Measured seasonal performance answers a different question from an energy label: how much useful heat did this installed system deliver for the electricity included in the measurement? This article owns field measurement and diagnosis. Use the label guide when comparing declared product figures.
Meter and calculation boundary
SPF is useful heat delivered over a defined period divided by the corresponding electrical energy. Record the heat-meter position and whether compressor, pumps, controls, backup and hot water are included. Two SPF values with different boundaries or periods cannot be compared directly.
Check the measurement data
Check that heat and electricity meters measure the same system over synchronized periods. Record meter specifications, installation position, commissioning and any data gaps. Hot-water storage and distribution losses may sit inside or outside a chosen heat boundary; state that choice rather than hiding it.
Interpreting the comparison
Interpret results alongside weather, room settings, flow and return temperatures, demand and backup operation. A lower value than brochure SCOP does not automatically prove installer error; standardized climate and real use differ. Persistent unexpected consumption warrants checking sensors, flow, cycling and controls.
Supplier evidence and responsibilities
For a monitored project, agree who owns data, who reviews it and which trigger leads to a service visit. Establish a first-season baseline and compare like periods. Lowering flow temperature often helps, but a fixed gain per degree, fixed defrost loss or universal modulation range is not a valid substitute for measured or model-specific evidence.
Sources and further reading
energy-efficient-products.ec.europa.eu
Before requesting a project quotation
| Check | Information to prepare |
|---|---|
| Project scope | State the country, project type, operating conditions and required delivery date. Identify which decisions still need an installer or designer. |
| Topic-specific evidence | meter boundaries, complete energy records and measurement periods |
| Responsibility and acceptance | Record who supplies, installs, commissions and services the equipment. Ask which documents and checks are included, and confirm exclusions in writing. |
This checklist helps define a request; it is not a model performance claim, installation design or promise of availability.
Relevant equipment · Request a project quotation — Efficiency and sizing · About Thermovo
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Heat Pump Energy Labels: Comparing COP, SCOP and Product Fiches · Heat Pump Sizing: Why Bigger Is Not Always Better
