ᐅ Is it still worth installing a new oil heating system today?

Bookstar schrieb:

It all speaks in favor of oil.

Satire or ignorance?

Hello everyone,

The fuel tank system looks good and will remain in place (it currently contains several thousand liters of heating oil, which we would otherwise have to pump out).

Further energy efficiency measures are already planned, such as window replacement and roof insulation. However, for example, underfloor heating will probably not be installed in all rooms, so a heating system like a heat pump is not an option, since radiators require a significantly higher supply temperature than underfloor heating.

We had two energy consultants assess the house, also regarding KfW funding / government incentives, and ultimately they concluded that realistically only a new oil heating system, pellets, or gas would be suitable for us. There is no gas connection available, and I do not want gas either, as I find it unnecessary to bury a gas tank in the garden when there is already a large oil or alternative pellet storage, which is space that would otherwise remain unused.

Of course, I am also considering the environmental aspect. However, I believe it should be acknowledged that replacing the old oil heater (almost 30 years old) already makes a big difference, especially when combined with energy-efficient upgrades and the addition of a wood stove. This will significantly reduce our heating oil consumption compared to before, and as far as I know, the emissions from the new heating system are not comparable to the old one.

Definitely a very complex topic...

Kate*** schrieb:

Further energy efficiency measures are already planned, such as window replacement, roof insulation, etc., but underfloor heating will likely not be installed in all rooms, so a heating system like a heat pump is ruled out, since radiators require a significantly higher supply temperature than underfloor heating.

Why is the heat pump ruled out then? Have you ever heard of low-temperature radiators? They are specifically designed for the low supply temperatures of heat pumps.
If other energy-saving measures are being implemented anyway, I would revise my initial assessment (to stick with oil) and consider switching to a heat pump.

You are planning to install a tiled stove with a heating buffer tank. If you use it consistently and regularly, treating the central heating only as a backup (and not the other way around), then from an ecological standpoint, the type of heating system you use is of secondary importance.

The other measures you have taken reduce your heating demand, and with the tiled stove and buffer tank, you can cover a large part of your heat directly with split logs.

By the way, combining a heat pump with the tiled stove and new radiators can work well:
Size the radiators generously (which is always a good idea, especially if they are partly operated alongside underfloor heating). This only costs a few extra dollars but quickly pays off through lower water temperatures and better use of the buffer tank.
During transitional seasons and summer for hot water preparation, the heat pump is very efficient thanks to moderate to high outdoor temperatures. Once it gets colder outside, you light the tiled stove, and the heat pump runs rarely or not at all. The higher flow temperatures needed in winter at low outside temperatures then don’t matter. And if the heat pump does run occasionally, it is not a problem—just a bit more expensive.

The small remaining heating demand can probably be covered most cost-effectively by the oil heating system. More ecologically sensible would, of course, be a heat pump combined with rooftop photovoltaic panels—as photovoltaic systems can provide enough electricity in summer and transitional seasons for hot water preparation.

The measures clearly support the use of a heat pump.

The most important aspect in an older building is the planning of the heating surfaces, as your consultants have already recognized. Have professionals handle the calculations—preferably not just the installer or energy advisors without relevant experience—and ideally pay separately just for this planning. Unfortunately, many either underestimate this or simply have no expertise. The planning starts with a room-by-room heat load calculation. Based on this, the size of the heat pump can be determined (without safety margins) as well as the design of the heating surfaces for each room.

Additionally, installing a significant amount of photovoltaic panels on the roof is highly recommended, especially since the scaffolding is already in place. Photovoltaics pay off on their own due to subsidies and become even more beneficial when combined with a heat pump.

Edit: If the stove is not considered the main heating source, I would not connect it to the heating circuit. Instead, let the heat pump operate without interference and additional complexity. A stove with a large thermal mass is still very good for supplementary heat during the coldest winter periods when the heat pump is less efficient.

You can see that there is no clear recommendation for one specific system here. For me, fossil fuels are not an option for new installations, as there is now always a more environmentally sensible alternative.

Great that you’re upgrading the house. Good luck with that.