As we continue to use our home heating systems more regularly during the colder months, it is important that those homes which have a heat pump know how to run this appliance at its most efficient.
Many self-builders and new build developments throughout Northern Ireland feature the Grant Aerona³ R32 air to water air source heat pump heat pump as part of their central heating system. This award-winning heat pump is a cleaner, more environmentally friendly main heat source and offers a superior seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) even in colder conditions.
Here are some of our top tips on how to keep your Grant Aerona³ R32 heat pump operating at its most efficient this winter:
Never turn the heat pump off
Recently, we have noticed that due to the cost-of-living crisis, many homeowners have decided to turn their heat pump off in order to try save money on their monthly heating bills, however, to ensure high efficiency and cost savings, it is advised that the heat pump should never be switched off and thermostats should remain consistent (or decreased by 1 or 2°C maximum). Turning off your system will mean that once turned back on, the heat pump will have to work extra hard in the colder months, using a lot more electricity, to reach its optimum performance level once again.
Understanding the heat pump controls
As with any home heating system, it is important that homeowners fully understand the controls of the systems. In terms of the heat pump, start by setting the room thermostats to a temperature that’s comfortable but not excessively high, for example 18°C in bedrooms and 20°C in living areas are considered standard. Adjusting these temperatures regularly should be avoided, especially when it's colder outside. By doing this, the heat pump is being asked to work harder to generate more heat than is required and this can affect the system performance and efficiency. This too is the case if a homeowner switches off their heat pump.
Make use of the immersion timer
The Grant Aerona³ R32 air to water, air source heat pump efficiently heats hot water throughout the year. In most households, the temperature of the hot water is usually set to about 47°C on the cylinder thermostat and whilst adjusting this higher will increase the temperature, it will also increase the running costs unnecessarily. In frosty weather, instead of running up heating costs, heat pump homeowners should instead use the immersion timer, which you can use to ‘boost’ the water temperature which is a highly cost-effective method.
The frequency of when the immersion timer is ‘boosted' depends on how much hot water the home needs, but generally twice daily is common. This option is also useful when there is increased demand on your heat pump, for example when more hot water is needed for house guests. If there is heavy snow, you should ensure that the area surrounding the heat pump is kept clear, as restricting the air flow in and outwards will prevent the unit operating correctly.
Stay on top of your annual service
Regular annual servicing is recommended to ensure the heat pump unit operates efficiently, as well as to maintain the warranty terms.
Watch our latest video on heat pump efficiency here and click here to find out more about the Grant Aerona³ R32 air to water air source heat pump range.