ᐅ Gas or Heat Pump? Experiences and Feedback

So, we built a masonry fireplace with fireclay bricks ... not one of those wood-burning stoves because those get way too hot.

We have an air-to-water heat pump, and I was glad to be able to quickly warm up the living room in the evenings during the transition season...

halmi schrieb:

When it comes to electricity prices, they’re actually compared like apples, pears, and tomatoes.

The problem is that you really can't compare them directly.
If I want to make the numbers look favorable, I check on Check24 and see that electricity for heat pumps costs 18 cents/kWh, with a COP of 4.5 that comes down to 4 cents/kWh. Gas costs 5.8 cents/kWh. But I actually pay less if I run everything through household electricity—Check24 shows 26 cents/kWh, and with a COP of 4.5 that’s 5.8 cents/kWh... and that’s just one among many factors.

Nordlys schrieb:

Chimney, almost all new builds around here have a chimney and a stove or fireplace. No smoke is ever seen. Nobody stores firewood; why would they? These energy-efficient code-compliant houses are already warm enough, so no one uses a stove to heat additionally.

Yep... as mentioned, maybe someday. It looks nice on camera (cooking videos are being recorded in the living area).

I have several neighbors with fireplaces and also wood in stock. However, it has not decreased for years.

Snowy36 schrieb:

If not, I would prefer gas, since you can also install a radiator in the bathroom or somewhere to keep it warm…

Just with an air-to-water heat pump and underfloor heating, it can be somewhat uncomfortable depending on personal preference. And I wouldn’t feel like heating the bathroom with electricity in winter when the photovoltaic system is producing the least…

Something must be wrong with your setup. We have an air-to-water heat pump with underfloor heating, and the bathroom stays a cozy 24°C (75°F) without any additional electric heating, same for the living room. The rest of the house is kept at 22°C (72°F). I don’t know how to get more comfort than that. No one is cold, and during the transitional seasons in the evening it’s often too warm (living room 26°C (79°F)) due to solar gain throughout the day. All this without excessively high heating costs or much work with the wood.

ares83 schrieb:

Since we just had our first and last maintenance by the builder: open it up, vacuum, replace the filter, flush the heat exchanger, put the heat exchanger back in, close it up. About half an hour of work once a year that you can easily do yourself. We have a combined unit with controlled ventilation; for an air-to-water heat pump only, it’s probably even simpler.

**What maintenance intervals are recommended for heat pumps?**

It is advisable to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines, although these are not mandatory. For most units, manufacturers recommend inspections and maintenance every two years. However, an annual check of the refrigerant circuit for leaks is required if the heat pump contains more than three kilograms (6.6 pounds) of refrigerant.

**Low maintenance costs**

The relatively low maintenance effort for heat pumps is naturally reflected in low maintenance costs. Usually, annual maintenance costs amount to less than 100 euros per year.

**These costs apply to maintaining a gas condensing boiler:**

Heating system maintenance in a single-family home typically costs between 70 and 100 euros in total, provided there are no repairs or replacement parts needed. If the technician has to travel a long distance, the price increases accordingly.

Therefore, both systems are absolutely comparable. In the case of a gas boiler, there is also the chimney sweep visit every two years.