ᐅ Heating with ice, ice-based heating systems for single-family homes, user experiences
Created on: 28 Aug 2013 20:09
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stefanhHello everyone,
I am interested in using ice heating as a source for my heat exchanger in a planned single-family house with approximately 200 m² (2,150 sq ft) of living space. Although I have found many videos and articles explaining the principle, there are hardly any real experience reports.
I am unsure whether the investment costs, installation costs (excavation work, delivery, crane, etc.), and maintenance costs make the ice storage source worthwhile compared to geothermal energy (deep drilling).
As a layperson, I see the following advantages compared to geothermal use with deep drilling:
But also disadvantages:
Has anyone built with this heating system and can share their experiences?
And more generally – what do you think of this heating system?
Thank you and best regards,
Stefan
I am interested in using ice heating as a source for my heat exchanger in a planned single-family house with approximately 200 m² (2,150 sq ft) of living space. Although I have found many videos and articles explaining the principle, there are hardly any real experience reports.
I am unsure whether the investment costs, installation costs (excavation work, delivery, crane, etc.), and maintenance costs make the ice storage source worthwhile compared to geothermal energy (deep drilling).
As a layperson, I see the following advantages compared to geothermal use with deep drilling:
- No permit required for geothermal use (building permit / planning permission)
- No soil survey necessary
- No expensive deep drilling needed
But also disadvantages:
- Additional costs for a solar system on the roof to “charge” the ice storage
- Required space on the building plot – possibly limiting the buildable area
Has anyone built with this heating system and can share their experiences?
And more generally – what do you think of this heating system?
Thank you and best regards,
Stefan
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nordanney28 Aug 2013 20:22From what can be read online, ice storage heating is significantly more expensive than a conventional heat pump (whether air-source or ground-source). Another potential issue could be winter, when your solar collectors produce no output due to snow coverage. Will the system pay off eventually? By the way, you still need electricity for the heat pump.
Hello nordanney,
That’s correct—many sources state that this is more expensive compared to other heat sources. However, this comparison often falls short because it usually does not include the costs for permits, surveys, and so on.
The collectors are filled with a liquid that remains at 15 degrees Celsius (59°F) even when the outside temperature is 0 degrees Celsius (32°F), so I think it should melt the snow—that’s my theoretical understanding, so it would be interesting to hear about real-life experiences.
I need electricity both for geothermal systems and for the ice storage, since after all, the heat exchanger must operate.
I have roughly found a comparison of heat pump systems:
Here you can clearly see the higher initial investment, but why are the operating costs so much higher?
Detailed breakdown of the brine heat pump with deep borehole:
Detailed breakdown of the brine heat pump with ice storage:
For the brine heat pump with deep borehole, I am missing the costs for the soil survey and test drilling, the permits, the costs for groundworks including drilling, etc.! I also find the purchase price for the ice storage to be overpriced (according to one company, max. 10,000 €).
Best regards,
Stefan
That’s correct—many sources state that this is more expensive compared to other heat sources. However, this comparison often falls short because it usually does not include the costs for permits, surveys, and so on.
The collectors are filled with a liquid that remains at 15 degrees Celsius (59°F) even when the outside temperature is 0 degrees Celsius (32°F), so I think it should melt the snow—that’s my theoretical understanding, so it would be interesting to hear about real-life experiences.
I need electricity both for geothermal systems and for the ice storage, since after all, the heat exchanger must operate.
I have roughly found a comparison of heat pump systems:
| Brine heat pump with deep borehole |
| Brine heat pump with ice storage |
Here you can clearly see the higher initial investment, but why are the operating costs so much higher?
Detailed breakdown of the brine heat pump with deep borehole:
Detailed breakdown of the brine heat pump with ice storage:
For the brine heat pump with deep borehole, I am missing the costs for the soil survey and test drilling, the permits, the costs for groundworks including drilling, etc.! I also find the purchase price for the ice storage to be overpriced (according to one company, max. 10,000 €).
Best regards,
Stefan
Der Da schrieb:
It doesn’t matter... the ice heating system is definitely the "coolest" heating method of all Definitely the coolest heat source
But when it comes to investment and operating costs, it’s not something to take lightly—I unfortunately don’t have unlimited money to burn
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nordanney29 Aug 2013 12:06What soil surveys and test borings are required for deep drilling? Usually, there are maps showing the yield in your area—at least that was the case for our construction project—so no additional costs should arise for you. We are paying (for a more powerful heat pump with about 10 kW) roughly EUR 8,500 for the drilling, including everything such as probes, trenches, etc. (drilling 2x80 m (260 ft)). You can buy the heat pump directly with an integrated hot water tank, making an external storage tank unnecessary (why a heating water tank??? Isn’t there already enough storage capacity in the house through the underfloor heating?).
A practical approach: just get a few offers and then compare. It feels like you’ll end up moving away from ice storage heating (the ice is basically just an additional storage medium, right?).
I’d be interested in hearing the results.
A practical approach: just get a few offers and then compare. It feels like you’ll end up moving away from ice storage heating (the ice is basically just an additional storage medium, right?).
I’d be interested in hearing the results.
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