Heat pumps are a marvelous invention. They are more energy efficient than other forms of heating and cooling and they are easy to install. It is important to make sure that you get the most out of your heat pump by using the right digital programmable thermostat. Although most new programmable thermostats can regulate heat pumps, it is a good idea to get a thermostat that is designed specifically for heat pumps. The Lux Products HP2110 Smart Temp Programmable Heat Pump Thermostat is an Energy Star approved device that is recommended for heat pumps.
Heat pumps work by taking heat from a ‘source’ and putting it in a ‘sink’. If the heat pump is heating a house the source is outside and the sink is inside. If it is cooling then the roles are reversed. A heat pump consists of 2 coils and a reversing valve. When a heat pump is heating the outside coil works as an evaporator and the inside coil works as a condenser. In cooling mode the coils reverse roles. The heat is carried by a refrigerant liquid similar to that used in fridges. A reversing valve determines the flow of heat.
The performance of a heating system is measured by its Coefficient of Performance (COP). This is the units of energy inputted for energy given out. For a standard electrical resistance heater the COP is 1. Namely, one unit of energy produces 1 unit of heat. For a heat pump on a mild winter’s day (10°C) the COP is 3 or 4. That means that a heat pump is 3 or 4 times more economical than a standard heater. A heat pump continues to out-perform other types of HVAC systems down to temperatures around -18°C. At this point a thermostat will normally switch to auxiliary or back up heat.
The Lux Products HP2110 Smart Temp is designed to do this at the right point. If a programmable thermostat turns to auxiliary before the COP falls below 1 then energy is being wasted.
This Lux Products programmable thermostat is a 5-1-1 device. This means it has 3 programs to set up: one for weekdays, one for Saturday and one for Sunday. For each of the 3 programs there are 4 periods of heating/cooling to program. If you keep regular hours at your job during the week but like to do different things at the weekend this thermostat is powerful enough for you to avoid heating or cooling an empty house.
There is also an adjustable swing control on the Lux Products HP2110 to let you set up a range around which the thermostat doesn’t activate the heat pump. This prevents the heat pump from becoming damaged from short cycling.
The thermostat is easy to install and has a backlit digital display. It is easy to program. There is the Lux Products patented speed dial to help you set the three programs up quickly. The thermostat also comes with default Energy Star settings to guide you in choosing the most economical set point temperatures. The display also has a filter change warning and a battery change warning.
There is also a temporary hold to make quick changes and a vacation mode so you can set the heat pump on a timer so the house is comfortable when you return from holiday.
Finally, the Lux Products HP2110 for heat pumps also has a program lock to protect your settings from being changed by others.
When you consider this thermostat costs about $60, you realize that it is money well spent to get the most of out of your heat pump.
Reviews of the Lux Products HP2110 Smart Temp
Reviews of the Lux Products HP2110 Smart Temp Programmable Heat Pump Thermostat are nearly unanimous in praising the thermostat. Out of 19 reviews on Amazon, 12 people give the thermostat the top rating of 5 stars. Only 1 person rated the thermostat with a single star.
Most reviews mention how well the Lux Products HP2110 does at regulating a heat pump. That it doesn’t keep turning to auxiliary prematurely, and that it holds the room temperature well. Mention is also made of how handy the swing control is.
The only minor note of criticism on Amazon reviews is that you have only 1 minute to complete a battery change before the settings are lost. Overall, reviews of the Lux Products Smart Temp for heat pumps show that this is a reliable and accurate thermostat.
List of Functions
5-1-1 Programmable thermostat with 4 periods per program
Designed specifically for heat pumps
Swing control
Energy Star default settings
Battery powered
Mercury free digital display with backlight
Lux Products patented speed dial
Temporary hold
Vacation mode
Filter change warning
Battery change warning
Compatible with heat pumps that have up to 2 stages of heating and 1 stage of cooling
Energy Star approved
1 year warranty
Program lock to protect settings
Settings stored even after a power outage
Real time display
Armchair programming
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