Hello forum community,
we have a minor issue deciding on our heating system.
Conditions: new build, 162m² (1,743 sq ft) bungalow with underfloor heating and a ventilation system. District heating connection is possible.
We were initially quite set on district heating. After persistently asking several heating installers to provide us with a quote for a compact station (which would allow us to receive a subsidy), three declined without even asking about the installation date. Three others were surprised and asked why we would choose the expensive district heating instead of a heat pump.
So, we only have a rough verbal quote of €8,500 (system with hot water storage tank, including installation). On top of that, approximately €2,000 in connection fees from the utility company. Minus €1,000–1,500 in subsidies.
Now we’re somewhat unsure. Should we go for an air-to-water heat pump instead? It would be a split system (I think that’s the name of the unit mounted on the outside wall?). This is said to be quite noisy, right? The cost would be €7,700 plus €500 for redesign fees.
Just considering initial investment, the air-to-water heat pump is cheaper. As for operating costs, I’m not sure. I’m not very familiar with that. How much would maintenance cost? Operating costs should be reasonable if properly adjusted, and there aren’t many days with very low temperatures anymore.
Another advantage would be that everything comes from one source, so I wouldn’t have to deal with the exhausting hassle of organizing everything myself.
This back and forth is driving me crazy. I have no idea which option is best for us.
Does the air-to-water heat pump heat as well as a district heating compact station? (I guess so, or there would be more complaints.)
How quickly do I get hot water?
Is the heat pump in the utility room very noisy?
we have a minor issue deciding on our heating system.
Conditions: new build, 162m² (1,743 sq ft) bungalow with underfloor heating and a ventilation system. District heating connection is possible.
We were initially quite set on district heating. After persistently asking several heating installers to provide us with a quote for a compact station (which would allow us to receive a subsidy), three declined without even asking about the installation date. Three others were surprised and asked why we would choose the expensive district heating instead of a heat pump.
So, we only have a rough verbal quote of €8,500 (system with hot water storage tank, including installation). On top of that, approximately €2,000 in connection fees from the utility company. Minus €1,000–1,500 in subsidies.
Now we’re somewhat unsure. Should we go for an air-to-water heat pump instead? It would be a split system (I think that’s the name of the unit mounted on the outside wall?). This is said to be quite noisy, right? The cost would be €7,700 plus €500 for redesign fees.
Just considering initial investment, the air-to-water heat pump is cheaper. As for operating costs, I’m not sure. I’m not very familiar with that. How much would maintenance cost? Operating costs should be reasonable if properly adjusted, and there aren’t many days with very low temperatures anymore.
Another advantage would be that everything comes from one source, so I wouldn’t have to deal with the exhausting hassle of organizing everything myself.
This back and forth is driving me crazy. I have no idea which option is best for us.
Does the air-to-water heat pump heat as well as a district heating compact station? (I guess so, or there would be more complaints.)
How quickly do I get hot water?
Is the heat pump in the utility room very noisy?
If you are considering an air source heat pump, keep in mind that you should choose a unit installed inside the building. Otherwise, you may face significant disputes with your neighbors, as outdoor units especially produce substantial low-frequency noise between 5-40 Hz at around 80 dB. I have experience with an Alpha Innotec system. For your own health, ensure that the unit does not emit low-frequency noise. This is not reflected by the dB(A) values that manufacturers usually provide. They all tend to hide the low-frequency noise. Also, these units typically operate for 10-12 hours at night, which is not very energy efficient. In addition, the claimed COP of 3 is often not achieved.
The issue was ultimately resolved by budget constraints. Due to a lack of available heating installers, we only received one quote for a district heating compact station, which was well beyond our budget.
So, a heat pump was our only remaining option. Since the budget didn’t allow for a high-end heat pump model, we had to go with the one offered by the house builder: a Rotex HPSU Compact 308 with a split unit and a 300-liter (79-gallon) water tank.
Because we have plenty of space from the neighbors, we don’t need to worry about noise. During live operation, the noise stayed within reasonable limits even at full load. The unit is also located far enough away from any living areas.
So, a heat pump was our only remaining option. Since the budget didn’t allow for a high-end heat pump model, we had to go with the one offered by the house builder: a Rotex HPSU Compact 308 with a split unit and a 300-liter (79-gallon) water tank.
Because we have plenty of space from the neighbors, we don’t need to worry about noise. During live operation, the noise stayed within reasonable limits even at full load. The unit is also located far enough away from any living areas.
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