ᐅ Gas heating or heat pump – air source (e.g., Mitsubishi) or groundwater source

Hello,

basically, you can never really know for sure until maybe 5–10 years later whether the heating system you finally chose was a good decision. The development of gas and electricity prices definitely plays a major role.

Since we are planning a single-family home with about 180–200 m² (1,940–2,150 sq ft) in Bavaria, the question of the "right" heating system naturally arises. At first, I was even interested in a fuel cell heating system, which produces heat and electricity using gas, but currently I am more focused on either a standard gas heating system or a heat pump. I find the fuel cell heating system still too "new" and untested. Maybe it will be more common in 15–20 years.

- Gas heating with relatively low initial costs, good efficiency, and if gas prices don’t soar, I think it’s the most economical purchase? Also, it doesn’t need a fan outside the house that sounds noisy and somewhat spoils the appearance of the house. Of course, no one knows how environmental policies will treat gas heating in the future. This investment could also backfire.

Alternatively,

- an air-source heat pump. Since we are also planning a photovoltaic system, maybe the operating costs (electricity) can mostly be covered by our own solar power? Obviously in winter, when it’s very cold and the panels don’t produce much electricity, this might not be the case. A friend told me about a Mitsubishi heat pump that only switches on the electric heating element at -15 or -20°C (5°F or -4°F). Until then, you only have electricity costs to maintain the heat pump cycle, right? Does anyone have experience with the Mitsubishi heat pump? At what temperature does your heat pump turn on the electric heater?

- The groundwater heat pump scares me a bit because of the higher upfront and installation costs. Drilling two wells, plus maintenance costs for the wells after a few years, etc. Or do you make that back due to better conditions in winter (no cold air because groundwater temperature is fairly constant), so the higher initial costs pay off in the end?

How did you decide and why?

Thank you very much for your opinions and experience reports.
ludwig88sta

You can find this topic discussed hundreds of times throughout the forum. The conclusion is always the same: most people are satisfied with their heating system, and any additional costs for a specific type of heating combined with lower consumption ultimately get lost in the noise when dealing with new construction project budgets of several hundred thousand euros.

We have a gas heating system, and after two weeks living in the house (0°C (32°F) outside), I can’t say anything negative.

It also depends on the type of house. We are in a KfW55 insulated exterior wall system, where probably almost the waste heat from the fridge and washer-dryer would be enough (to exaggerate). The heating currently mainly takes care of hot water, as the solar thermal yields have been rather poor... well, today the sun is finally shining.

When the heat pump turns on does not depend on the brand. It depends on your actual energy consumption and the design of the heat pump.
Are you heating 120 sqm (1,292 sq ft) or 200 sqm (2,153 sq ft)?
Do you want 21 degrees or 24 degrees Celsius (70°F or 75°F)?
Many south-facing windows or rather on the north side?
Distance between heating loops, supply temperature, etc.
Someone can probably explain this to you better.

Ours has not needed to use the electric heating element for a year, even though technically it should have on some days in January and February according to the specifications.

Your heating system must fit the house. You take what the general contractor offers or what your plumbing-heating specialist installs as standard.

Mottenhausen schrieb:

You can find this topic hundreds of times here in the forum. The result is always the same: most people are satisfied with their heating system, and the extra costs for a specific heating system combined with the resulting lower consumption basically get lost in the general noise given the project volume of several hundreds of thousands of euros in new construction.

We have a gas heating system, and after two weeks in the house (0°C (32°F) outside) I can’t say anything bad about it.

It also depends on the type of house. We live in a KfW55 insulated building envelope with external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS), where probably the waste heat from the refrigerator and washer-dryer alone would be enough (just exaggerating). The heating system is currently mainly focused on hot water because the solar (thermal) output is quite low… ok, today the sun is shining for once.

How is this possible? We also have a KfW55 house, and right now the heating system is running 24/7 at minus 3°C (27°F) and consuming a lot of energy. It’s a heat pump. It only heats water twice a day.

Bookstar schrieb:

We also have a KfW55 house and currently the heating is running 24 hours a day at minus 3°C (27°F) and consuming a lot of energy. Heat pump.

That shouldn’t happen. Something is wrong.

nordanney schrieb:

That shouldn't happen. Something is wrong.

You think so? My acquaintances who also have heat pumps experience the same. They are also inverter-controlled. However, my energy consumption is noticeably higher; I don’t know why.