Good morning,
we have been going back and forth—new construction or existing property. However, for various reasons, we will take another 2 to 3 years before making a decision.
In the meantime, we are already mentally planning our new build. Building or renovation is really our hobby—we love wandering through exhibitions at home improvement stores and pay close attention when visiting others’ homes.
That said, no new construction is actually planned yet, no conversations with contractors have taken place—so far, it’s all just ideas.
There are two points on which I would appreciate honest feedback from experts, current homeowners, and those who have lived in their new homes for some time.
We are currently considering installing radiators throughout the new build—no underfloor heating.
However, we could imagine having underfloor heating in tiled areas (kitchen and bathroom).
The heating would, of course, be gas-fired. We are currently not 100% convinced about geothermal heat pumps.
At the moment, we rent a detached single-family home built in the mid-1990s. Gas heating. Underfloor heating on the ground floor, radiators upstairs. Separate heating circuits. The underfloor heating is about 20 years old and operates with a supply temperature around 35°C (95°F).
I actually like the underfloor heating, but these points speak against it for me:
What do you think? Basically, I appreciate underfloor heating a lot, especially because of the low supply temperature and the possibility of switching to geothermal or a similar system in 20 years…
2. Controlled mechanical ventilation.
We might decide against it because we have heard that it tends to equalize the temperature in all rooms. As mentioned, our bedrooms are cold while the living room is warm.
We ventilate sufficiently in spring and summer. We basically have an open house—all windows and doors are open all the time. We enjoy the fresh summer air and love the sounds, the birdsong…
However, in winter, our ventilation behavior in the living and kitchen areas leaves something to be desired.
What are your thoughts?
We would appreciate open and honest answers. Nothing is decided yet, nothing is lost—all options are open and possible.
We are grateful for any suggestions or shared experiences!
we have been going back and forth—new construction or existing property. However, for various reasons, we will take another 2 to 3 years before making a decision.
In the meantime, we are already mentally planning our new build. Building or renovation is really our hobby—we love wandering through exhibitions at home improvement stores and pay close attention when visiting others’ homes.
That said, no new construction is actually planned yet, no conversations with contractors have taken place—so far, it’s all just ideas.
There are two points on which I would appreciate honest feedback from experts, current homeowners, and those who have lived in their new homes for some time.
- Heating
We are currently considering installing radiators throughout the new build—no underfloor heating.
However, we could imagine having underfloor heating in tiled areas (kitchen and bathroom).
The heating would, of course, be gas-fired. We are currently not 100% convinced about geothermal heat pumps.
At the moment, we rent a detached single-family home built in the mid-1990s. Gas heating. Underfloor heating on the ground floor, radiators upstairs. Separate heating circuits. The underfloor heating is about 20 years old and operates with a supply temperature around 35°C (95°F).
I actually like the underfloor heating, but these points speak against it for me:
- Thermal inertia. Especially during transitional seasons, I found this frustrating. Also, in the evenings, I like to quickly turn up the heat in the living room to make it cozy warm. That’s not possible with our old underfloor heating. By the time it heats up, I’m already in bed.
- We and our children sleep in cold rooms, i.e., with windows open. I wonder how that works with underfloor heating. During the day, the children stay in their warm rooms—even if the underfloor heating is switched off and the windows are open, the room doesn’t really cool down quickly because of the inertia of the underfloor system...
- I love standing next to a hot radiator to warm up, warming up my blanket on it before going to bed, or drying shoes or clothes.
What do you think? Basically, I appreciate underfloor heating a lot, especially because of the low supply temperature and the possibility of switching to geothermal or a similar system in 20 years…
2. Controlled mechanical ventilation.
We might decide against it because we have heard that it tends to equalize the temperature in all rooms. As mentioned, our bedrooms are cold while the living room is warm.
We ventilate sufficiently in spring and summer. We basically have an open house—all windows and doors are open all the time. We enjoy the fresh summer air and love the sounds, the birdsong…
However, in winter, our ventilation behavior in the living and kitchen areas leaves something to be desired.
What are your thoughts?
We would appreciate open and honest answers. Nothing is decided yet, nothing is lost—all options are open and possible.
We are grateful for any suggestions or shared experiences!
K
Königsbiene10 Jun 2013 14:29Thank you, Euro!
As I mentioned, we are still in the idea phase. We haven’t spoken to any builders, HVAC planners, or anyone else yet. We’re probably still about two years away from that. First, we want to clarify our priorities a bit more, and since we have two young children and both of us are working again, we’re currently considering a nanny or au pair. At least the second one would need their own room, and of course, the list goes on indefinitely. So, we plan to wait at least two years and see how our life situation develops by then.
You asked why only gas. I thought it was the only practical option for running radiators. Pellet or oil heating would be difficult since we’re not planning a basement. And I thought heat pumps require underfloor heating for efficient operation.
And yes, we always keep all doors and windows open—but only during the period when the heating is completely off anyway. Right now, only the hot water system is running. And starting around October, the heating will be switched on again, so all windows and doors will be closed, and then there will be ventilation issues again—at least that’s what I expect in a new build. In our current rented house, window ventilation is sufficient even in winter, although we rarely do it. So, I’m not sure what you mean by “not under control.” According to our energy provider’s overview, we have always been well below the average energy consumption of all households in their area, both in every rental apartment and now our rental house. I believe we are quite energy conscious. My concern is that, for example, radiators might no longer be installed because they are much less efficient than underfloor heating. But that’s just a concern you’re welcome to reassure me about.
As I mentioned, we are still in the idea phase. We haven’t spoken to any builders, HVAC planners, or anyone else yet. We’re probably still about two years away from that. First, we want to clarify our priorities a bit more, and since we have two young children and both of us are working again, we’re currently considering a nanny or au pair. At least the second one would need their own room, and of course, the list goes on indefinitely. So, we plan to wait at least two years and see how our life situation develops by then.
You asked why only gas. I thought it was the only practical option for running radiators. Pellet or oil heating would be difficult since we’re not planning a basement. And I thought heat pumps require underfloor heating for efficient operation.
And yes, we always keep all doors and windows open—but only during the period when the heating is completely off anyway. Right now, only the hot water system is running. And starting around October, the heating will be switched on again, so all windows and doors will be closed, and then there will be ventilation issues again—at least that’s what I expect in a new build. In our current rented house, window ventilation is sufficient even in winter, although we rarely do it. So, I’m not sure what you mean by “not under control.” According to our energy provider’s overview, we have always been well below the average energy consumption of all households in their area, both in every rental apartment and now our rental house. I believe we are quite energy conscious. My concern is that, for example, radiators might no longer be installed because they are much less efficient than underfloor heating. But that’s just a concern you’re welcome to reassure me about.
K
Königsbiene10 Jun 2013 14:33Perlemann – do you have a central ventilation system or a decentralized one?
I hadn’t noticed that DerDa mentioned the last 3 months; in that case, 35€ is indeed quite so-so. May and April were already fine in terms of temperature levels. March, on the other hand, was actually a real winter month this year with temperatures below -10°C (14°F), at least in northern Germany.
I hadn’t noticed that DerDa mentioned the last 3 months; in that case, 35€ is indeed quite so-so. May and April were already fine in terms of temperature levels. March, on the other hand, was actually a real winter month this year with temperatures below -10°C (14°F), at least in northern Germany.
P
perlenmann10 Jun 2013 14:53He writes that he has been living in the house for 3 months. The screed drying is probably still ongoing.
I have a central ventilation system; I would only consider a decentralized one for retrofitting. I imagine it could be problematic with an air filter, noise, and heat recovery.
I have a central ventilation system; I would only consider a decentralized one for retrofitting. I imagine it could be problematic with an air filter, noise, and heat recovery.
I don’t know how the weather was where you are, but we had severe subzero temperatures until mid-April. And well, May rarely went above 10°C (50°F), with nighttime temperatures around freezing. I was quite envious of the sunny photos from the north... We had rain, gray skies, rain, and more gray, gray, gray.
I should mention that we live in the Rhine Valley, where winters aren’t as cold as in places like the Allgäu or the Swabian Jura. So I’m using these values as a rough estimate. Let’s say it’s about €50 per month... That’s nothing, considering we heat a lot and to a higher temperature because we have a newborn who shouldn’t always be wrapped in five layers of clothing.
The €12,000 was the additional cost compared to the existing system. I have no idea how the prefab home provider calculated that, but it doesn’t matter to me since the offer was non-negotiable. Heating was one of those things you weren’t allowed to outsource, unless you ordered a shell home.
Our solar thermal system for hot water probably contributed only 5-6 times this year due to its west-facing orientation... and there simply haven’t been more sunny days.
We also have a wood-burning stove, which we used maybe 10 times during that period. More for fun than for heating, actually. We even had to open the windows because it got too warm otherwise.
Again, I’m not trying to convince anyone of our decisions—everyone has to decide for themselves. I prefer simple technology, and in our case, we needed a gas connection anyway (which ended up costing €1,400) because we also cook with gas. Although the gas used for cooking is negligible compared to heating. Just in case anyone gets the wrong impression.
I should mention that we live in the Rhine Valley, where winters aren’t as cold as in places like the Allgäu or the Swabian Jura. So I’m using these values as a rough estimate. Let’s say it’s about €50 per month... That’s nothing, considering we heat a lot and to a higher temperature because we have a newborn who shouldn’t always be wrapped in five layers of clothing.
The €12,000 was the additional cost compared to the existing system. I have no idea how the prefab home provider calculated that, but it doesn’t matter to me since the offer was non-negotiable. Heating was one of those things you weren’t allowed to outsource, unless you ordered a shell home.
Our solar thermal system for hot water probably contributed only 5-6 times this year due to its west-facing orientation... and there simply haven’t been more sunny days.
We also have a wood-burning stove, which we used maybe 10 times during that period. More for fun than for heating, actually. We even had to open the windows because it got too warm otherwise.
Again, I’m not trying to convince anyone of our decisions—everyone has to decide for themselves. I prefer simple technology, and in our case, we needed a gas connection anyway (which ended up costing €1,400) because we also cook with gas. Although the gas used for cooking is negligible compared to heating. Just in case anyone gets the wrong impression.
P
perlenmann10 Jun 2013 15:13But that’s exactly the point: You wrote that you consume €35! Period, end of story! You didn’t mention any conditions. If it was that cold for you, okay, but then I’d like to see a real winter! You also say you had no choice regarding the heating system and that €12,000 was the available budget. First, you (and I) can’t compare that, and second, there are costs included (around €1,400 for the gas connection and probably several thousand for the solar system), so it’s not €12,000 but significantly less than €10,000.
This isn’t meant negatively, but I sometimes notice this, and I think it distorts the whole matter quite a bit!
For example, I “had to” choose a heat pump since I neither had enough roof space for solar nor wanted additional insulation. Therefore, I have no idea what alternatives would have cost me. Sometimes making a decision is just that simple.
And @Königsbiene: If you’re really only coming back to this topic in a few years, the situation might look quite different by then.
This isn’t meant negatively, but I sometimes notice this, and I think it distorts the whole matter quite a bit!
For example, I “had to” choose a heat pump since I neither had enough roof space for solar nor wanted additional insulation. Therefore, I have no idea what alternatives would have cost me. Sometimes making a decision is just that simple.
And @Königsbiene: If you’re really only coming back to this topic in a few years, the situation might look quite different by then.
K
Königsbiene10 Jun 2013 20:34@Perlenmann: You’re right. In two years, everything could look completely different, and we’ll probably have different needs, ideas, and so on. But you never know what the future holds... sometimes things happen faster than expected (especially because we can really imagine building, and it’s only our reason telling us to wait a bit longer). And just in case, I prefer to be vaguely informed rather than helpless, naive, and directionless when dealing with the construction company. It’s probably silly, I know. But planning and dreaming is simply enjoyable—for now at least. When it actually gets serious and the $400,000 is on the table, I’ll probably just feel scared and overwhelmed...
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