Decarbonising the heating industry in a way that is both practical and affordable, we need to focus on more than just the source of our energy. Good quality design, installation and commissioning are key to ensuring heating systems are fit for purpose, says Paul Spence, Technical Manager at Heatly, explaining how digital tools can contribute to improved efficiency, costs and comfort.
As more people adopt heat pumps, traditional methods of specifying heating systems – manual calculations, rough estimates and rule of thumb methods – just don’t cut it. Manual calculations are too time-consuming and rough estimates are open to error and often lead to inefficient heating systems that cost too much to run.
If we are going to get more heat pumps into homes, we need to make life easier for everyone involved, and digital tools are a big part of the solution. By standardising, simplifying and speeding-up processes like heat loss calculations and room by room surveying, digital tools can help installers to deliver quality heating systems and have confidence in their skills. They can also help break down barriers for consumers and automate heat pump operation to optimise comfort and costs.
Build trust and transparency
Heatly recently ran a survey with JL Creative and the results confirmed the company’s suspicions – there’s still a lot of misunderstanding about heat pumps amongst consumers. Installers said the top three myths they hear from their customers are that heat pumps only work in new builds (72%), that heat pumps are too expensive to run (64%) and that heat pumps don’t work in cold weather (62%).
Digital tools can help installers to demonstrate the benefits of heat pumps to customers. Heat pump specification software and apps can give customers a clear, step-by-step journey – from the first chat about their heating needs to installation and beyond. Tools like AR and VR can be used to show homeowners exactly how the system will look in their home and what they can expect. It makes everything feel more real and builds trust.
We also have technology that can help explain the long-term savings and carbon benefits in a way that’s easy to understand. Cost calculators, sliders and visual comparisons make it simple to show customers how much they’ll save over time. And if we can incorporate information about grants, finance options and trusted installers into one place, it makes the whole process far less daunting for homeowners.
Improve quality and accuracy
One big problem Heatly found in the survey was system sizing. Over half (54%) of installers said heat pumps are often oversized and only 35% think they’re getting it right. Oversizing costs customers more money upfront and leads to inefficient systems that don’t work as well as they should. On the other hand, undersized systems (though less common) bring their own performance problems.
By standardising key processes, such as heat loss calculations, and providing greater access to manufacturers’ data tables and performance data, we can put installers on the same page and improve the accuracy of heat pump specification. For those who’ve spent hours fixing problems caused by bad calculations, this kind of accuracy is a game-changer.
Enhance performance
Recent research from Nesta highlights another area where digital tools can make a huge difference. In a randomised control trial, remote control operation of heat pumps to flex consumption around peak demand led to a 74% average reduction in heat pump electricity usage. 81% of participants reported being very satisfied or satisfied with the internal temperature of their home, suggesting that smart, remote-control operation of heat pumps can boost efficiency and reduce running costs while maintaining comfort levels.
By using the latest advances in digital technology to automate how and when heat pumps operate, we can balance supply and demand as the grid relies more on renewable power while achieving better outcomes for end users.
Working together
Installing a heat pump isn’t a one-man job. It takes electricians, plumbers and other trades working together, but poor communication can cause problems and delays. A lot of installers in the Heatly survey mentioned frustration with inconsistent quality from other trades, which can mess up the whole project.
Shared digital platforms could sort this out. By getting everyone on the same page with clear documentation and shared standards, projects could run smoother and faster. Better communication and coordination will save time and avoid a lot of the usual headaches.
To solve the problems facing the heat pump industry, we need to work smarter, not harder. Digital tools aren’t a thing of the future, they are here now. It’s time to embrace new technologies and the benefits they bring to installers, consumers and the wider industry.