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shelleybean 
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: New Zealand
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 Topic: Heat Pumps
Posted: 03 November 2007 at 10:58pm |
We are getting a heat pump installed in a couple of weeks. So my question is, how is the best way to run them?
Danni Chick has suggested not to run on automatic, any other thoughts? 
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Two Blondinis
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: West Auckland
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Posted: 04 November 2007 at 9:10am |
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We've just had one installed and I love it!!!!
DH and I both work during the day and had intended on having it on a timer to come on an hour before we get home and run an hour after we go to bed at night, then come back on for the morning.
The installer said that this was the most expensive way to run a heat pump because the machine uses more power get the house up to temp than leaving it on auto all the time and letting it regulate the temp. We have ours set to 23oC and it keeps the whole house at about 20oC and the lounge is very toasty. We've got a bungalow with lots of rooms so will probably need a heat transfer pump to even the hot spots out.
We're trying it out this way for one power bill and will try the on and off method next bill just to see.
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cuppatea
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Joined: 05 February 2007
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Posted: 04 November 2007 at 9:15am |
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If your house is well insulated, and most New Zealand houses aren't, then the best thing is to run them 24 hours 7 days as that way they get the house to temp and then keep it there. If you house isn't well insulated then your heat pump will be trying to heat/cool the entire planet in which case it is better just to run as and when needed.
Normally they have two different ways of running, one is to a set temp and the other is a "feel' button. I tend to use the "feel" as they don't seem to be able to run all that well to a particular temp. Basically with the feel you just push the button for feeling too cold or feeling too hot and it will heat/cool accordingly.
This year as we had Spencer at home we ran them 24 hours during the winter but would have to really crank them up at night to keep the place warm. Normally we don't bother running them all the time and would just switch on in the morning if need be, it only takes 10 mins for them to heat the place.
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Kazzle
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Location: Porirua
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Posted: 04 November 2007 at 9:37am |
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we have our heatpump set on homestay, which is set at 14, which means that if the temp in the house drops below tht then it kicks in, and as our house is pretty well insulated then unless its winter it doesnt come on, and in the winter we have it going at around 18 and its nice and warm
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jack_&_charli
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Location: christchurch
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Posted: 04 November 2007 at 5:34pm |
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we keep ours running all the time too. we had insulation done at the same time as the heat pump was put in so that probably makes a difference....we keep it at the same temp most of the time and just turn it right down when we go out and overnight.
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Bubbaloo
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Posted: 04 November 2007 at 8:25pm |
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We haven't had ours on for a bout a week now but when it was cold we used to have it around 23 then turned it done to about 17 when we went to bed or turned it off James still has an oil heater in his room he didn't sleep to well with the door left a little open and during the day had at around 20 kept us nice and toasty.
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 Was danni-chick Mum to James My Angel 28/07/08
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sparkle
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Location: Auckland
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Posted: 05 November 2007 at 10:10am |
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I'm shocking!!!! I have our house set at a balmy 24!!! It's like a tropical island!!!! I love it!!!
That said though, I only turned it on yesterday as it was a sh*tty day. It's been off all week. I don't see the point in having it on when it's nice outside.
We were told not to use it like a heater ie turning it on when you're cold then off when you went to bed etc as that's when they use all the power. Over winter when we had it on 24/7 we had it on automatic
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Heat Pumps
