ᐅ Existing House: Heating System Modernization

Hello everyone,
I recently bought a house built in 1968, which currently has night storage heaters. It is not insulated, and there are no plumbing pipes installed in the house, etc. I now want to upgrade the windows and heating system.

I would like to completely switch the heating system. I am almost deciding on gas, but since there is no gas pipeline on my street, I would have to pay around 12,000 euros (about 13,000 USD) for the main pipeline extension.

Because of that, I am considering having a (rental) gas tank installed in the garden.

I already have quotes from Primagas, Rheingas, and Knauber.

Who among you has experience with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)? Are you satisfied with it?

What else would you recommend? I’m not so sure about electric heating and how economical it is, even with solar or photovoltaic systems installed.

My roof is very well oriented for solar installation, but I don’t know how well electric radiators heat the rooms. I’m thinking gas provides better heating quality.

Marburg87 schrieb:

But since there is no connection in my street, I would have to pay 12,000 euros for extending the main pipeline...

It will come down to a cost calculation whether it’s worth it (though I don’t think so).

Marburg87 schrieb:

I’m not so sure how efficient electric heating is, despite having solar or photovoltaic systems,

Storage heaters are not efficient at all — but with the investment for a gas heating system plus connection, you could probably heat for 20 years.
Heat pumps are efficient. But your house might not be suitable for one.
Why not invest the extra cost for the gas connection into insulation and install a future-proof heat pump? It’s still subsidized as well.

Marburg87 schrieb:

I think gas provides better heating quality

What do you mean by heating quality? Either the house gets warm or it doesn’t.

As long as it is unclear what you want to achieve, it is difficult to give you advice.
Many people simply want the most economical option.
Others place more emphasis on climate protection.
Some have specific design requirements – for example, the absence of radiators.
Still others prefer a higher proportion of radiant heat because they feel particularly comfortable with it.

There are also quite good financial grant programs available, depending on what you choose to do. These can economically support making a decision in favor of a more climate-friendly option.

Relying on gas today still seems economically risky and environmentally unacceptable to me. Austria has just banned gas, and Germany will have to do the same soon, or the Paris Agreement targets won’t be met.

Especially with current subsidies and the absence of a nearby gas connection, you should definitely focus on insulation, underfloor heating systems, and heat pumps. Alternatively, even more insulation (Passive House standard) combined with air-to-air heat pumps (also known as air conditioners, which have been subsidized since this year) is an option. With photovoltaic panels, you can heat using your own electricity during transitional seasons. It doesn’t get better than that.

hampshire schrieb:

As long as it’s unclear what you want to achieve, it’s difficult to give you advice.

Exactly; you should provide more details about your project to receive a variety of well-informed responses. If you also consider options beyond the "usual suspects," there are many possibilities and niche products that might suit you better than you think.
It really depends on the house and your desired goals. I would suggest only keeping an eye on grants or subsidies and always prioritizing what *you* want to achieve first, then consider whether funding is available for that. Only after that can a final decision be made.
For an additional cost of 12,000€ (about $12,900), you can heat for a long time, and it might still be the right choice.
We currently have a propane tank here, which is quite common in the eastern part of the country. In the new development area, several people have also installed buried tanks recently. I see no reason not to do so; the heating system works perfectly. In terms of functionality, there’s probably no difference. What matters more is the quality and execution of the technical installation inside the house.
A solution using electricity is equally conceivable. There are modern and innovative options on the market today that are no longer comparable to the old night storage heaters—especially since you are considering photovoltaic panels.
For example, we are doing something like this in a new build and also have a nice wood-burning fireplace. But all of this depends on your goals and preferences, or as @hampshire writes, your individual decision criteria.