ᐅ New Construction in Planning: Which Heating System to Choose?

johnny schrieb:
Ok, they all offered a waterproof basement, but of course, that’s also a matter of price. Therefore, we tend to go with the first offer, which includes the shell construction with a waterproof basement, exterior plaster, and interior plaster for about 60,000 (including insulation). They also recommended the groundwater heat pump.

€uro schrieb:
Hello,

This is not surprising at all. If you asked more questions, X new variations would come up and the confusion would be complete! There is definitely no universal and ultimate heating system! However, for every project, there is a particularly advantageous solution that needs to be found. The building, orientation, location, climate zone, user behavior, and so on form a coherent unit. Building services engineering (heating, hot water preparation, ventilation, etc.) must always be considered as a whole. Without knowledge of your individual boundary conditions, no objective recommendation that is both meaningful and effective can be given.

The groundwater level alone is not a deciding factor for a groundwater heat pump! Due to the water quality requirements, relatively few locations are suitable for the effective use of a groundwater heat pump. Here too, the conditions must first be clarified (supply and infiltration wells; iron oxide deposits). If the peripheral conditions are right, very good annual performance factors can be achieved.

That might be an option, but it does not mean it is actually the most economical choice for you. Most often, guesses and assumptions are made here rather than calculations, which later prove to be very disadvantageous during operation.

The same applies here: the boundary conditions must first be clarified! Air-source heat pumps have characteristic curves that often work against the actual demand (building curve). Therefore, they are mostly used in a bivalent system, meaning that at low outdoor temperatures, an additional electric heating element is used. This means partial electric heating! Otherwise, they would be severely oversized for their main operation, which can lead to significant problems. Additionally, ventilation is mentioned as another component here, making a real comparison impossible.

It should be clarified in advance whether a ventilation system is even necessary or just desired for comfort reasons! When it comes to heat recovery, mostly efficiency values are advertised that are rarely achieved in practical operation. So this investment should be carefully examined beforehand as well.

Nevertheless, air-source heat pumps, despite their lower annual performance factor compared to other heat pumps, can represent a good solution in individual cases, assuming proper sizing! Here, the energy demand for hot water preparation has a particularly large influence.

Where does the insurance advisor get their knowledge from? They certainly do not have training in technical building services! When you have a toothache, you don’t go to the baker!!!

Again, very general and simplistic. Both underfloor heating and wall or radiator heating have their advantages and disadvantages. Underfloor heating and wall heating are slow to respond, so heating on demand is hardly possible; in other words, heating usually needs to run continuously! The fireplace will primarily be for the experience of “fire”! Sustainable savings effects in combination with underfloor heating are hardly achievable because it cannot adequately respond to the additional heat source. Radiator heating is much better for this. Its fast response allows heating “ad libitum.” External heat sources (fireplace) can be used much more effectively. Depending on user behavior and the insulation standard of the building, significant savings can be achieved without loss of comfort.

However, with increasingly well-insulated building envelopes, these savings become smaller, so the difference hardly has an impact anymore. Where the limit lies can be calculated in advance.

When using a heat pump as the heat source, underfloor heating is a prerequisite for effective operation. Warm feet in the bathroom are no longer realistically possible. Additional heating surfaces are often required.

As a general rule: a thorough check and calculation is necessary before signing any contract. This includes especially the heating load (DIN 12831) and the annual energy demand for heating and hot water! Based on that, the overall concept is developed. The results from the energy saving regulation certificate are generally not suitable for this purpose!

Objective and independent advice is only provided by a qualified professional who neither sells, installs, nor brokers products!

Best regards

johnny schrieb:
Phew...! Thanks for taking the time to write so much.

johnny schrieb:
What do your abbreviations mean? I don’t know them all.

johnny schrieb:
Where can I get advice like this on heating? Maybe the local utility company in Augsburg?

€uro schrieb:
Hello,

No need for too much praise, as this is mostly standard procedure. It requires little effort since the same questions come up repeatedly. Unfortunately, my website is not finished yet; everything can be found there once it is.

Which one?

For me or another small and specialized engineering firm (building services) near you. The emphasis is on "small" because otherwise, the costs for you would probably be too high, assuming the colleagues even take on such work. I’m not familiar with the local utility company in Augsburg. What do they supply? Gas, electricity? The outcome will depend on that. 😉 By the way, it doesn’t matter which type of heat generator is ultimately used; the heating load and energy demand calculation are completely independent of that. If you are interested, I can send you a cost-effectiveness comparison of different heating systems. You will quickly see how significant the financial differences can be.

Best regards

johnny schrieb:
..What information would you need from me to calculate which heating system would be the most efficient for us?