Designed specifically for the UK and Irish climate, the Aerona R290 has been rigorously tested to withstand colder conditions, ensuring it continues to operate efficiently without excessive energy consumption. In wet & foggy conditions, moisture in the air can freeze on the heat pump’s outdoor coils when the temperatures drop. This frost then can require frequent defrost cycles, which use extra energy and can ultimately lower overall heating performance for the homeowner. The Aerona R290 heat pump range underwent rigorous testing in challenging climate conditions to ensure that models in the range can continue to work at peak performance in high moisture and cold weather, which is reassuring for those in the construction industry and homeowners alike.
During colder months, frost can naturally build up on your heat pump’s evaporator coil. However, your Grant heat pump is equipped with an automatic defrost function specifically designed to handle this.
When the system detects ice on the coil, it briefly enters a defrost cycle that typically lasts only a few minutes. During this cycle, the fan pauses, and the flow of refrigerant is reversed to draw a small amount of heat from the heating system. This heat is then used to melt the ice on the evaporator coil. Once the ice has cleared, the system automatically returns to normal operation. You can learn more about how the defrost cycle works here.
As with all domestic heating systems, running costs will always be greater during the winter months when the outside temperatures are colder and, as your heat pump operates by electricity, you will
naturally see an increase in power consumption, especially if you have replaced a gas or an oil boiler.
During cold winter weather, it’s normal for a heat pump to develop some ice on the outdoor unit. This happens because the heat pump works by extracting heat energy from the surrounding air using a refrigerant. Your Grant Aerona R290 heat pump is fitted with automatic frost protection functions for various heat pump components that will operate when either the outside air temperature and the system water temperatures fall to a pre-set value (6°C). This frost protection function will operate even when the heat pump is switched OFF at the Smart controller. As the heat pump frost protection involves the operation of the circulating pump, it is perfectly normal to hear the circulating pump running (when the heat pump is off) during periods of cold weather. Under low ambient air conditions the water pump may operate repeatedly to provide frost protection when the heat pump is not operating, e.g. possibly throughout the night, until the heat pump starts the following morning. The cost to protect the heat pump from freezing in this way is small due to the low water pump power consumption.
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