The different types of air source heat pumps are described below. Ductless vs. Ducted vs. Short-Run Ducted Ductless applications require minimal construction as only a three-inch hole through the wall is required to connect the outdoor condenser and the indoor heads. Ductless systems are often installed in additions. Ducted systems simply use ductwork. If your home already has a ventilation system or the home will be a new construction, you might consider this system. Short-run ducted is traditional large ductwork that only runs through a small section of the house.  Short-run ducted is often complemented by other ductless units for the remainder of the house. Split vs. Packaged Most heat pumps are split-systems—that is, they have one coil inside and one outside. Supply and return ducts connect to the indoor central fan. Packaged systems usually have both coils and the fan outdoors. Heated or cooled air is delivered to the interior from ductwork that passes through a wall or...

A heat pump's refrigeration system consists of a compressor and two copper or aluminum coils (one indoors and one outside), which have aluminum fins to aid heat transfer. In heating mode, liquid refrigerant in the outside coil removes heat from the air and evaporates into a gas. The indoor coil releases heat from the refrigerant as it condenses back into a liquid. A reversing valve, near the compressor, can change the direction of the refrigerant flow for cooling mode as well as for defrosting the outdoor coil in winter. The efficiency and performance of today's air-source heat pumps is a result of technical advances such as the following: Thermostatic expansion valves for more precise control of the refrigerant flow to the indoor coil Variable speed blowers, which are more efficient and can compensate for some of the adverse effects of restricted ducts, dirty filters, and dirty coils Improved coil design Improved electric motor and two-speed compressor designs Copper tubing, groo...

Heat pumps can have problems with low airflow, leaky ducts, and incorrect refrigerant charge. There should be about 400 to 500 cubic feet per minute (cfm) airflow for each ton of the heat pump's air-conditioning capacity. Efficiency and performance deteriorate if airflow is much less than 350 cfm per ton. Technicians can increase the airflow by cleaning the evaporator coil or increasing the fan speed, but often some modification of the ductwork is needed. See minimizing energy losses in ducts and insulating ducts. Refrigeration systems should be leak-checked at installation and during each service call. Packaged heat pumps are charged with refrigerant at the factory, and are seldom incorrectly charged. Split-system heat pumps, on the other hand, are charged in the field, which can sometimes result in either too much or too little refrigerant. Split-system heat pumps that have the correct refrigerant charge and airflow usually perform very close to manufacturer's listed SEER and HSPF. T...

Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs), sometimes referred to as GeoExchange, earth-coupled, ground-source, or water-source heat pumps, have been in use since the late 1940s. They use the relatively constant temperature of the earth as the exchange medium instead of the outside air temperature.  Although many parts of the country experience seasonal temperature extremes -- from scorching heat in the summer to sub-zero cold in the winter—a few feet below the earth's surface the ground remains at a relatively constant temperature. Depending on latitude, ground temperatures range from 45°F (7°C) to 75°F (21°C). Like a cave, this ground temperature is warmer than the air above it during the winter and cooler than the air in the summer. The GHP takes advantage of these more favorable temperatures to become high efficient by exchanging heat with the earth through a ground heat exchanger. As with any heat pump, geothermal and water-source heat pumps are able to heat, cool, an...

Z-Wave radiator thermostats allow you to wirelessly control individual radiators. Each radiator can have it's temperature set and changed throughout the day - manually via a smartphone or based on timed schedules. The Z-Wave radiator valves allow you to have different parts of the house at different temperatures through the day, as you need it. You no longer need to heat empty rooms.   The Z-Wave radiator thermostats are fitted within minutes, they simply replace the existing TRV, no need to drain the system. Once installed they operate just like other Z-Wave devices, such as Z-Wave thermostats, as part of your Z-Wave smart home automation system allowing you to control them wirelessly from wherever you are. Or, you can use other features of the Z-Wave system to control them automatically based on time of day, or from other devices such as Z-Wave Sensors. This enables you bring smart central heating control to your home using your Z-Wave system.   If you've got questions abou...

To control your heating from your phone on a room-by-room basis, you'll need a smart radiator valve (thermostatic radiator valve or TRV). Here are our recommendations.   There’s a reason smart heating is growing in popularity. Not only will it give you more control over the temperature in your home – so it’s always warm when you want it to be – but you can easily monitor your heat and potentially make savings on your energy bills. Still, we’d advise that you take manufacturers’ money-saving claims with a pinch of salt.   If you’re buying an entire smart heating system, it’ll take some time to recoup the cost of the tech but a smart radiator valve is a much smaller investment. Each one will allow you to control a single room, which means you can schedule heating so that it’s warm when it needs to be and no heat is wasted the rest of the time.   Being able to see the temperature clearly on your phone screen or on the de...

We live in an age where smart phones connect us to nearly every aspect of our lives —  and it seems that there is no end in sight. This technological revolution is also extending to the way we control indoor comfort. As a result, the simple thermostat, which has been a basic staple in our homes for decades, has significantly evolved.   Today’s thermostats or control systems can offer a wide range of features and connectivity with a smart phone, making it even easier to align your lifestyle with the comfort in your home. However, will this new, smart home technology connect with your current heating and cooling system?     Your current heating and cooling system likely was designed to perform a single function — to heat or cool your home. It may not have been designed to directly communicate with the various types of control technology on the market today. Depending on the HVAC system in your home, it’s possible that only a specific style...

A thermostat is the brains behind your home’s heating and cooling system, whether that system consists of a heat pump, furnace, boiler, or central AC. By monitoring and controlling the temperature in each part of your home, a responsive thermostat is key to keeping your home comfortable. And some thermostats can save you money. A smart thermostat can shave about 8 percent off your home’s heating and cooling bills, amounting to an average savings of $50 a year, according to Energy Star. (Some thermostat manufacturers claim those savings can reach $100 or more.) Of course, non-connected, programmable thermostats—which, according to the Energy Information Administration (PDF) are used in about 42 percent of U.S. homes—can also provide energy savings. But for years, the problem has been that they’re too difficult to program for many consumers. For that reason, Energy Star stopped certifying the entire product category in 2009. In fact, according to a study (PD...

The world of thermostats moves at a much slower pace than those of more popular electronics, such as smartphones and computers, but there are still some notable changes happening in the industry, especially around smart thermostats. Ecobay was a pioneer when its smart thermostats began using wireless remote temperature sensors, which can be placed in areas away from the thermostat to more accurately heat and cool rooms that might run too hot or too cold. Now, most new smart thermostats offer these sensors. There are also a handful of startups making smart air vents, which connect to select smart thermostats and redirect the airflow of forced air HVAC systems for better heating and cooling. For more information on wireless temperature sensors and smart air vents, check out our guide to getting the right temperature in every room of your home. Last, smart thermostats are becoming much more affordable. Google released a new Nest Thermostat model in 2020 that now costs $100, while smart ho...

At Consumer Reports, we’ve tested hundreds of thermostat models over the years. And while once upon a time they weren’t very accurate, most now are able to keep rooms close to the set temperature. It’s for this reason that we no longer test manual thermostats—all they do is hold a set temperature. With temperature accuracy a given, CR focuses our testing on ease of use—taking note of how simple each thermostat is to set up, program, read, and operate. For programmable thermostats, the ease of use testing is broken down into four aspects of the product experience: setup, ease of reading the display, programming, and manual operation. Our setup test evaluates how easy the thermostat is to configure for your HVAC system after physical installation, and our display test judges how well information is presented and how easy it is to read. The programming test looks at the number of steps it takes to create a heating and cooling schedule and the cues provided fo...

1. Decide whether you’re interested in a non-connected programmable thermostat or a smart thermostat. If all you care about is simple programming, a non-connected thermostat will suffice, and these models are much more affordable. If you’re interested in controlling your thermostat with your voice or an app, or letting it learn your habits and adjust the temperature accordingly, then you should consider a smart thermostat. To narrow your choices, factor in smart features (such as geofencing), price, and attributes that matter to you, such as color, size, or style. 2. Consider your HVAC system. Nearly all of our tested models work on common heating and cooling systems, but check the packaging for exceptions. This is especially a concern with smart thermostats, because not all models support all types of HVAC systems. For example, the Nest Thermostat E doesn’t support two-stage heat pump systems, but the Nest Learning Thermostat does. And if you have separate heating an...

Once you’ve picked out the perfect thermostat for your home, check its price at online retailers and your local hardware stores. And don’t forget to check your local electric utility, which might have rebates or discounts on new thermostats. If you aren’t replacing a broken thermostat, the best time of year to buy one is October through December, when holiday and end-of-year sales will include thermostat discounts (even if they aren’t the greatest gift).   Ecobay has focused on thermostat research for 20 years, high-quality 7-Day Programmable Thermostat, Home Programmable Thermostats. We look forward to your consultation and cooperation.