Hello everyone,
We are about to build a single-family house with approximately 140 m² (1500 sq ft) of living space and are currently considering the most suitable heating system. We have already looked around in this forum as well. Until yesterday, we planned to install a gas condensing boiler combined with a solar system for domestic hot water and heating support. However, yesterday we visited a trade fair and found an interesting alternative.
It is a hybrid heat pump, meaning a combination of an air-to-water heat pump with a gas condensing boiler. After extensive online research, we decided against a classic air-to-water heat pump because at low outdoor temperatures it has to activate an electric heating element to prevent freezing. This makes the system less efficient than initially assumed. The hybrid heat pump uses as much environmental heat as possible and only as much gas as necessary. A sensor decides, based on outdoor temperature, required flow temperature, and gas and electricity prices, when the gas condensing boiler should be switched on to cover peak loads. The heat pump does the main work. Once it is no longer operating efficiently, the gas condensing boiler takes over, which helps keep electricity consumption low.
To me, this system currently seems like the ideal solution for us. Now I am wondering why these systems are so rarely promoted and offered. They represent a good combination of the proven gas heating system and the environmentally friendly heat pump. The initial costs are manageable and, according to some other online sources, are amortized after about eight years.
My question is whether anyone has already installed such a system, has heard different experiences, or can share a personal opinion. Tomorrow, we will also contact the specialists we trust to discuss this further.
Best regards!
We are about to build a single-family house with approximately 140 m² (1500 sq ft) of living space and are currently considering the most suitable heating system. We have already looked around in this forum as well. Until yesterday, we planned to install a gas condensing boiler combined with a solar system for domestic hot water and heating support. However, yesterday we visited a trade fair and found an interesting alternative.
It is a hybrid heat pump, meaning a combination of an air-to-water heat pump with a gas condensing boiler. After extensive online research, we decided against a classic air-to-water heat pump because at low outdoor temperatures it has to activate an electric heating element to prevent freezing. This makes the system less efficient than initially assumed. The hybrid heat pump uses as much environmental heat as possible and only as much gas as necessary. A sensor decides, based on outdoor temperature, required flow temperature, and gas and electricity prices, when the gas condensing boiler should be switched on to cover peak loads. The heat pump does the main work. Once it is no longer operating efficiently, the gas condensing boiler takes over, which helps keep electricity consumption low.
To me, this system currently seems like the ideal solution for us. Now I am wondering why these systems are so rarely promoted and offered. They represent a good combination of the proven gas heating system and the environmentally friendly heat pump. The initial costs are manageable and, according to some other online sources, are amortized after about eight years.
My question is whether anyone has already installed such a system, has heard different experiences, or can share a personal opinion. Tomorrow, we will also contact the specialists we trust to discuss this further.
Best regards!
Hello ErikErdgas,
Thanks a lot for your reply!
My husband immediately dismissed the idea of connecting the fireplace with the heating system when I mentioned it to him. He said the additional technical effort and the larger storage tank required wouldn’t be worthwhile. And as you also said, it might be a bit too much.
In the meantime, I have also read through several information websites. So far, I have found mostly positive feedback. However, the system with the zeolite heat pump is still quite new.
And the funding programs are only intended for renovation projects in older buildings, right? That’s at least what I gathered.
Do you perhaps have any personal experience with this heating system?
Best regards!
Thanks a lot for your reply!
My husband immediately dismissed the idea of connecting the fireplace with the heating system when I mentioned it to him. He said the additional technical effort and the larger storage tank required wouldn’t be worthwhile. And as you also said, it might be a bit too much.
In the meantime, I have also read through several information websites. So far, I have found mostly positive feedback. However, the system with the zeolite heat pump is still quite new.
And the funding programs are only intended for renovation projects in older buildings, right? That’s at least what I gathered.
Do you perhaps have any personal experience with this heating system?
Best regards!
P
perlenmann16 Oct 2013 14:25If I had enough money, I would have gotten a combined heat and power system. Have you ever considered that? You get both electricity and heat. The efficiency is supposed to be very high.
Perlenmann schrieb:
If I had enough money, I would have gotten a combined heat and power system. Have you ever considered that? You get both electricity and heat. Certainly, but at what cost? Investment versus benefit? ;-.)Perlenmann schrieb:
...Efficiency is probably extremely high. Efficiencies are performance-related snapshots and by themselves offer little value for an overall energy assessment. High efficiencies under laboratory conditions are often used as a sales argument by vendors. Unfortunately, they are rarely economically viable in practice.Best regards.