To reduce bills and carbon, you select an air source heat pump (ASHP) . You should make it work at its best. With a few smart tweaks to your settings, your controls, and your home, you can boost air source heat pump efficiency in the UK climate. This guide will present you with easy measures that will make your place warm, reduce monthly expenses and provide you with a more comfortable climate throughout the whole year.
The Job of an Air Source Heat Pump
An air source heat pump uses the external air as its source of heat and transfers it in your home. It functions sort of like an inside-out fridge. It operates with electricity although it provides you with added warmth compared to the amount of power it consumes. That is why an air source heat pump can be so efficient.
The Weather in the UK is Fluctuating
On the right set up, your heat pump can deal with warm days and frigid mornings. The point is to allow it to run down and be constant. Preserves energy and leaves rooms smooth. Learn more about top performing models on our best air source heat pumps in the UK blog.
The Golden Rule of Efficiency (Low and Steady Wins)
Low flow temperatures and large run time are a favourite of the heat pumps. The machine will labour less as the water coming out of your heat pump (flow temperature) is lower. It is an increased COP/SCOP (more heat per unit of electricity). In other words, strive to reach the lowest possible flow temperature that will make you feel warm.
How to Adjust the Proper Flow of Temperature
- Start at 40-45 degree celsius for radiators. In case rooms are cold: increase it gradually (1-2 degree celsius) and wait a day to test.
- You can even lower it (30-40 degree celsius) in case of underfloor heating. Check out our blog on the synergy between air source heat pumps and underfloor heating!
- Keep a record. A mere note of date, external temperature and level of comfort will assist you in locating the sweet spot.
- In case your system has a max flow limit, enable it and do not take massive spikes.
Use Weather Compensation
Weather compensation tells your air source heat pump to change flow temperature as the weather changes. Colder outside? It lifts the flow a bit. Milder day? It drops it. This prevents the system blowing out heat where it is not necessary.
Allow Your Controls
- Pick a gentle curve. These need to be started at a middle of the road environment, and then adjusted within a week of variable weather.
- Do not use high, steep curves, especially when your home is very leaky and can only keep the heat.
- Get Your Controls Right (and Keep them simple)
Important: Good controls make a huge difference to air source heat pump efficiency. Sophisticated schedules and massive swings are not necessary.
Want to get the most out of your heat pump? Check out our tips on Maximising Air Source Heat Pump Efficiency.
Use One Steady Temperature
- Select a comfortable set point (usually 19-21 degree celsius).
- Do not go home feeling disenchanted or when out. Reducing temperature down 1-2 degree Celsius is also ok; larger reductions cause the heat pump to labour to provide sufficient heat to match.
Thermostats and TRV’s
Have one dominant room thermostat in an area that you frequent. Keep it out of the reach of radiators, direct sunlight and draughts. When you have TRVs you should keep the majority of them wide open. Clean a few of the hot rooms with TRVs. It is unnecessary to close most radiators simultaneously; this lowers the flow, and overloads the system.
Smart Controls
- Smart thermostats will make it possible to match your day with heat. Select easy schedules and minor changes.
- Assuming that your control has load shifting, match some of your heating and hot water with the cheaper tariff times.
- Boost Air Source Heat Pump Efficiency with Better Home Fabric. Your dwelling is a part of the system. Rightful little fabrics can uplift productivity and coziness.
Discover how to heat smarter and save more with smart thermostats.
Insulation and Draught-Proofing
1. Loft insulation
Fill at least 270mm. This is cheap and of high impact. Learn how to choose the right insulation for your home.
2. Walls of cavity
Walls that are made of solid concrete can be insulated internally or externally.
3. Floors
Suspended floors are to be insulated or thick carpets are used in major rooms.
4. Seal gaps
Seal gaps are located around skirting boards, loft hatches and outdated vents. Always have trickle vents.
5. Windows
When you are single glazed, you need to think about secondary glazing.
Radiators and Emitters
Low temperature big radiators provide constant heating. In case of a cold feel in rooms at 40-45 degree Celsius flow, experiment with:
- Radiators in cold rooms Upsizing Radiators.
- Finned double or triple panels.
- Have the addition of an additional radiator where necessary.
- Heat pumps are best when used underfloor. It flows low and evenly on considerable plots.
Not sure whether to upgrade radiators or go electric? Our guide on Electric Radiators vs Storage Heaters breaks it down for you.
Low-energy Settings of Hot Water
Comfort and the reduction of costs can be defended by your cylinder settings. Mostly, the daily hot water temperature setting of 45-50 degree celsius is sufficient when there is a mixing valve installed on the tap or shower.
1. Legionella Cycle
Every week or every fortnight, heat up to 60 degree celsius just to be on the safe side, but at an off-peak time of day or night, provided there is no charge to your tariff.
2. Tank Reheat Times
One or two scheduled reheats per day usually are better than the numerous small top-ups.
3. Insulate
Insulate proper cylinder and lag hot piping around the tank.
Note: All of these tend to increase efficiency.
Frost Protection and Cold Weather
Your air source heat pump will form frost on the outdoor unit in cold, damp air. That is normal. It will put a defrost cycle to clear it.
- Keep clear airflow. Eliminate plant, snow or debris around the unit. Keep 30-50 cm of clear space.
- Do not turn off when freezing up. The frost protection requires heat pump power.
- When frost forms frequently I would not block check drain and condensate points and would be properly tapered to winter.
- During a cold snap, even a small increase in the temperature of the streams of the flow (1-3 degree celsius) can assist the rooms in retaining heat without enormous spikes.
Reduce Running Expenses, Utilise Low Electricity Where Possible
Thermal mass
Solid floors and properly insulated rooms retain warm air; allowed to run longer at low temperature during low-cost periods in an effort to replenish that stored warmth.
No complete power shutdowns
This may push high costly bursts to come later. Maintenance that you can do on a regular basis. A minor consideration keeps your air source heat pump efficient.
External unit
Dry the grille and coil fin under the leaves, fluff or dust, with a brush. Do not bend fins.
Good air circulation
Make certain to keep plants, bins and fences out of the unit.
Filters and strainers
In case your system is equipped with filters which can be accessed by users, filter them accordingly as was recommended in the manual.
Radiators
Bleed when gurgling is heard, or when the top is cold. When your manual tells you to, add up system pressure.
Yearly service
Have checks on refrigerant, electrics, pumps and safety devices performed by a qualified engineer. It is the most important factor to increase efficiency.
Location, Noise, and Neighbours
Keep it Fresh
Do not cause a recirculation of cold exhaust air. Low vibration pads and solid mounts are used to ensure that the sound is low. Always clear the roadway to drain to prevent winter ice. Mistakes that can be made commonly and waste energy.
Hot flow temperature “just in case” it is inefficient
Frequent On/Off
Let it run. Minor explosions cause it to struggle harder.
Big Night Failures
When the temperature is lowered excessively, it is more expensive to bring it back up.
Test to Determine the Effectiveness of Your Changes
Evenness
Are rooms even during the day? Fewer cold corners? That is a good sign.
Run Time
Longer and noisier run times are normal and good with efficiency.
Energy Consumption
Compare daily or weekly kWh energy before and after alteration, compared with some outside temperature, possibly the same temperature. Moreover, our effectiveness guide shows what to look for in performance and energy use.
When to Call a Professional
Some tasks need an expert eye to boost air source heat pump efficiency and protect your warranty.
Hydraulic Balance
Adds the appropriate flow in low temperature to every radiator.
Radiator Upgrades
The radiator has been sized to run on lower flow temperatures.
Controls Integration
Making weather compensation and room controls have a happy resemblance. Cracks or odd sounds should not be disregarded, particularly during winter.
Myth Busting
You can put your trust in here.
Your Next Steps
- Test the quick wins during one week and monitor the levels of comfort and energy consumption.
- Have one fabric repair (loft top-up or draught-proofing) in one month.
- Adjust weather compensation when there is mixed weather.
- In case a room remains lagging, a radiator upgrade and a balance of the system may be taken into consideration.
Check your eligibility and start saving with the Air Source Heat Pump Grant now.
How Home Energy Guide Can Help
At Home Energy Guide, we understand that getting the most from your air source heat pump involves more than just installation, it requires smart operation and up to date knowledge. Our mission is to make the technicalities of the heat pump efficiency more straightforward, and to supply plain directions regarding settings, controls, and home fabric additions. Get a free quote from Home Energy Guide today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The golden rule is Low and Steady Wins. You are ambitious to maintain the lowest flow temperature you can be still comfortable, which will enable the heat pump to work less and realise a better CoP/SCOP (the amount of heat contributed by a unit of electricity consumed).
In the case of radiators, you need to begin with the flow temperature of 40-45 degree celsius. Suppose the rooms are cold, then add it slowly, in 1-2 degree celsius and allow a whole day to experiment. When dealing with underfloor heating you can begin much lower, usually between 30-40 degree celsius.
No, never switch the system off as soon as frost is formed. Icy weather Frost develops in chilly moist air. The air source heat pump needs electricity to defrost itself automatically to eliminate the frost and save itself. The effect of turning it off is that it will be impossible to keep this necessary operation going.
One stable and comfortable point (typically 19-21 degree celsius) should be selected and the heat pump should operate continuously. It is also more expensive for the system to climb a significant temperature drop, so it is better to avoid frequent on/off, or your mass temperature cooling when it is not being used.
