The Future Homes Standard will mandate the installation of heat pumps in newbuild properties due to their low-carbon, energy-efficient credentials. However, heating a home with a heat pump differs significantly from heating with gas boilers, and zoning and controls should reflect these differences.
Gas boilers:
- Rapid heat-up time
- Zones heat up quickly, allowing scheduled heating to align with occupancy
- TRVs work effectively to fine-tune room temperatures without affecting system balance
Heat pumps:
- Operate efficiently at lower flow temperatures and prefer continuous operation to maximise the Coefficient of Performance (COP)
- Take longer to heat zones compared to gas boilers
- Zoning with TRVs can cause issues, as shutting down zones when the set temperature is reached means they will take longer to heat up again when required
- Weather compensation and smart controls can automate adjustments, ensuring the system runs efficiently while maintaining comfort
Despite the challenges, zoning with a heat pump heating system can offer benefits:
- Allows end-users to reduce the temperature in unused/little used zones
- Improves comfort by maintaining stable temperatures in frequently used areas of the home
- Supports energy-efficient operation when integrated with smart multi-zone controls.
Key takeaways for heating engineers: accurate system design, correct balancing of radiators and educating homeowners on low-temperature, continuous operation are essential for successful zoning with heat pumps in newbuilds.