Hello everyone,
Our building contract includes gas with hot water heating and underfloor heating.
For an additional 12,000€ (approximately 13,000 USD) we would get an air-to-water heat pump. From our perspective, that’s too expensive, right?
The idea was to have gas installed first, then sell the gas boiler later and install the heat pump afterward (by outsourcing the work separately).
Is it that simple to swap, or is our idea missing something?
Our building contract includes gas with hot water heating and underfloor heating.
For an additional 12,000€ (approximately 13,000 USD) we would get an air-to-water heat pump. From our perspective, that’s too expensive, right?
The idea was to have gas installed first, then sell the gas boiler later and install the heat pump afterward (by outsourcing the work separately).
Is it that simple to swap, or is our idea missing something?
B
bierkuh8310 May 2017 13:34Even if the solar system and the buffer tank are retained (which would be pointless) and the spacing of the underfloor heating pipes is reduced, an additional cost of €12,000 (approximately $13,000) is not easily justified. It seems like the general contractor just wants what’s best for themselves... Skip the extra cost and instead invest more money in an expert who supervises the work done by the general contractor...
We faced the choice: gas or air-to-water heat pump.
In the end, we chose gas and do not regret it. A 160m² (1,722 sq ft) KfW55 house without a basement, including solar-supported hot water and controlled ventilation, costs us about €40 per month (including hot water).
How low do the costs need to be to offset the significant additional expense of an air-to-water heat pump?
In the end, we chose gas and do not regret it. A 160m² (1,722 sq ft) KfW55 house without a basement, including solar-supported hot water and controlled ventilation, costs us about €40 per month (including hot water).
How low do the costs need to be to offset the significant additional expense of an air-to-water heat pump?
B
Bieber081510 May 2017 22:08xray107 schrieb:
How low do the costs have to be before you actually break even on the higher price of an air-to-water heat pump? We have a 157 m² (1,690 sq ft) KfW70 house with an air-to-water heat pump, and the electricity provider has set a monthly advance payment of 80 euros. I don’t yet know what the final costs will be. But as of May 10, the heating is still running. Using gas during construction would have increased the upfront costs, and I was stingy on that.
On the other hand, the ratio between electricity and gas prices can change again. Oil, and thus gas, is currently as cheap as it hasn’t been in a long time. Electricity remains expensive due to taxes and levies.
Nordlys schrieb:
Operating costs might develop evenly. But how long will the pump last without expensive repairs? The gas boiler runs almost maintenance-free for about 15 years, KarstenHeat pumps are generally low-maintenance to maintenance-free at first and don’t require a chimney sweep.
Longevity is anyone’s guess. When replacement is due, the gas boiler is cheaper in terms of investment (if still permitted at that time, see oil).
Operating costs are unpredictable. Gas prices can regularly double from one year to the next; we are currently experiencing a price low. €40 sounds reasonable but could also easily rise to €80 or €100. Electricity prices tend to be more stable or rise steadily, as they are much less influenced by speculation and international political conditions. In addition, the energy source can be changed, including self-generation.
But of course, this is based on past experience, and the future is unknown.
If choosing gas, make sure it is replaceable by the next investment cycle. Who knows if burners will still be allowed indefinitely; energy saving regulations already penalize this system. For heat pumps, I would consider geothermal (ground source) right away, which with subsidies might not be more expensive than air-source heat pumps.
If a general contractor demands an extra €10,000 or more just for the presence of a heat pump, then effectively you have no choice. The offer might as well say "Dear cash cow, not from me; you take gas and that’s final. Best regards." Long live architect-led construction.
I believe the most important thing is proper planning and installation, including hydraulic balancing. Before planning, a heating load calculation must be carried out to size the air-to-water heat pump or gas boiler. This is even more crucial for air-to-water heat pumps! A quick internet search reveals many threads like “my heat pump uses too much energy, I was promised such low monthly costs.”
No one can really predict how monthly costs will develop. If they could, I would recommend intensive stock trading...
I would like to raise another point for discussion: The location of the outdoor unit of an air-to-water heat pump must be carefully considered. In my neighborhood, the first legal notices have already been exchanged due to operating noise (distance from neighbor to outdoor unit about 20m (65 feet)). And the system doesn’t seem to be improperly set up...
No one can really predict how monthly costs will develop. If they could, I would recommend intensive stock trading...
I would like to raise another point for discussion: The location of the outdoor unit of an air-to-water heat pump must be carefully considered. In my neighborhood, the first legal notices have already been exchanged due to operating noise (distance from neighbor to outdoor unit about 20m (65 feet)). And the system doesn’t seem to be improperly set up...
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