ᐅ Choosing Between a Viessmann or Alpha Innotec Air-to-Water Heat Pump?
Created on: 9 Mar 2015 22:23
M
Madame?Dear Forum,
I kindly ask for your help with the following issue:
Situation: A single-family house with 180 sqm (1,938 sq ft) of living space, underfloor heating, no ventilation system, KfW 70 standard, air-to-water heat pump installed outdoors.
According to the construction contract with the general contractor, the installation of an air-to-water heat pump Viessmann Vitocal 200 S is agreed. Now the builder informs us that instead of the contractually agreed Viessmann heat pump, a device from the manufacturer Alpha Innotec Hydraulik Tower Dual LWD 70A/RX will be installed, citing the following advantages: the outdoor unit is significantly quieter than the Viessmann model, the indoor unit of the Hydraulik Tower requires only 0.5 sqm (5.4 sq ft) of space, and in case of a malfunction, there is no need for a specialized Viessmann technician.
We know Viessmann as a reputable manufacturer and, possibly out of unfamiliarity, have serious concerns about choosing a device different from the one contractually agreed.
How do the experts here in the forum assess these two units in a direct comparison, considering our above-mentioned conditions?
Does anyone have personal experience with Alpha Innotec?
And a final important question: Could the general contractor prefer the Alpha Innotec brand possibly for cost reasons and because it yields a higher margin for them? If that is the case, can the difference in purchase price be estimated roughly?
Thank you very much for your help,
Have a nice evening,
Ellen
I kindly ask for your help with the following issue:
Situation: A single-family house with 180 sqm (1,938 sq ft) of living space, underfloor heating, no ventilation system, KfW 70 standard, air-to-water heat pump installed outdoors.
According to the construction contract with the general contractor, the installation of an air-to-water heat pump Viessmann Vitocal 200 S is agreed. Now the builder informs us that instead of the contractually agreed Viessmann heat pump, a device from the manufacturer Alpha Innotec Hydraulik Tower Dual LWD 70A/RX will be installed, citing the following advantages: the outdoor unit is significantly quieter than the Viessmann model, the indoor unit of the Hydraulik Tower requires only 0.5 sqm (5.4 sq ft) of space, and in case of a malfunction, there is no need for a specialized Viessmann technician.
We know Viessmann as a reputable manufacturer and, possibly out of unfamiliarity, have serious concerns about choosing a device different from the one contractually agreed.
How do the experts here in the forum assess these two units in a direct comparison, considering our above-mentioned conditions?
Does anyone have personal experience with Alpha Innotec?
And a final important question: Could the general contractor prefer the Alpha Innotec brand possibly for cost reasons and because it yields a higher margin for them? If that is the case, can the difference in purchase price be estimated roughly?
Thank you very much for your help,
Have a nice evening,
Ellen
Just compare the performance data.
In general, any potential (efficiency) issues later on are not due to manufacturer A or B but rather the sizing and installation of the heat pump.
To achieve KfW70 standard without a ventilation system, you probably have solar thermal panels on the roof?
I would be more concerned about that than the heat pump manufacturer...
In general, any potential (efficiency) issues later on are not due to manufacturer A or B but rather the sizing and installation of the heat pump.
To achieve KfW70 standard without a ventilation system, you probably have solar thermal panels on the roof?
I would be more concerned about that than the heat pump manufacturer...
Hello everyone,
@Bauexperte: Sorry, I wasn’t aware that I had posted a link. I thought I had only copied the text. I will be more careful next time.
We have already looked at the COP. However, I have also often heard that relying solely on this value is too limited. It doesn’t help if the datasheet looks good but the unit keeps failing.
We don’t have solar thermal panels on the roof. The hot water is supplied by the heat pump.
Regarding the sizing, unfortunately, I don’t know how to tell if it is correct. We don’t have a heating load calculation. Are we entitled to request one from the general contractor, or do we have to rely on the calculation according to the KfW application, and is there anything meaningful that can be derived from that?
So many questions.
@Bauexperte: Sorry, I wasn’t aware that I had posted a link. I thought I had only copied the text. I will be more careful next time.
We have already looked at the COP. However, I have also often heard that relying solely on this value is too limited. It doesn’t help if the datasheet looks good but the unit keeps failing.
We don’t have solar thermal panels on the roof. The hot water is supplied by the heat pump.
Regarding the sizing, unfortunately, I don’t know how to tell if it is correct. We don’t have a heating load calculation. Are we entitled to request one from the general contractor, or do we have to rely on the calculation according to the KfW application, and is there anything meaningful that can be derived from that?
So many questions.
Most likely, the change is not due to the margin but simply to the workload of the general contractor and meeting the promised deadlines...
General contractors often work with several subcontractors, and the first plumbing subcontractor happens to work with Viessmann, while the second uses Alpha Innotec products. The one who receives your order from the general contractor simply installs their equipment.
General contractors often work with several subcontractors, and the first plumbing subcontractor happens to work with Viessmann, while the second uses Alpha Innotec products. The one who receives your order from the general contractor simply installs their equipment.
That may well be the case, but we had the exact models of the appliances specified in the house construction contract. So, in my opinion, it’s not as simple as “he just installs his stuff.”
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to insist on anything. It’s just that right now, I don’t have a clear sense of whether I’m going to get cheaper appliances with lower quality installed for the sake of margin, or if the systems will be more or less equally good.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to insist on anything. It’s just that right now, I don’t have a clear sense of whether I’m going to get cheaper appliances with lower quality installed for the sake of margin, or if the systems will be more or less equally good.
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