.
- Understand Your Controls: Make sure you’re using the right control strategy. Avoid third-party thermostats that switch the system on and off frequently. Your heat pump should be running steadily, not cycling on and off.
- Proper System Design: If you’re considering a heat pump or upgrading your system, ensure the installer is well-trained and follows best practices for low-temperature heating systems.
In the end, a well-installed heat pump should not cost you a fortune. It should save you money on your energy bills. But getting it right from the start with the right setup and knowledge is key to making the most of your investment.
If you would like some technical help or a quotation for a heat pump in your home, contact us today!
Related articles
7 Important Factors With Underfloor Heating
Underfloor heating isn't just a few pipes in the ground, there have or should have been careful planning and design gone into the system to allow it to work correctly, more so with low temperature systems and heat pumps.
What Is A Low-Temperature Heating System?
Low-temperature heating systems are where all domestic heating systems should be. It's what's required if we are to install more heat pumps but also has huge benefits to gas boiler installations.
How To Control Your Heat Pump For Maximum Efficiency
To achieve the highest Scop (efficiency) your heat pump must be running off its own controller and have limited interference from external stats.
Why Water Quality Is Important For Your Heating System
VDI 2035 isn't a common practice in the UK, We like to pride ourselves in taking those extra steps to provide quality to our heat pump and boiler installations. This means we fill to a high Standard of water parameters and try and go above and beyond to reach them this includes filling your system with demineralised water.
Why A Heat Loss Report Is Essential Before Installing A Heat Pump
The benefits and knowledge of this heat loss is invaluable to any engineer or homeowner looking at getting the maximum efficiency out of their systems and making sure that the property has the correct sized heat source and also the correct size emitter for the property to maintain the desired indoor temperature whatever the outdoor temperature.
Proof Of Efficiency With Heat Pumps
We offer all our customers the opportunity to include 'Open Energy Monitoring', this shows us their energy usages, there performances, their Cop/ Scop (seasonal co efficient performance) or in layman's terms how much electric to heat generated they are using.