Maintaining My Home

• heat pump water heaters do not have a control permitting the homeowner to set whatever hot water temperature they want to get from the taps. While some units allow water temperatures to be changed on a control panel, this is the set point of the stored water – it does not immediately lead to hotter water at the taps
• all domestic hot water systems must comply with two requirements around temperature. The first is that the water in a hot water storage cylinder must be heated to 60°C at least once a day to prevent Legionella bacteria growth. The second is that hot water delivered at domestic hygiene fixtures (mostly showers, baths and basins in bathrooms) must be below a certain temperature to prevent people being burnt or scalded by extremely hot water. The limit is currently 55°C but this is changing to 50°C in November 2023, with a 12-month transition period. (Hot water may be delivered to domestic kitchen sinks and laundries at higher temperatures – generally around 55°C to 65°C)
• if your system runs out of hot water, two possible responses are (a) to increase the set-point temperature of water in the cylinder or (b) to activate the boost function if there is one – this switches on the back-up heating element
• for more information, call the supplier/installer of the heat pump water heater for advice. Some companies have YouTube videos that show how to use the system control panel

call the supplier/installer of the heat pump water heater. Some systems have a light that appears when the unit is faulty and needs repair