How To Control Your Heat Pump For Maximum Efficiency

Many homeowners have heat pumps installed but don't know how to control the heat pump for maximum efficiency. What they don’t realise is that it's the controls for these systems that are key to unlocking their full potential.
Often, the advanced heat pump controls are tucked away and not being used properly. Alternatively they may have been replaced with basic thermostats that actually reduce efficiency.
In this article, we will explain how you can use your heat pump controls the right way. The way that allows you to save money and keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

The Problem with Basic Thermostats

A lot of people use “smart” thermostats that simply turn the heat pump on and off. While they might connect to your phone, these thermostats make your heat pump work harder than necessary. This constant cycling (turning on and off) can lower the heat pump’s efficiency and raise your energy bills.

Weather Compensation: The Smart Way to Control Your Heat Pump

The best way to control your heat pump is by using weather compensation, which is usually built into the heat pump’s own controls.

Here’s how it works:

  1. External Sensor: Your heat pump has an outdoor temperature sensor that tracks the weather outside.
  2. Adjusting Temperature: Based on the outside temperature, the system adjusts the temperature of the water flowing to your radiators. For example, when it’s very cold outside (like -3°C), your system will heat the water to a higher temperature to keep your home warm. But as it gets warmer outside, the system lowers the water temperature automatically.

This approach ensures your home stays at a comfortable temperature without wasting energy. The heat pump runs more slowly and steadily, which is much more efficient than turning it on and off all the time.

Why On/Off Stats Cause Problems

When you use basic thermostats with weather compensation, your system waits until your house cools down before it kicks in, forcing your heat pump to work harder to “catch up.” Once the house heats up, the thermostat shuts the system off again, starting the cycle all over. This cycling causes inefficiencies and higher energy bills.

How to Get the Best Efficiency from Your Heat Pump

To get the best performance from your heat pump, it’s important to use the controls that come with the system and limit interference from third-party thermostats. Let your heat pump run continuously at a low, steady pace. This keeps your home warm without the system constantly having to restart, which is more energy-efficient and saves you money.

In highly insulated homes or rooms with lots of sunlight, some indoor temperature control may be needed. However, it’s best to let your heat pump’s controller handle these adjustments to maintain long, steady run times and keep your home comfortable.

 

If you are looking for some helpful advice on the right heat pump system for your home, contact us today for technical advice

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VDI 2035 System Water Quality

Why Water Quality Is Important For Your Heating System

When installing a new heat pump or boiler, ensuring the quality of the water in your heating system is essential. It is essential for both long-term performance and efficiency.

Here’s what we do to make sure your system water is in the best possible condition and why it matters for the health of your system.

What We Do for Your System Water

At the end of every installation, we thoroughly flush the system and clean all filters. We then fill it with demineralised water following the German Water Quality Standard VDI 2035. This is known for its high standards but isn’t commonly used in the UK. By going the extra mile, we provide better protection and performance for your heating system.

Why Is Demineralised Water Important?

Using demineralised water in your system offers several benefits:

  1. Prevents Corrosion and Scaling: Lowering the water’s conductivity (the ability to conduct electricity) helps prevent metals from reacting with each other. This reduces corrosion. It also keeps salts and minerals from building up in your system’s heat exchangers or pipes which avoids the scaling that can reduce efficiency.
  2. Maintains the Right pH Levels: The acidity or alkalinity of the water (pH level) plays a big role in how your system will perform. If the water is too acidic or too alkaline, it can damage certain metals, especially aluminium. We make sure the pH is neutral, so your system stays protected.
  3. Limits Oxygen Content: Oxygen in the system water is a major cause of corrosion. We ensure your system is sealed to keep oxygen levels low. This helps prevent rust and other damage. Regularly adding fresh water with high oxygen content can lead to corrosion, so this should be avoided.

Regular Testing to Keep Your System Healthy

Testing the water quality in your system every year during service is crucial. This lets us see if anything has changed, such as the presence of new corrosion or a drop in water quality. If necessary, we can take action before any serious issues arise, such as flushing the system to clean it out.

Why Use Demineralised Water Instead of Chemicals?

Many systems rely on chemical inhibitors to slow down corrosion. However, they don’t always reveal what ingredients are in them. Instead of continuously adding chemicals to control corrosion, we start by filling your system with the cleanest, purest water to prevent it from happening in the first place.

By maintaining the best water quality from the start and testing it regularly, we help protect your heating system, ensuring it runs smoothly and efficiently for many years.

 

If you are interested in a renewable heating system for your home, contact us today for helpful technical advice.

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