🟢 INTRO

One of the most common concerns we hear from homeowners is:

👉 “Why is my heat pump using so much electricity?”

Heat pumps can be very efficient when set up correctly, but if something isn’t quite right, running costs can increase significantly.

In many cases, high electricity usage is not caused by the heat pump itself — but by how the system has been designed, installed, or configured.

This guide explains the most common reasons for high running costs and what to look out for.

🔧 1. Flow Temperature Is Too High

One of the biggest causes of high electricity use.

• Higher flow temperatures = lower efficiency

• The heat pump has to work harder

👉 Many systems are left running hotter than necessary.

🌡️ 2. The System Is Trying to Heat Up From Cold

Heat pumps are designed to:
👉 Maintain temperature, not recover from cold

If you:

• Turn it off during the day

• Then turn it back up

👉 The system runs flat out → uses more electricity

🏠 3. Radiators May Be Undersized

If emitters are too small:

• The system needs higher temperatures

• Rooms struggle to heat

👉 This leads to:

• Longer run times

• Higher energy usage

🌦️ 4. Weather Compensation Is Not Set Correctly

If weather compensation is:

• Disabled

• Poorly configured

👉 The system won’t adjust properly to outdoor conditions

Result:

• Inefficient operation

• Unstable temperatures

🔁 5. Poor Commissioning or Setup

Many high-cost systems have:

• Incorrect flow rates

• Poor balancing

• Incorrect control settings

👉 These issues often go unnoticed but have a big impact on efficiency.

⚠️ 6. The System May Be Running Constantly (But Inefficiently)

A common situation:

• Heat pump runs all day

• House still struggles to heat

👉 This usually indicates:

• Setup or design issue

• Not normal efficient operation

💡 7. Electricity Usage Isn’t Always What It Seems

It’s important to consider:

• Outdoor temperatures

• Property insulation

• System size

👉 Some increase in usage during colder weather is normal
👉 But excessive costs usually indicate an issue

💡 Real-World Insight

In many of the systems we review, small adjustments to flow temperature, controls, and setup can significantly reduce electricity usage without changing the hardware.

Concerned About Your Running Costs?

We offer independent technical reviews to help identify why your system may be using more electricity than expected.

You’ll receive:

• Review of system setup and performance

• Identification of potential issues

• Clear recommendations to improve efficiency

👉 Simple, practical guidance — no unnecessary changes.