ᐅ Is the additional cost of an air-to-water heat pump compared to gas justified?
Created on: 13 Feb 2022 14:20
S
SoL
Hello everyone,
I could use your advice on choosing a heating system. We (2 adults, 4 children) are currently in talks with a general contractor (GC) about a house, and so far it sounds pretty good. The scope of work is acceptable. We are not aiming for a specific KfW energy standard but expect to land somewhere between 70 and 55. The heating load calculation is not finished yet since the contract is not signed.
The GC’s standard offer includes the following:
Gas heating: Vaillant auroCOMPACT VSC S 206/4-5 190 condensing compact unit
Rated at 20 kW (wow, why?)
Includes a 190 L (50 gallons) hot water storage tank, plus 2.5 m² (27 ft²) of solar thermal collectors as a package.
Alternatively, he offers an air-to-water heat pump as a substitute for the gas heating and solar thermal system:
Thermia iTec Plus with 9 kW output, cooling function, and a 300 L (79 gallons) hot water storage tank alongside.
I would actually prefer to go with the heat pump, but:
The additional cost for the heat pump solution is a hefty €8,100. For that, we wouldn't need a gas connection...
Maybe I’m mistaken or the math doesn’t add up, but does it really pay off to choose the heat pump?
Even if you achieve a COP of 3.5 or 4, the extra cost of €8,100 minus €2,500 for the gas connection = €5,600 would only pay off very, very late.
At €0.30 per kWh electricity and 10,000 kWh annual consumption with a COP of 4, the cost would be €750. At a gas price of €0.10, the cost would be €1,000. So the difference is €250 per year, meaning the extra cost (ignoring the solar thermal system) would only amortize after 22 years.
Is that correct, or am I missing something / making an error in the calculation? Given the additional cost, I am leaning towards gas, possibly with an extra hot water storage tank.
Thanks and best regards
SoL
I could use your advice on choosing a heating system. We (2 adults, 4 children) are currently in talks with a general contractor (GC) about a house, and so far it sounds pretty good. The scope of work is acceptable. We are not aiming for a specific KfW energy standard but expect to land somewhere between 70 and 55. The heating load calculation is not finished yet since the contract is not signed.
The GC’s standard offer includes the following:
Gas heating: Vaillant auroCOMPACT VSC S 206/4-5 190 condensing compact unit
Rated at 20 kW (wow, why?)
Includes a 190 L (50 gallons) hot water storage tank, plus 2.5 m² (27 ft²) of solar thermal collectors as a package.
Alternatively, he offers an air-to-water heat pump as a substitute for the gas heating and solar thermal system:
Thermia iTec Plus with 9 kW output, cooling function, and a 300 L (79 gallons) hot water storage tank alongside.
I would actually prefer to go with the heat pump, but:
The additional cost for the heat pump solution is a hefty €8,100. For that, we wouldn't need a gas connection...
Maybe I’m mistaken or the math doesn’t add up, but does it really pay off to choose the heat pump?
Even if you achieve a COP of 3.5 or 4, the extra cost of €8,100 minus €2,500 for the gas connection = €5,600 would only pay off very, very late.
At €0.30 per kWh electricity and 10,000 kWh annual consumption with a COP of 4, the cost would be €750. At a gas price of €0.10, the cost would be €1,000. So the difference is €250 per year, meaning the extra cost (ignoring the solar thermal system) would only amortize after 22 years.
Is that correct, or am I missing something / making an error in the calculation? Given the additional cost, I am leaning towards gas, possibly with an extra hot water storage tank.
Thanks and best regards
SoL
askforafriend13 Feb 2022 17:47I would also strongly assume that electricity costs will rise. But with solar panels plus a storage system (which of course also costs money 🙂 ), it might still be manageable. I definitely wouldn’t install gas heating anymore in 2022 (even though the EU labels gas and nuclear power as “ecological” 😉 ). With heat pumps, keep in mind maintenance costs and so on—they don’t last 15 years either. We just had an extensive discussion with heating contractors. There aren’t great reports on durability. It’s really a hype. So maybe gas after all? For those who have the option 🙂
Sorry, but personally, I wouldn’t rely on gas anymore. With a well-designed system, you might use around 2500–3000 kWh (85000–102000 BTU) of electricity for heating energy.
If in doubt, I would remove the heating system and manage it myself. That is a bold markup for an inverted fridge. Good heat pumps are already MUCH more affordable for the end user. Break-even pricing would already be a rip-off, especially since, for example, the potentially installed chimney becomes unnecessary.
If in doubt, I would remove the heating system and manage it myself. That is a bold markup for an inverted fridge. Good heat pumps are already MUCH more affordable for the end user. Break-even pricing would already be a rip-off, especially since, for example, the potentially installed chimney becomes unnecessary.
askforafriend schrieb:
We just had the full meeting with the heating engineers. They don’t give good reviews regarding durability. Could you please explain that in more detail?
askforafriend13 Feb 2022 18:25kati1337 schrieb:
Can you explain that in more detail?The general consensus is that a standard air-to-water heat pump lasts about 10 to 20 years. However, the 20-year mark is rarely reached because most people never have their heat pump serviced. With regular and professional maintenance, they can indeed last up to 20 years. After that, a replacement is usually necessary. This should, of course, be taken into account when considering costs. Ground source heat pumps are better in this regard; they can last up to 30 years and also have lower operating costs.
At a significant additional cost. If I were a builder and knew for certain that heat pumps are in demand, I would also offer gas as the standard option, fully aware that most people do not want it, and then charge a premium to sell the heat pump. That’s just how the market works.
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