We set up the controls at commissioning to suit your home and routine, show you how to use them, and explain how a heat pump tariff or time-of-use tariff could fit. Settings can be fine-tuned after the first cold spell, once you have seen how the house responds.
Hot water schedules in Derbyshire can be timed to suit shift work, school runs or working from home. Across Derbyshire and Derbyshire, heating curves are fine-tuned after the first cold spell to suit how each house responds. If an existing heat pump in Derbyshire feels costly to run, a controls check is often the first thing to look at.
Who it suits
- Homes with an extension, loft room or areas heated at different times
- Every new heat pump installation, set up at commissioning
- Existing heat pumps that feel expensive to run or slow to respond
- Homes with solar PV or a battery that want hot water timed to match
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
In England the Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £7,500 towards an air source heat pump (£9,000 if it replaces oil or LPG, from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027), and since 28 April 2026 a valid EPC is no longer needed. The grant is applied for by the MCS-certified installer and shown as a deduction on your quote.
Installing heat pumps is zero-rated for VAT across the UK until 31 March 2027. Since 29 May 2025, permitted development in England allows up to two air source heat pumps on a house, each up to 1.5 m³, with no blanket 1 m boundary rule — the installation must still meet the MCS planning standards, including the noise check. Listed buildings, flats and some conservation-area positions need extra consent, which we check at survey.
Prices
Weather-compensating controls and set-up are included in every full system price. See the guide prices for full systems.
Towns we cover in Derbyshire
We cover 16 towns in Derbyshire for heat pump controls and tariffs. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Derby | DE1 | Belper | 7 h 34 min |
| Chesterfield | S41 | Staveley | 7 h 31 min |
| Long Eaton | NG10 | Ilkeston | 7 h 35 min |
| Ilkeston | DE7 | Heanor | 7 h 34 min |
| Swadlincote | DE11 | Ashby-de-la-Zouch | 7 h 36 min |
| Staveley | S43 | Chesterfield | 7 h 31 min |
| Belper | DE56 | Ripley | 7 h 33 min |
| Heanor | DE75 | Ripley | 7 h 33 min |
| Alfreton | DE55 | Ripley | 7 h 33 min |
| Dronfield | S18 | Chesterfield | 7 h 30 min |
| Ripley | DE5 | Heanor | 7 h 33 min |
| Buxton | SK17 | Bakewell | 7 h 31 min |
| Glossop | SK13 | Hyde | 7 h 29 min |
| Ashbourne | DE6 | Belper | 7 h 33 min |
| Bakewell | DE45 | Matlock | 7 h 31 min |
| Matlock | DE4 | Bakewell | 7 h 32 min |
Heat pump controls and tariffs questions
Is a heat pump tariff a good idea?
A heat pump or time-of-use tariff can lower running costs if your household can shift hot water heating and some space heating into the cheaper periods. Whether it suits you depends on the rates, the standing charge, your routine and whether you have a battery. Compare the total expected cost on your own usage, not only the headline rate.
What flow temperature should my heat pump run at?
It depends on the design: the flow temperature is set so your radiators or underfloor heating can heat each room on a cold day. Well-designed systems typically run at around 35–50°C at their coldest, and lower in milder weather through weather compensation. Your design paperwork states the design flow temperature, and we set the heating curve to match it.
How should I set the hot water on a heat pump?
Most households heat hot water once or twice a day at set times rather than on demand. Timing the main heat for a cheaper tariff period, or for the middle of the day when solar panels generate, helps keep costs down. A weekly legionella cycle raises the water temperature higher, and we schedule it at a sensible time.
Why are my radiators only warm, not hot?
That is normal for a heat pump. It heats radiators to a lower temperature than a boiler, so they feel warm rather than hot to the touch, while running longer to keep the room at a steady temperature. If rooms reach the temperature you set, the system is working as designed. If a room stays cold, the settings or radiator size may need checking.