Heat Pump Settings

Unlike traditional heating systems, heat pumps are most efficient when they deliver a steady, gentle warmth rather than short blasts of intense heat. This fundamental difference is worth understanding — it can save you real money.

A well-configured heat pump doesn’t simply switch on and off when a room reaches its target temperature. Instead, it responds to the outdoor temperature, using something called a “weather compensation curve” to determine how warm the circulating water needs to be. The result is a continuous, low-level heat that keeps your home comfortable without wasting energy.

Heat pump circuits typically operate in one of three modes: inactive, active, or expanded. Inactive and active modes both prioritise that steady heat flow, with active mode paying closer attention to actual room temperature. Expanded mode will switch the system off once the target temperature is reached — useful later in the year when the house naturally warms up, but potentially masking inefficiencies in a newly installed system.

For new heat pump owners, sticking to inactive or active mode while fine-tuning your curve is the smarter approach — at least until you’re confident the system is running as efficiently as possible.