Air-to-water System
Your home gets its heating and hot water from an air-to-water system. The system operates by extracting thermal energy from the outside air, even in cold conditions, and transferring it into water which circulates through radiators, underfloor heating or gets stored for domestic hot water use in your hot water cylinder.
Zones and Thermostats
The heating system is designed to provide you with separate heating zones. So, Zone 1 is the ground floor, Zone 2 is the first floor, and so on. The heating on each floor is controlled by its own thermostat. Zone 1's thermostat is normally in the hallway. Zone 2's may be on the landing or in the master bedroom. You can set the thermostat to the required temperature by turning the dial on an analog thermostat or using the up and down arrows on a digital display.
The zone thermostats control the heat pump and reduce the output when the desired temperature has been reached. This will ensure a comfortable environment throughout your home, with the added benefit of lower energy costs. Turning the heat pump on and off like a boiler system results in periods of high loading and this will reduce the efficiency and increase running costs. When the heating system is switched on and the set temperature is reached within the zone, the system will close the valve serving the heating zone until the temperature drops below the set temperature.
In addition to zone thermostats, individual radiators are also provided with thermostatic mixing valves. These can be adjusted independently of the zone thermostat, allowing an increase or decrease of radiator output as required in each room. Bear in mind that adjusting the radiators will not override zone thermostat settings, so it will only allow to regulate the temperature in the room you require.
This is because heat pumps operate differently from standard gas boiler installations, in that the heating water temperature is significantly lower. The lower the heating water temperature through the radiators, the more efficient and cheaper the system will be. Therefore, for the heating system to operate at its best efficiency, it’s recommended to maintain a consistent temperature rather than turning it on and off.
External Heat Pump Unit
The external heat pump unit contains a fan that ramps up and down depending on the heating requirements. All equipment has been commissioned and preconfigured to ensure optimum efficiency and operation. The positioning of the unit is important as it is necessary to allow for sufficient space for ventilation to ensure functionality. For this reason, it is not recommended to put anything heavy on top of the unit or anything around the sides which might impede ventilation. In front of the unit (where the fan blows), please ensure to leave a clearance of 1.5 meters.
If you have pets in your home or young children whom you want to prevent from climbing or accessing the pump, you may considering purchasing a wire cage to limit accessibility without impacting ventilation.
Air-to-water Benefits
- Energy efficiency because heat is moved around rather than being generated
- Reduced reliance on fossil fuels, thereby helping to support climate targets
- Versatility ensures compatibility with radiators, underfloor heating, and hot water cylinders
- Delivers consistent performance in hot and cold weather
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