Make sure it's clean
Just like cleaning the filter in your dishwasher or washing machine can help it run more efficiently, cleaning the filter inside your heat pump can make a real difference to how well it works. You should give your filter a good clean as you head into the cold season, and ideally clean your heat pump filters once a month during winter. You can always clean them more frequently if they're particularly dirty.
Landlord tip: Once you've got the heat pump installed make sure you give your tenants information about how to keep it clean.
Tenant tip: It's your responsibility to make sure the home is reasonably clean and tidy. This includes appliances. Pop 'clean the heat pump filter'onto your cleaning roster to make sure you don't forget!
Know your temperatures
How do you get a warm, dry home without churning through power and $$? There is a middle point that'll help you with both. Set your heat pump temperature to 18 degrees or above to help fight damp and mould, but below 21 degrees to save on power. The higher the temperature, the more energy the heat pump will use, so anywhere between 18 and 21 is the sweet spot.
Spend more time on your couch
It might sound obvious, but heat pumps use the most energy when they're getting a room up to a set temperature. So spending more time in the space your heat pump is in will help you make the most of the energy you're using. Often, that's in the living room, which is also conveniently where our couches, TVs, and magazines live. You can close the doors to any rooms you don't use too, to make sure they're not stealing some of the warmth.
Don't run your heat pump constantly
We know, we know – this one is a well debated topic. A lot of people believe that keeping a heat pump running 24/7 is an efficient, cost-effective way to heat their home. But in fact, that idea is actually a myth. When you do that, you're actually using more energy and losing more energy overall, so it's much better to just run your heat pump when you're at home. Doing that will also save you money on your electricity bill.
Got a timer? Use it.
There's nothing like getting home to, or waking up to a nice, warm home in winter. If your heat pump has a timer, you can set it to turn on just before you get home or before you wake up in the morning. Doing that also means you'll be less tempted to crank the heat pump at a high temperature when you get home to a cold house, or wake up in one.
Know who's in charge of what
When it comes to the heat pump, landlords are responsible for maintaining it. Tenants, you're responsible for keeping it clean.
If there are any problems with the heat pump make sure you tell your landlord as soon as possible. If it's damaged and needs repairs, who pays for it depends on how the damage occurred. Find out more about repairs and damages on the Tenancy Services website.(external link)
Thanks for the tips Gen Less!
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And here is more detailed information about the requirements for the healthy homes heating standard.(external link)