The Misquote That Ruined the Heating Industry
Talk to a multitude of influencers, policymakers and heat pump salesmen in the UK, and it’s easy to find common ground. They all think heating should be as easy to use as flicking a switch, responding to clients’ expectations of thermal comfort. They say, “The client is always right!” Any attempt to explain that thermal responses to ambient temperature and building heat take time, and that boosting functions and tinkering with thermostats make the system inefficient, are shut down. Many of you are probably nodding your heads thinking, “Yes, the client is always right, damn it.”
But here’s the thing: the original quote by Harry Selfridge in 1909 is actually, “The client is always right, in matters of taste.”
And here we are in a technologically advanced country allowing a relay developed in the 1940s to control our state-of-the-art, highly efficient heat pumps because so many of our engineers couldn’t be bothered to read to the end of a quote! I sympathise with manufacturers who say their complex installation instructions are rarely read.
The irony, of course, is that heat pump controllers do exactly the same as on/off relay controls, but in a different, often better way:
• Temperature Adjustment: You can turn the target room temperature up (just like a relay control), but because there is less power than in a (usually) oversized boiler, the system takes time to raise room temperature. So it’s probably best to just accept one stable temperature.
• Setback Periods: You can set time periods for comfort and setback temperatures. If your setback is set low enough, radiators will shut down and get cold (just like a relay control). But why do this when setback avoids long waits to heat ambient temperatures to acceptable levels?
• System Shutdown: You can turn the system off (just like relay control), and the system goes into frost protection mode and exercises moving components such as pumps and valves to avoid seizure during inactivity. Surely you want this!
Constant variable levels of heat in radiators or floors match heat loss of buildings, maintaining stable room temperatures that enable high efficiencies. Paradoxically, because there are no temperature swings, people can get used to lower ambient temperatures, starting a virtuous circle of energy efficiency.
It is often pointed out that higher efficiency doesn’t necessarily mean less energy used, but judicious use of the controller will enable optimum usage of energy that will likely use less energy. And frankly, if people want to save energy, they can just turn down the set point temperature or put on a sweater.
Complexity of interfaces is routinely cited as an argument against heat pump controllers, but this raises a question: Why are people tinkering? If a good heating system delivers a stable room temperature (are you really going to argue for unstable temperatures?) people adapt to new interfaces regularly. Cars, TVs, sound systems, etc., all change regularly. Yet, I have heard our own industry experts argue in defence of keeping the same thermostat installed circa 1980 on a heat pump.
So why aren’t manufacturers educating their staff, installers and homeowners on optimum settings for heat pump controllers? To put it bluntly, it’s a cost issue. Anyway, you can always use an on/off relay thermostat, and the system will do what you expect, leaving the hapless installer to pick up the blame for a failing installation – a virtuous circle for the manufacturer.
Engineering-led policymakers in other countries effectively removed on/off controls from the market with enlightened regulations. In the UK, the enhanced capabilities of heat pump controllers were never fully appreciated (despite being developed at Glasgow University in the '90s). To this day, you can still buy the very same thermostat developed over 80 years ago.
People are happily told what to install and where when building or renovating a property (fans, windows, smoke alarms, etc.). But when it comes to heating, it’s a free-for-all.
And like it or not, that has to stop. So policymakers, influencers, engineers, installers, salespeople and yes, even homeowners, let’s rise to the challenge and spread the word about the benefits of using just the heat pump controller. Heat pump and control manufacturers, do the right thing and stop selling technologies that don’t optimise systems. Start sharing information in an understandable format about your state-of-the-art controllers that actually optimise them.
Professional installer
Heat pumps are great ( I think?) if installation is right and one has access to a trusted engineer for when things go wrong. I find myself shouting at the radio, or articles in publications when heat pump grants are mentioned or extolling them as being the answer to all future heating supply.
What about longevity, service costs, lack of a backup when things go wrong, high electricity bills in cold weather.
I have a relatively positive experience of a new home with ASH nearly 4 years on
but have been told our system set up is outdated ( already!). Settings are wrong, inhibitor used us wrong, no immersion backup etc etc
Clearly things are progressing at pace in this industry!
One downside of an extremely well built well insulated home is in summer the house is too warm at 23/27 degrees on the rare sunny hot days of summer... I long for aircon too.
@alec-morrow A topic close to my heart, thanks for posting about this.
"Engineering-led policymakers in other countries effectively removed on/off controls from the market with enlightened regulations" --> Which other countries removed on/off controls for heat pumps?
CEO and co-founder at HavenWise
Germany mandate an out door sensor in 1986 on heat generators And Holland mandated opentherm in 2005
Professional installer
I think @alec-morrow is on vacation at the moment, so he may be a bit slow in replying to comments.
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Posted by: @alec-morrowIn the UK, the enhanced capabilities of heat pump controllers were never fully appreciated
Interesting is Grant install a Chofu heat pumps with Grant badges. They consign a really smart Chofu controller to the back of a cupboard and overlay third part thermostat and DHW timers to keep the UK plumber happy, instead of a bit of basic training, then encouraged or mandate wiring to S or Y plan. How daft is that.
hot days of summer... I long for aircon too
You have a heat pump, they can cool. Not good with radiators but swop a couple for fan coils you have Aircon.
outdated ( already!). Settings are wrong, inhibitor used us wrong, no immersion backup etc etc
Clearly things are progressing at pace in this industry!
Who is saying this? Various ways you can do water inhibitors, glycol or no glycol, pure water or water with additives. Neither is right or wrong.
No immersion backup, why do you need that. You didn't have that with a gas boiler so why with a heat pump?
Settings wrong - what's wrong with your settings?
Things progressing, not really sure they are, industry is JUST starting to install correctly, most UK installs would be laughed at in Europe and the current standard of gas boiler installation is just appalling. S and Y plan should have been banned when condensing boilers came out on the 90s. X and W (PHWD) made mandatory.
They still want to zone everywhere given half a chance.
It's really sad, the low standard of understanding our plumbers have. Not all just the majority . There should be an ongoing up skilling required to keep a plumbing ticket, which is the point really anyone can sell themselves as a trades person in the UK, possibly exception is electrician.
Posted by: @AnonymousInteresting is Grant install a Chofu heat pumps with Grant badges. They consign a really smart Chofu controller to the back of a cupboard and overlay third part thermostat and DHW timers to keep the UK plumber happy, instead of a bit of basic training, then encouraged or mandate wiring to S or Y plan. How daft is that.
It seems like another classic case of catering to outdated practices instead of embracing modern, efficient solutions.
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@johnmo easy to blame plumbers and heating engineers for the lack of training, but trust me when it comes to installation of heat pumps or boilers there is no training…
heat geeks do what the can, but as far as I know no manufacturer runs with them
Professional installer
Posted by: @alec-morrow
easy to blame plumbers and heating engineers for the lack of training
Not blaming plumbers, they work in the framework they are given. I am blaming the government and those that allow plumbers to operate and the remit of how they operate. And the legislation behind what is or isn't allowed. High temp heating systems should have been outlawed the same day condensing boilers became mandatory. Appropriate training on low temp heating made mandatory to keep the gas safe certificate.
We still have building regs requiring zoned systems.
Posted by: @alec-morrow
but as far as I know no manufacturer runs with them
https://les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/upskill-to-ecodan
@abernyte manufacturer training is pretty average. They train installers to do the basics of getting their heat pumps running moderately well to avoid complaints and they all still advocate hydraulic separation, which is crazy.
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