Maximizing Heat Pump Efficiency with a Comprehensive Guide to Thermostats

Over the years, heat pumps have attracted much attention due to the duality of their core functions. In the winter, heat pumps work like heaters, taking care of your heating and hot water needs, while in the summer, they can turn into air conditioning units. This two-in-one heating and cooling function is not commonly found in conventional boilers and heating systems, making air and ground source heat pumps all-rounders. Because of their specialized heating and cooling capabilities, heat pumps require a custom thermostat to work effectively. Thermostat technology has evolved significantly over the years, giving you energy-saving options that can be paired with a heat pump installation for superior heating performance.

Thermostats for Heat Pump – How They Work!

Thermostats for heat pumps have one simple job to do – they switch the heat pump on or off as per the predefined input criteria, like the current room temperature, time of day and other smart home features.

Its basic function is based on temperature. When the temperature indoors falls below the set number, the thermostat will turn the heat pump on. The heat pump is switched off once the set temperature is reached and your home is heated to suit you.

Thermostat settings can work around specific times of day or by a predefined schedule depending on whether you are home or not.

Types of Thermostat

There are three types of thermostat which differ in the way they perform. These are mechanical room thermostat, electrical thermostat and smart thermostat.

The least expensive is the mechanical thermostat, as there’s no defined functionality as such. You key in the temperature as per your preference and turn it on or off. Electric thermostats, on the other hand, can be programmed with details like date and time and whether you’d prefer manual or automatic functioning.

Smart thermostats can do everything that its electrical counterpart can do and on top of that, it connects wirelessly to your mobile phone or any smart home device. You can use an app to program, operate and schedule your smart thermostat from virtually anywhere.

Compatibility

Thermostats are not universal in their operation as they might not work with all types of HVAC units. This is why you have to be sure that the thermostat model you choose is compatible with the heat pump installed in your home. If your thermostat is compatible, it can replace most other thermostats as it operates your heat pump, air handler, AC, fans and ventilation. Some models are designed to control humidifiers and dehumidifiers as well.

Programmability

Smart and electric thermostats are programmable. If you wish to set up custom functions for your thermostat, mechanical thermostats are probably not for you. Based on the time of day or day of the week, you can program the settings and set temperature as per your convenience and requirements. Your thermostat will only switch on once the required room temperature is reached and only between the pre-scheduled timings. 

WiFi Accessibility

WiFi accessibility is only possible in smart thermostats. To operate your heat pump at peak efficiency, you can connect to your home network using mobile apps, voice commands or third party controls. Using smart technology, you could teach your thermostat to learn and identify your habits as it begins to operate the heat pump on its own without any input required from you.