ᐅ Replace electric radiators with inverter air conditioning units
Created on: 20 Apr 2024 08:17
D
DanielR
Hello Community
We have a house at 1400 meters (4600 feet) elevation with 6 rooms (excluding bathrooms). These are heated with wall-mounted electric radiators. The costs have risen so much that we are now looking for an alternative.
A heat pump is unfortunately not an option, as this would require installing internal water-carrying pipes throughout the entire house. These would either connect to wall-mounted water radiators or be used for underfloor heating (each room would need a complete renovation). The costs would simply be too high.
I have read several times that one option might be to install multi-split air conditioning units. The house (2 floors) would be ideal for this. Air conditioning systems with inverter technology reportedly use between 70-80% less electrical energy.
Has anyone done this or knows anything about it? I would appreciate any comments.
Thank you in advance
Daniel
We have a house at 1400 meters (4600 feet) elevation with 6 rooms (excluding bathrooms). These are heated with wall-mounted electric radiators. The costs have risen so much that we are now looking for an alternative.
A heat pump is unfortunately not an option, as this would require installing internal water-carrying pipes throughout the entire house. These would either connect to wall-mounted water radiators or be used for underfloor heating (each room would need a complete renovation). The costs would simply be too high.
I have read several times that one option might be to install multi-split air conditioning units. The house (2 floors) would be ideal for this. Air conditioning systems with inverter technology reportedly use between 70-80% less electrical energy.
Has anyone done this or knows anything about it? I would appreciate any comments.
Thank you in advance
Daniel
We would install Mitsubishi units, which still maintain a good SCOP value down to minus 15 degrees Celsius (5°F). Units from big-box stores would not be sufficient for our requirements.
Yes, 4000 kWh is not very much, but they currently cost us 6000.00 per year in electricity. The current quote for the units including installation is 9,000.00, so the systems would pay for themselves in 1.5 years. Even if electricity prices fall again (which will not be the case in 2024, since the supplier already purchased for 2024 back in 2022), this would still be the better long-term solution purely from an energy perspective.
I have also considered single-split systems, but that would require many more outdoor units.
Three rooms are only used during school holidays (our whole family is here during ski holidays) and are only heated at those times, which makes multi-split systems more efficient and also better looking on the outside.
We are thinking about a photovoltaic system. We have 80 m² (860 ft²) of roof space. The problem in the mountains is that in winter, due to the surrounding peaks and the sun’s angle, there is not enough sunlight on the system. Although over a 10-year average we have 300 days of sun per year, photovoltaic systems are not really efficient because of the geographic conditions.
Additionally, snow is a factor. This April alone, we had snow 6 times, which remains longer due to the temperatures and reduces the efficiency of a photovoltaic system. In mid-winter (December to February), snow can permanently cover the system.
I am currently researching photovoltaic systems that can be heated.
Heating demand: hard to say. Washing, cooking, lighting, and heating — so I assume about 80% is for heating.
Yes, 4000 kWh is not very much, but they currently cost us 6000.00 per year in electricity. The current quote for the units including installation is 9,000.00, so the systems would pay for themselves in 1.5 years. Even if electricity prices fall again (which will not be the case in 2024, since the supplier already purchased for 2024 back in 2022), this would still be the better long-term solution purely from an energy perspective.
I have also considered single-split systems, but that would require many more outdoor units.
Three rooms are only used during school holidays (our whole family is here during ski holidays) and are only heated at those times, which makes multi-split systems more efficient and also better looking on the outside.
We are thinking about a photovoltaic system. We have 80 m² (860 ft²) of roof space. The problem in the mountains is that in winter, due to the surrounding peaks and the sun’s angle, there is not enough sunlight on the system. Although over a 10-year average we have 300 days of sun per year, photovoltaic systems are not really efficient because of the geographic conditions.
Additionally, snow is a factor. This April alone, we had snow 6 times, which remains longer due to the temperatures and reduces the efficiency of a photovoltaic system. In mid-winter (December to February), snow can permanently cover the system.
I am currently researching photovoltaic systems that can be heated.
Heating demand: hard to say. Washing, cooking, lighting, and heating — so I assume about 80% is for heating.
Especially with Mitsubishi, single-split systems often make sense. However, the expert needs to do the calculation.
How can 4000 kWh (4000 kWh) cost 6000€? Normal prices for end consumers are currently around 25-50 cents per kWh (kWh).
By heating capacity, I meant how many kW. Mitsubishi has the large "standard" indoor unit with about 6.x kW cooling capacity and just under 8 kW heating capacity.
How can 4000 kWh (4000 kWh) cost 6000€? Normal prices for end consumers are currently around 25-50 cents per kWh (kWh).
By heating capacity, I meant how many kW. Mitsubishi has the large "standard" indoor unit with about 6.x kW cooling capacity and just under 8 kW heating capacity.
Ahh, I need to check the kilowatt (kW) rating, and I will continue researching single-split systems. Thank you very much.
Costs: I am based in Switzerland. That would be a topic for another forum post and could fill volumes.
Anyway: in 2022 it was still manageable, but since they already purchased for 2023 and 2024 out of fear that electricity prices might rise further due to global crises, it almost knocked the ground out from under us when we received the last bill.
Costs: I am based in Switzerland. That would be a topic for another forum post and could fill volumes.
Anyway: in 2022 it was still manageable, but since they already purchased for 2023 and 2024 out of fear that electricity prices might rise further due to global crises, it almost knocked the ground out from under us when we received the last bill.
DanielR schrieb:
Anyway: in 2022 it was still manageable, but since they already bought for 2023 and 2024 out of fear that, due to global crises, electricity prices might rise even more, it nearly knocked the ground out from under us when we got the last bill. I would switch immediately and not feed such an exploitative supplier with any more money. Summer is coming now; this is the time to retrofit.
DanielR schrieb:
Yes, 4000 kWh is not particularly much, but it currently costs us 6000.00 per year in electricity expenses. The current offer for the systems including installation amounts to 9,000.00, so the systems would pay for themselves in 1.5 years.
Even in Switzerland, the kWh does not cost 1.50 € or CHF. Your payback calculation is also incorrect, as the air conditioning units consume electricity as well. With varying power requirements, individual units are better. They are cheaper, easier to plan, and install.Yes, you're right that air conditioners also consume electricity, but with a SCOP of ≥ 6, significantly less. In that case, the payback period is about 3 years, which is not too bad.
I will have to check the kWh again on the last electricity bill once I am back in the country.
Single units: yes, I understand that, but 5-6 outdoor units don't really look nice. I would reduce it to 1-2 outdoor units using a multi-split system.
I will have to check the kWh again on the last electricity bill once I am back in the country.
Single units: yes, I understand that, but 5-6 outdoor units don't really look nice. I would reduce it to 1-2 outdoor units using a multi-split system.
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