ᐅ Active cooling function heat pump or air conditioning in new construction
Created on: 10 Jun 2020 19:27
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Trombone3
Hello,
Our new build project is starting in July, and we have a question at the moment. Our new house will be equipped with a Vaillant ground source heat pump, which can optionally be used for cooling (active cooling). We are unsure whether this type of cooling will be sufficient or if it is better to invest in a split air conditioning system. With active cooling, you can probably only reduce the temperature by 2 to 3 degrees, while an air conditioner can achieve a much greater cooling effect.
We have also heard that the cooling function of the heat pump mostly results in "cold feet," since it works through the underfloor heating system. Of course, we understand that a split air conditioning system involves more extensive construction work and is significantly more expensive. The active cooling would cost us about 3000 € (approximately $) and the split air conditioning system (4 indoor units + outdoor unit from Toshiba) around 10,000 € (approximately $) including installation.
What do you think? Can you give us advice or share your experiences?
Our new build project is starting in July, and we have a question at the moment. Our new house will be equipped with a Vaillant ground source heat pump, which can optionally be used for cooling (active cooling). We are unsure whether this type of cooling will be sufficient or if it is better to invest in a split air conditioning system. With active cooling, you can probably only reduce the temperature by 2 to 3 degrees, while an air conditioner can achieve a much greater cooling effect.
We have also heard that the cooling function of the heat pump mostly results in "cold feet," since it works through the underfloor heating system. Of course, we understand that a split air conditioning system involves more extensive construction work and is significantly more expensive. The active cooling would cost us about 3000 € (approximately $) and the split air conditioning system (4 indoor units + outdoor unit from Toshiba) around 10,000 € (approximately $) including installation.
What do you think? Can you give us advice or share your experiences?
Tego12 schrieb:
I believe almost everyone here agrees on active cooling using an air-to-water heat pump. Passive cooling has the huge advantage of costing almost nothing during operation and consuming nearly no energy. This ecological and economic benefit is lost with the active option, which is why I would rather use a traditional air conditioning system instead of active cooling via the heat pump in this case. I am referring to active cooling with a brine-to-water heat pump. Of course, passive cooling uses less electricity, but the power consumption for active cooling with brine is minimal because the compressor basically does not need to work. At first, I didn’t look into it properly and thought passive cooling was standard from the factory (it is supported, as the brochure states). However, I now believe that the additional cost is not financially worthwhile given the low number of “cooling days” per year.
In my case, the additional cost was well below 500 euros for passive cooling.
I have no experience with active cooling of brine-to-water heat pumps. Besides the disadvantage of higher electricity costs (although apparently significantly less than active cooling with air-to-water heat pumps), it also affects the lifespan of the heat pump, since the compressor is involved and has to cycle on and off (and the lifespan of heat pumps typically depends heavily on the compressor’s cycle rate).
However, since in your case it is included at no extra cost, I could definitely see that it makes sense to use it. For mine, it is not included, but the additional cost for passive cooling is much lower. It’s a case-by-case decision; the result (cooler temperatures) should be the same.
I have no experience with active cooling of brine-to-water heat pumps. Besides the disadvantage of higher electricity costs (although apparently significantly less than active cooling with air-to-water heat pumps), it also affects the lifespan of the heat pump, since the compressor is involved and has to cycle on and off (and the lifespan of heat pumps typically depends heavily on the compressor’s cycle rate).
However, since in your case it is included at no extra cost, I could definitely see that it makes sense to use it. For mine, it is not included, but the additional cost for passive cooling is much lower. It’s a case-by-case decision; the result (cooler temperatures) should be the same.
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Trombone311 Jun 2020 12:34Hello, thanks for the replies. Of course, the mistake was mine. The technician is asking for about €3000 (including additional module, sensor, small buffer tank, etc.) for the passive cooling (Natural Cooling with Vaillant), not for active cooling. So, the decision is between passive cooling with a brine heat pump or a split air conditioning system. I have understood your arguments. Naturally, the maintenance requirements for an air conditioning system probably also play a role, but I have no experience with that. With an air conditioner, you just have a higher efficiency compared to passive cooling.
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Trombone311 Jun 2020 13:19I just checked the offer again.
1. Expansion module Natural Cooling €1,200
2. 3 sensors €110
3. Compact buffer tank mps 40 €604
4. Additional cost for room sensor €195
5. Installation, materials, functional test €450
All prices are net... is this overcharging?
1. Expansion module Natural Cooling €1,200
2. 3 sensors €110
3. Compact buffer tank mps 40 €604
4. Additional cost for room sensor €195
5. Installation, materials, functional test €450
All prices are net... is this overcharging?
No idea, but from my acquaintances, additional costs are significantly lower, up to a maximum of 1,500 euros gross.
- I don’t see why a buffer tank would be needed for this, what for?
- A dew point monitor is necessary, but in my case, it was already included in the control unit I wanted.
- What is the difference between a sensor and a room sensor?
- And installation... where is the extra effort? OK, the dew point monitor, but otherwise? (In your case, certainly the buffer tank including connection, but I wouldn’t know what it’s actually needed for...)
- Expansion module... OK, not cheap but I think it’s within reason.
- I don’t see why a buffer tank would be needed for this, what for?
- A dew point monitor is necessary, but in my case, it was already included in the control unit I wanted.
- What is the difference between a sensor and a room sensor?
- And installation... where is the extra effort? OK, the dew point monitor, but otherwise? (In your case, certainly the buffer tank including connection, but I wouldn’t know what it’s actually needed for...)
- Expansion module... OK, not cheap but I think it’s within reason.
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