ᐅ Heating with ice, ice-based heating systems for single-family homes, user experiences
Created on: 28 Aug 2013 20:09
S
stefanh
Hello 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
We have also considered it and done the calculations.
Apart from being significantly more expensive, it had too many disadvantages for us (too low peak power).
At the current temperatures (below -10°C (14°F)), it would be problematic.
These systems are becoming increasingly advanced. Whether it makes sense also depends on local conditions and the building itself.
You will eventually have to maintain the probes from a deep borehole as well...
Apart from being significantly more expensive, it had too many disadvantages for us (too low peak power).
At the current temperatures (below -10°C (14°F)), it would be problematic.
These systems are becoming increasingly advanced. Whether it makes sense also depends on local conditions and the building itself.
You will eventually have to maintain the probes from a deep borehole as well...
hello rick2018
I don’t find it significantly more expensive, unless you compare it to a gas heating system. The 30,000 euros included the ice storage tank, the heat pump, installation, and the associated collectors on the roof, as well as the piping, at least that was the case for me back then.
If you add up a conventional heating system plus solar collectors (which don’t have the same efficiency), you’re not that far off in cost.
Regarding the temperature, we’ve had several winters here with temperatures down to -20°C (–4°F) or even lower.
That’s not a problem—that’s what the storage tank is for. When it’s warmer on the roof, which happens every winter and likely more often in the future, the system doesn’t draw heat from the storage tank but directly from the roof collectors. Basically, about 90% of the heating annually (this is just a rough estimate, not a study) comes from the roof collectors, and only the coldest days rely on the tank.
So, the tank is designed for those peak demands, and it lasts a long time.
I wasn’t aware of this aspect during my evaluation and was even more pleased afterward, especially since the collectors (which are pipes, not flat panels) already show their effect as soon as the roof temperature rises above freezing. This works even at night when the wind brings +10°C (50°F) air across the roof.
For me, this has led to the ironic situation that I pay more monthly for my upgradeable DSL connection than for heating and hot water.
regards
I don’t find it significantly more expensive, unless you compare it to a gas heating system. The 30,000 euros included the ice storage tank, the heat pump, installation, and the associated collectors on the roof, as well as the piping, at least that was the case for me back then.
If you add up a conventional heating system plus solar collectors (which don’t have the same efficiency), you’re not that far off in cost.
Regarding the temperature, we’ve had several winters here with temperatures down to -20°C (–4°F) or even lower.
That’s not a problem—that’s what the storage tank is for. When it’s warmer on the roof, which happens every winter and likely more often in the future, the system doesn’t draw heat from the storage tank but directly from the roof collectors. Basically, about 90% of the heating annually (this is just a rough estimate, not a study) comes from the roof collectors, and only the coldest days rely on the tank.
So, the tank is designed for those peak demands, and it lasts a long time.
I wasn’t aware of this aspect during my evaluation and was even more pleased afterward, especially since the collectors (which are pipes, not flat panels) already show their effect as soon as the roof temperature rises above freezing. This works even at night when the wind brings +10°C (50°F) air across the roof.
For me, this has led to the ironic situation that I pay more monthly for my upgradeable DSL connection than for heating and hot water.
regards
By the way, this was about sharing experiences, and after 6 years, mine have matured enough to be able to communicate them for those who are still considering it. There is a significant lack of reports on this heating system, which also made the decision difficult for me at the time.
I was talking about our construction project. It didn’t fit our needs. We also want to heat the 110m3 (3,885 cubic feet) pool occasionally.
You would need to have around 100kW available continuously for a longer period. For that, you basically need a lake as a thermal storage 😉
For our house, it would have been a six-figure amount.
I think it’s a good system, but you have to evaluate it for each property (like any other system).
With the current snow conditions here, nothing is coming off the roof anymore. We could have still defrosted the storage with our source. Without the pool issue, it would have made the shortlist.
The original poster should provide more information.
You would need to have around 100kW available continuously for a longer period. For that, you basically need a lake as a thermal storage 😉
For our house, it would have been a six-figure amount.
I think it’s a good system, but you have to evaluate it for each property (like any other system).
With the current snow conditions here, nothing is coming off the roof anymore. We could have still defrosted the storage with our source. Without the pool issue, it would have made the shortlist.
The original poster should provide more information.
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