ᐅ Cost Efficiency of Different Heating Systems in the Long Term, Underfloor Heating, All Costs
Created on: 11 Jan 2013 10:21
J
JasperWhen I, as just happened, enter the term "cost efficiency" into the search field here in the forum to first inform myself about what has already been written before starting a new topic, the result is "No results found." So, cost efficiency has not yet been considered or discussed. So, let's get started:
How should the different current heating concepts be evaluated in terms of the expected total costs over a longer period (say 20 years)?
By total costs, I mean
the initial construction costs of the entire system in a new build (in our case, a 130 square meter (1400 square feet) single-family house with underfloor heating);
also the necessary or unnecessary infrastructure, e.g., gas connection, chimney;
estimated energy costs;
regular maintenance and possible wear-related repairs;
reserves for replacement after the service life ends.
From our current gas heating system with a simple low-energy boiler and a separate independent hot water heater—all from 1991—I know that over 20 years I have paid about 100 euros annually for maintenance by the heating engineer and about 650 euros for wear repairs, including replacing the pump with a high-efficiency pump. (Average annual gas consumption for heating and hot water over 20 years: 21,000 kWh for a two-person household. Single-family house, 130 sqm (1400 sq ft), built in 1991.)
The background is a recent statement from a turnkey house provider: a complete heating system with a gas condensing boiler costs a total of 3,500 euros, and with a heat pump, 20,000 euros. I already feel this statement is incorrect, but I have not heard any alternative figures so far.
So, what cost factors do providers of the various heating systems tend to omit?
Regards, Jasper
How should the different current heating concepts be evaluated in terms of the expected total costs over a longer period (say 20 years)?
By total costs, I mean
the initial construction costs of the entire system in a new build (in our case, a 130 square meter (1400 square feet) single-family house with underfloor heating);
also the necessary or unnecessary infrastructure, e.g., gas connection, chimney;
estimated energy costs;
regular maintenance and possible wear-related repairs;
reserves for replacement after the service life ends.
From our current gas heating system with a simple low-energy boiler and a separate independent hot water heater—all from 1991—I know that over 20 years I have paid about 100 euros annually for maintenance by the heating engineer and about 650 euros for wear repairs, including replacing the pump with a high-efficiency pump. (Average annual gas consumption for heating and hot water over 20 years: 21,000 kWh for a two-person household. Single-family house, 130 sqm (1400 sq ft), built in 1991.)
The background is a recent statement from a turnkey house provider: a complete heating system with a gas condensing boiler costs a total of 3,500 euros, and with a heat pump, 20,000 euros. I already feel this statement is incorrect, but I have not heard any alternative figures so far.
So, what cost factors do providers of the various heating systems tend to omit?
Regards, Jasper
The seller might be right about the pure purchase costs. However, with the gas boiler, you’ll still need a gas connection (around €2000 (about $2200)) and possibly gas pipes inside the house, depending on where the heating system is installed.
A heat pump with a standard deep drilling was offered to us for an additional €17,000 (about $18,700). However, there was a cost risk related to the drilling, which could have become more expensive. We don’t want ground collectors because we want to keep a productive garden (trees, vegetables, etc.).
Our Viessmann gas boiler Vitodens 300-W costs around €4000 (about $4400) on Amazon.
Our estimated heating costs for hot water and heating are about €50 (€55) per month for roughly 10,000 kWh/year (KfW 40 standard + solar + wood stove in the living room).
These heating costs are based on the experience of an acquaintance with the same model house and similar heating habits. This means the bedrooms are unheated, and in winter, we burn wood in the stove every evening.
Wood costs us almost nothing.
People in the Eurozone might be shocked, but this concept works for us. 😀 It might be more efficient in other ways, but gas was indispensable for us since we cook with gas. 😀
A heat pump with a standard deep drilling was offered to us for an additional €17,000 (about $18,700). However, there was a cost risk related to the drilling, which could have become more expensive. We don’t want ground collectors because we want to keep a productive garden (trees, vegetables, etc.).
Our Viessmann gas boiler Vitodens 300-W costs around €4000 (about $4400) on Amazon.
Our estimated heating costs for hot water and heating are about €50 (€55) per month for roughly 10,000 kWh/year (KfW 40 standard + solar + wood stove in the living room).
These heating costs are based on the experience of an acquaintance with the same model house and similar heating habits. This means the bedrooms are unheated, and in winter, we burn wood in the stove every evening.
Wood costs us almost nothing.
People in the Eurozone might be shocked, but this concept works for us. 😀 It might be more efficient in other ways, but gas was indispensable for us since we cook with gas. 😀
Der Da schrieb:
...Our Viessmann Vitodens 300-W gas boiler costs about 4000 € (euros) on Amazon.
Our estimated heating costs for hot water and heating are around 50 € (euros) per month for approximately 10,000 kWh/year. (KFW 40 standard + solar + wood stove in the living room) I hope the expectations are in proportion to the investment or the servicing costs for it ;-) Der Da schrieb:
...€uro will surely be horrified now, but our concept works for us. Why? That’s absolutely fine. Everyone should be able to live with and be happy about their chosen solution. It’s usually difficult to change later on, unless, for example, the heating circuit. Whether it is truly optimal under the specific circumstances is another matter entirely! However, it is not a universal “cure-all” for everyone!
Best regards
With my details about the current situation, I want to show that I know what I have spent on consumption, maintenance, and repair costs over the past 20 years. The system was built according to the technology standards of its time and equipped with a very basic standard gas boiler (without any controls or external sensors), only a rotary knob on the boiler: turning it to the right increases the flow temperature – turning it to the left decreases the flow temperature). I think the costs were not particularly high.
Now, if for a new build (with significantly lower heating demand) a gas condensing boiler is offered for 3,500 euros or, alternatively, a heat pump with deep borehole for 20,000 euros, and the seller tries to make the heat pump attractive by claiming it will have only one third of the energy costs compared to the gas condensing unit, then even if gas and electricity prices were to increase fivefold within 20 years, I would still end up with lower overall costs using the “cheap technology.” Yes, if only I knew for comparison what the annual maintenance costs for such a heat pump would be…
Best regards,
Jasper
Now, if for a new build (with significantly lower heating demand) a gas condensing boiler is offered for 3,500 euros or, alternatively, a heat pump with deep borehole for 20,000 euros, and the seller tries to make the heat pump attractive by claiming it will have only one third of the energy costs compared to the gas condensing unit, then even if gas and electricity prices were to increase fivefold within 20 years, I would still end up with lower overall costs using the “cheap technology.” Yes, if only I knew for comparison what the annual maintenance costs for such a heat pump would be…
Best regards,
Jasper
Jasper schrieb:
...Yes, if only I knew for comparison what the annual maintenance costs of a heat pump are...Why do you even care about that? Heat pumps require virtually no maintenance costs, except possibly for air-source heat pumps with refrigerant over 3 kg (6.6 lbs).
Best regards
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