Heat pumps raise the temperature gradually in one-degree increments. To reap the greatest energy-saving benefits, it’s vital that owners understand the basics of how the technology and the heat pump’s thermostat function together to maximize efficiency.
To prevent this expensive energy drain it is advised to set the thermostat at a comfortable temperature and leave it at that setting or install a programmable thermostat made especially for heat pump technology of your specific brand and model.
Heat pump programmable thermostats don’t work the same as those made for oil or gas systems, and it’s important to know how they differ. Those used with traditional heating systems are typically just timers that are programmed to switch the heat source on and then off again at specific times. Whenever the thermostat signals the boiler to cycle on, it will bring the room temperature up rapidly until it reaches the desired target temperature.
A programmable thermostat that’s designed for heat pump technology uses a special algorithm that calculates the time the unit will need to reach the target temperature slowly, one degree at a time. This helps maintain the heat pump’s efficiency and eliminates the use of costly electric backup heating.
Consult your heat pump manufactures installation literature to get the specifics on the control of the heat pump, or call us and one of our engineers can guide you through.
