ᐅ Designing a heating system

Hello everyone,

My parents-in-law live and are building a house in Poland, about 80km (50 miles) northeast of Warsaw. In winter, temperatures easily drop to -20°C ( -4°F), and it can get even colder at night.

They want to build it as energy-efficiently as possible. The house will be thoroughly insulated. However, I am uncertain about the heating system.

A pellet stove will be installed. Additionally, a solar thermal system is desired. As a nice extra, I am considering a fireplace that heats domestic hot water through combustion heat (this is optional).

After speaking with the heating installer there, I am quite confused. I thought the solar system could be used both for domestic hot water and for heating. But the installer claims it can only be used for heating the domestic hot water.

What is your opinion? Is there a way to do it as I originally imagined?

Best regards,
mission2010

Well, there are different concepts... and heating systems are as numerous as grains of sand... you just have to decide what exactly you want... however, a water-bearing fireplace is generally uneconomical...

OK. Let’s leave the chimney aside for now. The question is, can the solar system also be used to heat the house? At least partially, so that the pellet stove doesn’t have to provide 100% of the required heating capacity? Or is the solar energy only suitable for domestic hot water production?

Except for the bedrooms, underfloor heating will be installed in all rooms. In the other rooms, I’m not sure whether to install wall heating or conventional radiators. It would be great if you could share your experiences with wall heating.

Thanks and best regards
mission2010

mission2010 schrieb:
....Now you want to build it as energy-efficiently as possible. It will be thoroughly insulated. However, I am uncertain about the heating system...

What does building as energy-efficiently as possible mean? What is the actual demand (capacity, energy) for heating and hot water?
What is the actual energy contribution that the solar system (hot water and/or heating) can provide?

mission2010 schrieb:
...Is there a way to do it the way I originally envisioned?

Technically, almost anything is possible, but whether it makes economic sense is a completely different matter!

Best regards.

€uro schrieb:
What does building as energy-efficiently as possible mean? What is the actual demand (power, energy) for heating and hot water?

How can I calculate these demands? Can you recommend an online calculator?

I have the following data:

• Floor area
• Room height
• Thermal conductivity of the walls including insulation
• Thermal conductivity of the windows
• Window size and number of windows
• I can calculate the exterior wall area

Do I need anything else?

Thanks and best regards!

The only solution is to visit a heating specialist...