It’s a fact that this winter is going to be tough for many homeowners. Even with a high efficiency heat pump, they still require energy to operate. With rising fuel costs, any type of heating system is going to be more expensive to run. We’ve collected some of our tips to keep your heat pump running costs low and running efficiently this winter.
Heating
Turn your set room temperature down – It might sound obvious and you might have to put a jumper on, but this will still hold the base temperature of the property. Remember, Every degree you turn this setting down will help decrease the energy used and save you money.
Check your night setback or economy mode settings – This is the temperature setting that your heat pump uses when the heating is timed to off. This should be set to around 5ºC lower than your set “on” temperature so that you’re not using unnecessary heat/energy.
Time your heating for shorter periods of time – Again, this may sound obvious but timing the heating on in the morning and evenings (when it’s usually colder) can help get the heat into your property at the start and end of the day. As the day gets warmer the heat loss will be slower so the house will be able to hold the temperature better during the rest of the day.
Turn your heating off when you’re not at home – Understandably, It’s so easy to forget to turn your heating off when you’re not home, but to keep costs down and avoid using unnecessary energy, make sure to turn your heating off before leaving your house. Most modern heat pump controllers have an economy or away mode which sets back the heating to a lower temperature when activated which will help make sure you’re only heating when you’re actually at home.
Adjust the maximum flow temperature to your heating – This might require an installer to adjust, but if you’ve had no issues getting the property warm during other winter periods, then the flow temperature might not need to be as high as it was set when your system was initially installed.
Domestic hot water
Reduce you DHW set temperature to 50ºC – This will still provide you with legionnaires protection, and the water temperature coming from the taps is usually more than enough to wash with as most thermostatic showers only allow 38ºC maximum hot water temperature.
Time your domestic hot water heating for just before you actually need it – Rather than having hot water heating set continuously, only set it on for 2 hours before you actually need it.
Air source heat pump external units
Make sure your heat pump has no obstructions around it – If garden items are being stored in front of the heat pump, make sure these are not too close (normally less than 1m, but check your heat pump manufacturers instructions) as these can cause the cool air to be deflected into the heat pump and subsequently lowering its efficiency. Also, make sure your heat pump has nothing blocking the back like carrier bags that have been blowing around.
Get a smart metre installed – Smart metres can help you keep an eye on your energy use. You can see how much your house is using and costing on a daily basis which can help you fine tune things to keep costs at a minimum and save any nasty shocks.
Servicing
Make sure your heat pump has been serviced – When serviced the heat pump engineer can check settings and make adjustments to optimise the heat pumps operation, which could save you money. Servicing can often spot issues that might arise which might cause issues in the future. You can book your service now by giving us a call or contacting us via our website.
If you are considering opting for a greener and cost efficient heating solution, or would like to speak to one of our specialists to make sure you are making the best decision for you and your property, get in touch today via our website or call us on 01603 406052.