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Faktus201011 Sep 2010 00:56Hello, I hope someone can help me out!!! We are having a house built through a construction company and have now received two offers from two different builders. The main difference is the air-source heat pump:
Either
1. A Waterkotte heating/hot water system with an energy-saving controller TYPE Ai1 QL 5008.5
or
2. A solar-assisted air-to-water heat pump from Rotex Eco Hybrid HPSU
Which one is better? Are both recommended? Both systems include underfloor heating. I would appreciate any answers, as I have no idea about this!!! :o
Either
1. A Waterkotte heating/hot water system with an energy-saving controller TYPE Ai1 QL 5008.5
or
2. A solar-assisted air-to-water heat pump from Rotex Eco Hybrid HPSU
Which one is better? Are both recommended? Both systems include underfloor heating. I would appreciate any answers, as I have no idea about this!!! :o
I would advise against choosing a company that only has a location in Germany (South) due to spare parts and other issues. Our home construction company (and many others) planned to install a Rotex system, but since my brother is a heating and plumbing installer, we had the heating and plumbing costs excluded and had him handle that part. When he heard the name Rotex, he was very concerned, as was the wholesaler, mainly because of the quality and workmanship.
The company that advertises with the rabbit is also not highly recommended, although it is often used by home builders because it is inexpensive.
It’s best to ask independent installers for their opinion...
The company that advertises with the rabbit is also not highly recommended, although it is often used by home builders because it is inexpensive.
It’s best to ask independent installers for their opinion...
Mönschen schrieb:
...It’s best to ask independent installers what they think...... Which installer is really an independent advisor? 😉
O
OneOfFour7 Oct 2010 10:25My response is somewhat off-topic, but please read the Wikipedia article on heat pumps.
Quote from the Wikipedia article about heat pumps: "If the evaporation temperature drops below 0°C (32°F), ice forms on the heat exchanger surfaces, creating an insulating layer that significantly deteriorates heat transfer. Therefore, a heat pump that draws heat from the outside air can only be used effectively at a few degrees above the freezing point of water."
Quote from the RWE Construction Manual, Chapter 16/8: "The smaller the temperature difference between the heat source (environment) and the heat utilization system (heating system), the higher (better) the coefficient of performance."
=> That means: the higher the temperature of the heat source, the more efficient the heat pump. Geothermal energy, for example, has a constant temperature of 10°C (50°F).
Please keep this in mind. Air-source heat pumps are certainly the most affordable type of heat pump, but when it really gets cold, these units stop working effectively.
So my advice: invest more and install a heat pump using, for example, geothermal energy. Or: invest less and install a gas condensing boiler. Consider that if your house is very well insulated, you will need less heating anyway—which also balances the cost of gas.
Don’t just follow the hype. Just my 2 cents.
Quote from the Wikipedia article about heat pumps: "If the evaporation temperature drops below 0°C (32°F), ice forms on the heat exchanger surfaces, creating an insulating layer that significantly deteriorates heat transfer. Therefore, a heat pump that draws heat from the outside air can only be used effectively at a few degrees above the freezing point of water."
Quote from the RWE Construction Manual, Chapter 16/8: "The smaller the temperature difference between the heat source (environment) and the heat utilization system (heating system), the higher (better) the coefficient of performance."
=> That means: the higher the temperature of the heat source, the more efficient the heat pump. Geothermal energy, for example, has a constant temperature of 10°C (50°F).
Please keep this in mind. Air-source heat pumps are certainly the most affordable type of heat pump, but when it really gets cold, these units stop working effectively.
So my advice: invest more and install a heat pump using, for example, geothermal energy. Or: invest less and install a gas condensing boiler. Consider that if your house is very well insulated, you will need less heating anyway—which also balances the cost of gas.
Don’t just follow the hype. Just my 2 cents.
B
Bauexperte7 Oct 2010 11:19Hello,
I am sure our experts will still weigh in, but:
Wikipedia® is not a verified source; anyone can write whatever they want, and in most cases the statements there do not withstand thorough scrutiny.
With all due respect, that is nonsense. There is certainly room for debate about whether using an air-to-water heat pump is practical or not; denying their capability altogether is certainly not justified.
The decision to choose a geothermal heat pump always depends crucially on the ground conditions and the associated costs – and, by the way, manufacturers’ claimed figures are rarely achieved. The decision in favor of an air-to-water heat pump is often made for practical cost reasons. Both decisions also reflect a move away from fossil fuels.
Despite all the discussion and your support for gas condensing boilers, every homebuilder should bear in mind that all the systems mentioned have their advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, if the builder is unsure, it might be best to stick with gas combined with underfloor heating and calmly watch how the renewable energy market develops. That way, it will all work out 😉
Best regards
I am sure our experts will still weigh in, but:
OneOfFour schrieb:
Quote from Wikipedia article about heat pumps: "When the evaporation temperature drops below 0°C (32°F), ice forms on the heat exchanger surfaces, creating an insulating layer that significantly reduces heat transfer. Therefore, a heat pump that extracts heat from the outside air can only be used effectively at temperatures a few degrees above the freezing point of water."
Wikipedia® is not a verified source; anyone can write whatever they want, and in most cases the statements there do not withstand thorough scrutiny.
OneOfFour schrieb:
Please consider this. Air-to-water heat pumps are certainly the cheapest type of heat pump, but when it really gets cold, these units no longer work.
With all due respect, that is nonsense. There is certainly room for debate about whether using an air-to-water heat pump is practical or not; denying their capability altogether is certainly not justified.
OneOfFour schrieb:
So my tip: invest more and get a heat pump using, for example, geothermal energy. Or: invest less and get a gas condensing boiler. Keep in mind: if your house is very well insulated, you will use very little heating anyway – which also offsets the gas costs.
The decision to choose a geothermal heat pump always depends crucially on the ground conditions and the associated costs – and, by the way, manufacturers’ claimed figures are rarely achieved. The decision in favor of an air-to-water heat pump is often made for practical cost reasons. Both decisions also reflect a move away from fossil fuels.
Despite all the discussion and your support for gas condensing boilers, every homebuilder should bear in mind that all the systems mentioned have their advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, if the builder is unsure, it might be best to stick with gas combined with underfloor heating and calmly watch how the renewable energy market develops. That way, it will all work out 😉
Best regards
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