Hello dear forum,
we are about to build a house (approximately 103 sqm (1108 sq ft)) and the standard contract includes radiators for heating. Recently, we visited the heating company responsible and selected a heating system for the house.
During the discussion, the consultant suggested that underfloor heating would be a better option instead of radiators since underfloor heating is not only more energy-efficient in operation but also similarly priced to simple radiators in terms of initial cost.
We informed our builder about this and requested an offer for underfloor heating, receiving the following response:
A precise cost estimate results in additional expenses of €6,125.00 for your building project. This consists roughly of around €3,500.00 more for underfloor heating compared to radiator heating (€3,000 vs. €6,500).
Each of the two heating circuit manifolds costs €450. The supply pipes are €600. The electrician charges €1,000 for the 10 room thermostats (including cables and labor). Additionally, a reinforced screed is needed, which costs €400. So underfloor heating is significantly more expensive.
The heating consultant says that more than €6,000 in extra costs for underfloor heating is "exaggerated," while the builder insists that the consultant does not fully understand the actual additional costs.
We are now quite confused. The advantages of underfloor heating are clear to us, but extra costs of more than €6,000 are not feasible for us. Is underfloor heating really that much more expensive than a conventional radiator system?
Since we have little knowledge in this area, we would be very grateful for some experience-based insights and expert opinions.
we are about to build a house (approximately 103 sqm (1108 sq ft)) and the standard contract includes radiators for heating. Recently, we visited the heating company responsible and selected a heating system for the house.
During the discussion, the consultant suggested that underfloor heating would be a better option instead of radiators since underfloor heating is not only more energy-efficient in operation but also similarly priced to simple radiators in terms of initial cost.
We informed our builder about this and requested an offer for underfloor heating, receiving the following response:
A precise cost estimate results in additional expenses of €6,125.00 for your building project. This consists roughly of around €3,500.00 more for underfloor heating compared to radiator heating (€3,000 vs. €6,500).
Each of the two heating circuit manifolds costs €450. The supply pipes are €600. The electrician charges €1,000 for the 10 room thermostats (including cables and labor). Additionally, a reinforced screed is needed, which costs €400. So underfloor heating is significantly more expensive.
The heating consultant says that more than €6,000 in extra costs for underfloor heating is "exaggerated," while the builder insists that the consultant does not fully understand the actual additional costs.
We are now quite confused. The advantages of underfloor heating are clear to us, but extra costs of more than €6,000 are not feasible for us. Is underfloor heating really that much more expensive than a conventional radiator system?
Since we have little knowledge in this area, we would be very grateful for some experience-based insights and expert opinions.
In my (layperson’s) opinion, it’s a combination of the heating system and radiators or loops. If you build according to the Energy Saving Ordinance 2009, you save 15%; if you build to KfW70 standards, you save 30%.
However, as a home builder, you should be aware of this when planning your financing or considering the requirements your house should meet.
However, as a home builder, you should be aware of this when planning your financing or considering the requirements your house should meet.
Hello,
Best regards
Reinhard80 schrieb:This is a general myth that persists, like many others by the way. The internet is full of such beliefs! Underfloor heating can be more economical, but it can also be more expensive to operate. It depends on the specific circumstances. With a heat pump as the heat source and a higher heating demand, you can’t avoid large heating surfaces. This could, for example, also be a wall heating system. With, for example, a gas condensing boiler, it is less important. On the contrary, with high demand, an ad libitum heating system makes sense here. However, that is only practical with radiators. Even in extremely well-insulated buildings, radiators become relevant again, even when using a heat pump as the heat source!
... So the question is: is the energy savings in a two-person household with underfloor heating significant enough to recover the 6000€ investment after 10-20 years through lower heating costs?
Best regards
R
Reinhard8018 Jul 2013 22:50€uro schrieb:
Hello,
When using a heat pump as a heat source and there is a higher demand, large heating surfaces are unavoidable. This could, for example, also be a wall heating system. With, for example, a gas condensing boiler, this is less important.
Best regards.Please help me out: What do the abbreviations Wärmepumpe and WE mean? Gasbrennwert = gas condensing boiler?
Reinhard80 schrieb:
Please help me out: What do the abbreviations Wärmepumpe and WE mean? Gasbrennwert = Gasbrennwert? Sorry, this often happens when I'm in a hurry. I will create and insert a text block.Wärmepumpe – heat pump
WE – heat generator
Gasbrennwert – gas condensing boiler
Best regards
R
Reinhard8023 Jul 2013 17:08I would like to ask for your assessment once again.
Message from the site manager:
If the installer supplies simple surface-mounted room thermostats and we have the electrician connect them, there will be a cost reduction of €595.00 (approximately $640) from our original offer of €6,125.00 (approximately $6,590).
However, these thermostats will not match the other switches in the same switch series.
We will install the screed reinforcement (value €400.00 / about $430).
This would bring the additional order to a total of €5,530.00 (approximately $5,950) including tax.
Without electrical work and screed reinforcement, the total would be €4,725.00 (about $5,080) including tax, and without considering the higher-quality insulation from the heating engineer, it would even be €4,126.69 (around $4,435).
How should we evaluate this offer? Where can savings be made on an underfloor heating system, and where should you not save? Is screed reinforcement necessary? How important is higher-quality insulation?
Message from the site manager:
If the installer supplies simple surface-mounted room thermostats and we have the electrician connect them, there will be a cost reduction of €595.00 (approximately $640) from our original offer of €6,125.00 (approximately $6,590).
However, these thermostats will not match the other switches in the same switch series.
We will install the screed reinforcement (value €400.00 / about $430).
This would bring the additional order to a total of €5,530.00 (approximately $5,950) including tax.
Without electrical work and screed reinforcement, the total would be €4,725.00 (about $5,080) including tax, and without considering the higher-quality insulation from the heating engineer, it would even be €4,126.69 (around $4,435).
How should we evaluate this offer? Where can savings be made on an underfloor heating system, and where should you not save? Is screed reinforcement necessary? How important is higher-quality insulation?
Hello,
Best regards
Reinhard80 schrieb:This cannot be answered without more background information. You would need to know the design parameters. If an offer has been made, the calculation must be available.
...How should we evaluate this offer? Where is it possible to save on underfloor heating, and where should you definitely not?
Reinhard80 schrieb:Very important for heat-insulating surface coverings of underfloor heating, less so for example with tiles. Also, there is a difference depending on the boundary (ground, outside air, heated or unheated rooms).
...How important is higher-quality insulation?
Best regards
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