Abstract: In a method for operating a heating system, a heating circuit medium is guided in an overall heating circuit and in first and second sub-heating circuits connected to the overall heating circuit. A heating circuit medium volumetric flow through the sub-heating circuits is defined by a valve device and fed to the second sub-heating circuit via a first valve device connection and/or guided via a second valve device connection. The heating circuit medium volumetric flow is fed via a connection of the valve device connected to the overall heating circuit. If necessary, the heating circuit medium volumetric flow is fed to the first sub-heating circuit via the second connection of the valve device, and if necessary, the heating circuit medium volumetric flow is delivered via a bypass on the second sub-heating circuit. If necessary, the heating circuit volumetric flow is guided through a buffer store at the bypass.

Abstract: In a method for operating a heat pump system, heat can be supplied to a heating circuit medium using a heat pump; a heating circuit medium flows through a heating circuit; in a first operating mode of the heat pump system, heat is supplied to at least one heat sink located in the heating circuit between a flow line of the heating circuit and a return line of the heating circuit; in a second operating mode of the heat pump system, heat is supplied to a buffer located in the heating circuit between the flow line and the return line and in parallel with the at least one heat sink. In a third operating mode of the heat pump system, an electrical heating device is used to supply heat to the heating circuit medium located in the buffer in order to start the heat pump.