These Simple Heat Pump Habits Could Cut Your Running Costs

Heat pumps are a popular way to heat homes, but many people don't know how to use them well. Unlike a gas boiler, a heat pump works best when it runs steadily at lower temperatures for longer stretches of time. Experts say that a few simple daily habits can make a big difference in how much it costs to run one. If you own a heat pump — or live in a home that has one — learning these habits could help keep your energy bills lower.

The most important habit is to think 'low and slow' instead of 'on and off.' Many people are used to turning the heat on for a couple of hours in the morning, switching it off during the day, and blasting it again in the evening. With a heat pump, this approach wastes energy because the system has to work much harder to warm the house back up each time. It is more efficient to let the heat pump keep a steady, comfortable background temperature all day long.

If you need to leave the house for a short while, try turning the target temperature down a little instead of switching the heat off completely. At night, a small 'setback' — meaning a slightly lower setting — makes more sense than letting the house get very cold. The Energy Saving Trust says keeping a heat pump on for longer periods helps it run more efficiently. Octopus Energy agrees, noting that heat pumps work best at a fairly steady temperature.

Another key habit is not to set the thermostat higher than you really need. For most homes, a setting of around 19°C or 20°C feels comfortable, though this depends on the house and the people inside it. Turning the thermostat up does not heat the home faster — it just tells the system to keep working until it reaches a higher temperature. A smarter move is to try lowering the setting by half a degree or one degree to see if the home still feels fine.

Modern heat pumps use a feature called weather compensation, which changes how hard the system works depending on how cold it is outside. On a mild day, the pump sends warm water through the system; on a very cold day, it works harder. Problems can happen when homeowners keep overriding the controls, such as sharply turning up the thermostat when the house feels a little cool. Doing this too often can stop the system from settling into an efficient pattern.

Flow temperature is one of the most important — and least understood — settings on a heat pump. It is simply the temperature of the water sent from the heat pump to your radiators or underfloor heating. The lower this temperature can be while still keeping the home warm, the more efficiently the heat pump can usually run. If you are not sure what flow temperature your system uses, it is worth asking your installer or energy supplier to explain it.

Hot water is another area where good habits can save money. It helps to match when you heat water to your household's daily routine — for example, heating it in the morning if everyone showers then, rather than topping it up all day. If you are on a smart energy tariff, you may be able to heat water during cheaper periods of the day. Just be sure never to lower the water temperature below safe levels without getting advice from a professional first.

Smart energy tariffs can also help lower the cost of running a heat pump. Some tariffs offer cheaper electricity at certain times of day, so you can pre-heat your home or heat your hot water during those cheaper windows. Savings will vary depending on your tariff, your home's insulation, and how flexible your daily routine is. But for many households, shifting some heating use to cheaper periods can be one of the most useful habits of all.

Some of the best habits have nothing to do with technology. Avoid blocking radiators with sofas, curtains, or drying clothes, and use thermostatic radiator valves at the lowest comfortable setting. Keep the outdoor unit of your heat pump clear of leaves, snow, bins, or garden furniture, since blocked airflow makes the unit work harder. A quick visual check of the outdoor unit every few weeks — especially in autumn and winter — is a simple but smart thing to do.

Finally, pay attention to your system over time without panicking about a single cold day. A heat pump will naturally use more electricity in January than in October, and that is completely normal. What matters is the overall pattern: if your bills are always higher than expected, rooms never warm up properly, or you keep needing to boost the system, something may need to be checked. Ask your installer or supplier for help rather than just turning everything up.