The latest heat pump controls improve efficiency and comfort levels through technology that automatically adjusts the system based on a number of parameters including the weather and specific energy tariffs. Rick Clarke, Product Manager, from NIBE explains how these controls can help to elevate the heat pump to a 21st century ‘smart’ feature of the modern home.
Heat pumps are more efficient than gas boilers, generally 300 – 400% more efficient. The heat pump itself is only half of the story, however; the latest controls can make a big difference to customer satisfaction, further enhancing efficiency while ensuring the heat pump works in a way that suits modern lifestyles.
Energy saving
A NESTA report at the end of last year demonstrated the impact of controls, looking specifically at where heat pumps can be set to avoid expensive peak demand periods. The report, which focussed on findings from a trial of homeowners using controls that automatically adjust in-line with time of use tariffs, pre-heating homes while electricity was cheapest, saw on average a 74% reduction in electricity consumption per half hour, across a two-hour window. This didn’t result in colder homes, either; in fact, over the four-hour period, the temperature was on average higher than the usual set point at the end of the trial, suggesting pre-heating helped maintain internal warmth.
This is exciting stuff and shows that the cost of running a heat pump can be dramatically affected by the right controls, set-up properly, further mitigating the differential between the price of electricity and gas.
Other fuel bill cutting features include weather compensation – something most installers are already familiar with, as modern gas boilers include this too. This can be taken one step further, however, with weather forecasting, technology that pre-empts a cold snap or milder conditions, and raises or lowers the temperature accordingly.
Some heat pumps (Exhaust Air Heat Pumps specifically) also provide ventilation, with the latest technology adjusting to how different rooms in a house are being used, tracking temperature, humidity and CO2.
Smart control
The ‘smart home’ concept, where appliances, lighting and heating systems are all adjustable remotely through a smart phone, is becoming an increasingly popular choice, with greater convenience and end-user comfort.
A ‘smart’ approach to heat pump control specifically can also contribute to enhanced efficiency and consequent bill savings. In our increasingly digital world, the ability to adjust all elements of what makes our homes comfortable and inviting through an app and/or voice control is a feature that will pique the interest of potential customers.
Installer convenience
Heat pump controls and apps are not just for end users, they can also help installers too, cutting unnecessary site visits and providing one central place to check a number of customers’ heat pumps. NIBE’s myUplink Pro app, for example, is usable from the point of commissioning, monitoring heat pump operation allowing for issues to be diagnosed and remedied remotely, often avoiding a site visit completely.
‘Installer controls’ should be just that, however, settings that can only be accessed by the commissioning heating engineer, avoiding end-user ‘fiddling’ which could compromise operations.
User-friendly
Overall, when looking at control options for heat pumps, you need to identify solutions that are both technically advanced and user-friendly. One of the criticisms pointed at heat pumps is that they are overly complicated to run, but that doesn’t need to be the case. Once installed, installers must take the time to properly explain to their customers how to operate the system – the latest user-friendly apps will help here, walking through everything clearly and intuitively.
Taking advantage of manufacturer training is a good way to get a full understanding of how a heat pump and its supporting technology works to ensure the best-possible end-user experience – NIBE’s product training is free and includes training on controls.
Modern appeal
The right heat pump can work in the same way as any other modern home appliance, voice controlled via smart home interfaces or operated from afar to ensure a home’s warm when you want it to be, while minimising energy wastage and unnecessarily high bills. For installers, these controls should lead to happier customers.
