EECA ENERGYWISE -more winter tips

EECA ENERGYWISE -more winter tips

Heat pump smarts

More than a quarter of New Zealand households have a heat pump but these heaters need to be used in a smart way to make houses warm and healthy, according to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).
EECA ENERGYWISE Technical Expert Christian Hoerning says heat pumps are the most efficient electric heaters and there are simple tricks to avoid wasting energy. Mr Hoerning advises only heating the space you're actually using, shutting doors and curtains to keep the heat in.

He says the next step is learning to use the timer feature.

“Don't leave your heat pump on all day if you're not there. You can set the unit to turn on half an hour or so before you get home or before you get up in the morning.”

Using the timer will also avoid the common mistake of coming into a cold house and cranking up the heat pump to its highest setting, Mr Hoerning says.

“Set the thermostat to a healthy temperature. Aim for a minimum of 18ºC while you are using a space (or 20ºC if you have children, elderly or people who are unwell in the home) and 16ºC in bedrooms overnight.”

Cleaning the heat pump filters regularly will also mean the heat pump runs more efficiently, Mr Hoerning says.

If you are considering buying a heat pump, look for the blue ENERGY STAR® mark to identify superior energy efficiency. Like all heaters heat pumps can use a lot of energy so it pays to get an efficient model, Mr Hoerning says.

“Some heat pumps also ice up if the temperature falls to between 5 and 0°C. That's why ENERGY STAR now includes a requirement that's designed to ensure a correctly sized ENERGY STAR heat pump will perform efficiently in this temperature range.”

Mr Hoerning also advises people to think about:

• Insulating first. Make sure your ceiling and underfloor insulation is sorted first - you'll be able to buy a smaller heat pump and your home will be cheaper to heat properly
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• Quality. Choose a quality brand from a reputable supplier that offers at least a five-year warranty on parts and labour
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• Sizing. Make sure it's sized correctly for the room you want to heat - if it's too small, it will have to work harder and cost you more to run. Your supplier will be able to discuss this with you
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• Climate. As the temperature drops, so does the performance of many heat pumps. If you live in a cold area, make sure the unit is sized using the manufacturer's information on how much heat it can deliver at the average outdoor winter temperature of the area in which you live. A good quality unit, sized and installed correctly, should perform effectively down to minus 15°C. Ask your heat pump supplier if you need your heat pump to perform at these temperatures
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• Environment. For example, in geothermal areas or coastal areas the heat pump needs to have suitable protection against corrosion - ask your supplier about environmental considerations in your area
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• Installation. Good installation is fundamental to how well a heat pump performs - make sure you choose an experienced installer who follows EECA’s Good Practice Guide – Heat Pump Installation.
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Not sure how to clean your heat pump filters? Check out the video at www.energywise.govt.nz

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