
Is your heat pump of the right size?

Is your heat pump of the right size?
A joint study conducted by energy monitoring experts, including Build Test Solutions, Veritherm, and Elmhurst Energy, assessed heat loss in 56 homes, primarily detached and recently built. The research revealed a 35% discrepancy between calculated and measured heat loss, with a bias towards overestimation in 59% of houses.
The findings emphasise the importance of accurate heat loss measurements in determining the appropriate size for heat pump installations. Oversized heat pumps incur higher costs and lower efficiency, while undersized ones may result in insufficient warmth, prompting expensive alternative heating methods. The experts advocate updating industry standards and software tools to incorporate measured heat loss in the heat pump design process, enhancing efficiency and consumer trust.