tado° and Panasonic launched two new smart heat pump features on 5 September 2025, the first joint development between the two companies since they announced a strategic partnership in 20241. AQUAREA Sync is available now across Europe, while Hydraulic Balancing will be available from November 20251.
AQUAREA Sync is described as an exclusive optimisation feature available only for Panasonic's AQUAREA heat pumps1. According to tado°, it can further reduce flow temperatures to increase efficiency by 10%, avoid short cycling by entering true standby, and dynamically boost power to underperforming rooms1. It is included free of charge for all tado° Heat Pump Optimiser X units connected to a Panasonic heat pump, and is activated automatically for existing tado° and Panasonic AQUAREA bundle customers1.
"This next chapter in our partnership with Panasonic is about building smarter features together. Because we're vendor-agnostic, our system already works with many heat pumps, but our deep technical access to Panasonic's AQUAREA models let us go further than ever."
The hydraulic balancing feature, due in November 2025, is available to all customers with tado° X devices1. tado° states it requires no valve replacement: tado° Smart Radiator Thermostats are fitted onto existing valves, which the company says takes minutes and costs less than changing the valves1. Automatic hydraulic balancing is free of charge for tado° Heat Pump Optimiser X units connected to a Panasonic AQUAREA heat pump; for all other customers it is available through tado°'s Auto Assist subscription1. The two national versions of the announcement give different currencies for that subscription: 3,99 Euro per month in the European release and £3.99 per month in the UK release1.
Certification differs by market. In Germany and other European countries, hydraulic balancing is mandatory to access government subsidies for heat pump installations, and tado° says certified compliance is given after installation exclusively for Panasonic heat pump customers1. The UK release states that hydraulic balancing is not a requirement for heat pump subsidies in the UK, but is best practice for optimising heat pump efficiency2. tado° Heat Pump Optimizer X customers with heat pumps from other manufacturers can use the feature to achieve hydraulic balancing, but will not receive certification directly from tado°1.
| Feature | Availability | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| AQUAREA Sync | Now, across Europe | Free with Heat Pump Optimiser X connected to a Panasonic heat pump1 |
| Hydraulic Balancing | From November 2025 | Free for Heat Pump Optimiser X connected to a Panasonic AQUAREA heat pump; otherwise via Auto Assist subscription (3,99 Euro / £3.99 per month)1 |
Why it matters for households
Both features act on the running cost and working life of an installed heat pump rather than on the hardware itself. Lower flow temperatures and fewer stop-start cycles are the two levers most often cited for heat pump efficiency, and tado° puts the flow temperature gain at 10% for AQUAREA Sync1. The company also states that tado° users already save an average of 22% on their bills, a figure it repeats in both releases without breaking it down by household or system1.
For homes on a dynamic electricity tariff, the Heat Pump Optimizer X can automatically shift heating and hot water usage to times when electricity is cheapest1. The Optimizer X, launched in 2024, works with the home's main heat pump controller and, paired with tado° Smart Thermostats X or Smart Radiator Thermostats X, enables individual room control1. tado° says it is already compatible with leading European heat pump brands1.
The subsidy angle is the more consequential part for anyone weighing up a heat pump. Where hydraulic balancing is a condition of a grant, the traditional route involves replacing radiator valves; tado° is offering a certified alternative for Panasonic customers that it says avoids plumbing work1. In the UK, no such requirement is described, so the benefit there is efficiency rather than grant eligibility2.
What happens next
AQUAREA Sync is live now and activates automatically for existing bundle customers1. Hydraulic Balancing follows from November 2025, with certification for Panasonic heat pump customers issued after installation1. The UK release cites a government target of 600,000 heat pump installations a year by 20282. No further joint products or dates have been announced.