In　recent　years,　the　application　of　air　source　heat　pumps　(ASHPs)　in　centralized　heating　has　grown　rapidly　in　North　China.　However,　there　is　still　lack　of　theoretical　investigation　on　the　control　methods　of　water　pump.　To　decrease　the　system　power　consumption,　a　mathematical　model　of　variable-frequency　ASHP　used　for　supplying　heating　for　ten　users　was　established　in　this　work.　Meanwhile,　three　control　methods　of　water　pumps　were　proposed.　The　heating　performance　of　ASHP　system　under　the　three　control　methods　was　investigated.　Besides,　the　appropriate　control　methods　of　heating　terminals　under　the　three　control　methods　were　analyzed.　Results　showed　that　the　minimum　relative　water　flow　rate　is　30%.　Among　the　three　proposed　control　methods,　the　power　input　of　water　pump　is　the　minimum　in　the　pressure　differential　control　method　of　the　most　unfavorable　terminal,　and　its　difference　with　the　highest　value　is　0–31.84%.　For　the　power　input　of　ASHP　system,　it　is　always　the　maximum　in　constant　flow　control　method,　while　the　minimum　in　the　pressure　differential　control　method　of　the　most　unfavorable　terminal.　Compared　with　the　values　in　the　former　control　method,　the　power　input　of　ASHP　system　in　the　latter　control　method　decreases　by　an　average　of　13.40%.　©　2021　Elsevier　B.V.