ᐅ Experiences with heat pumps and photovoltaic systems?

Created on: 15 Nov 2018 22:58
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Pexyn
Hello everyone, I already briefly mentioned in my introduction post that my wife and I have big building plans, which we hope to finally realize within the next few years. I don’t know anyone in my close circle of friends who is building a house, so I’m hoping to get some help here, as I naturally have a thousand questions about various topics! Currently, we are focusing a lot on how we want to heat our home and have quickly agreed that we want a heat pump for both heating and domestic hot water. I find the topic very complex, but if I understand correctly, a heat pump mainly uses renewable environmental energy, but also consumes a small amount of electricity. That’s why we would like to combine it with a photovoltaic system. Does anyone here have experience with this and can share their insights? Do you think this is a good idea? I would be grateful for any input!
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Wickie
26 Nov 2018 15:25
Fuchur schrieb:
why is that?

I’m wondering the same... our geothermal drillings are in the front yard and completely beneath our driveway. So there is absolutely no loss of usable space!
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Fuchur
26 Nov 2018 18:07
That’s what our provider also said. If there is only one borehole, it can be completely built over. There is no need for maintenance access. With multiple boreholes, there is a small distribution shaft, barely 1m² (about 11 sq ft).
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Wickie
27 Nov 2018 07:52
We don’t have a distribution shaft either. Just two drill holes, nothing visible. So it still comes down to this: zero loss of floor space.
Pexyn27 Nov 2018 18:34
Hmm, so the plot doesn’t have any trees or anything, so that probably won’t be an issue for now – but I assume that means you can’t plant anything or build on it either? That would be a bit of a shame since trees were actually planned. I didn’t realize that roots can really cause a problem. Should I contact the manufacturer directly, and then they inspect the ground and advise me on what they would recommend? I already got a great overview earlier, thanks for that.

Regarding maintenance, are the different types of heat pumps more or less demanding and costly depending on the type? Or how do the ongoing expenses compare? I actually liked the idea of an air source heat pump, but then you have that box, which I assume is installed right on the house? And many here seem to recommend a ground source heat pump as well. Maybe I should get in touch with a supplier after all – do you have any recommendations? What brands are your heat pumps, and are you satisfied? It is quite an investment, so you want something reliable.

As for the photovoltaic system, we probably need to think about that more carefully. I assume it’s something you can add later if you want.
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Fuchur
27 Nov 2018 18:40
Pexyn schrieb:
I actually liked the air source heat pump, but then you have that bulky unit, which I assume is installed directly on the house?

There are also air-to-water heat pumps designed for indoor installation (not to be confused with air-to-air heat pumps!). There is no outdoor unit, but the heat pump is generally louder overall. Installing it in the basement is recommended.
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haydee
27 Nov 2018 18:56
Stiebel Eltron LWZ 600 Air
The indoor unit is located in the utility room, not in the basement.
Noise is not an issue as long as the door is closed. Background noises might be disturbing, so a soundproof door could help. I find the washing machine during the spin cycle more bothersome.

In use since February. Maintenance so far has been minimal: cleaning and replacing filters and activating the summer bypass.

Ground drilling is not possible here.
We did not want a ground area system either.
It is also questionable how cost-effective geothermal energy is for a passive house.