ᐅ Choice of heating system: gas condensing boiler with solar thermal or air-source heat pump
Created on: 8 Feb 2012 20:03
R
René81Hello esteemed community,
We are struggling to make a decision regarding our heating system choice. No matter how many people, friends, and experts we ask, we receive just as many different answers.
We can’t decide between a gas condensing boiler with solar support or an air source heat pump. A ground source heat pump is not an option due to cost and water source area constraints.
The architect has already started the planning, and so far we have been leaning towards the gas boiler, but the more we think and ask around, the more uncertain we become. Originally, we wanted to move away from gas and oil, but the initial investment cost makes us reconsider.
Here are the facts:
We have serious doubts about the costs during harsh winter days.
Could you provide us with some reliable numbers? Which combination would work well? Which would be the most cost-effective over the year? I’m quite skeptical about the salespeople’s information.
Kind regards
We are struggling to make a decision regarding our heating system choice. No matter how many people, friends, and experts we ask, we receive just as many different answers.
We can’t decide between a gas condensing boiler with solar support or an air source heat pump. A ground source heat pump is not an option due to cost and water source area constraints.
The architect has already started the planning, and so far we have been leaning towards the gas boiler, but the more we think and ask around, the more uncertain we become. Originally, we wanted to move away from gas and oil, but the initial investment cost makes us reconsider.
Here are the facts:
- Single-story bungalow with approximately 130sqm (1400 sq ft) of living space
- No basement
- No expandable attic
- Underfloor heating
- Possible hot water connection for washing machine and dishwasher
- Combination of double and triple glazing
We have serious doubts about the costs during harsh winter days.
Could you provide us with some reliable numbers? Which combination would work well? Which would be the most cost-effective over the year? I’m quite skeptical about the salespeople’s information.
Kind regards
Hello,
Without knowing the actual demand (performance, energy), it’s difficult to make any reliable predictions. A solar thermal system hardly makes sense for a single-family home, so if you choose a condensing gas boiler, it should be combined with improved insulation (15% rule).
Best regards,
René81 schrieb:These are frequently asked questions. Just try using the search function.
...What would you do in our case?..
Without knowing the actual demand (performance, energy), it’s difficult to make any reliable predictions. A solar thermal system hardly makes sense for a single-family home, so if you choose a condensing gas boiler, it should be combined with improved insulation (15% rule).
René81 schrieb:That is quite justified. Would you trust posts from anonymous authors, though?
...I don’t really trust all the salespeople.
Best regards,
René81 schrieb:
...We don’t know the consumption yet; the architect is currently working on the design. The consumption will only be determined in connection with the technical solution. The primary factor is the demand. René81 schrieb:
...The bricks will be 24cm (9.5 inches) Poroton bricks with 140mm (5.5 inches) insulation. Maybe that makes the statement clearer. Unfortunately not! If it were that simple, all the detailed calculations could be skipped.
Best regards.
Sorry, but how am I supposed to know the requirements if I don’t live in the house yet?!
I can only provide more than just numbers; I can also say that there will be three of us.
The experiences shouldn’t be tailored to my needs – I simply want to hear good or bad experiences from other members.
For example, which models can be recommended and which ones not. Or if someone has had good or bad experiences with this or that type of heating system.
Best regards
I can only provide more than just numbers; I can also say that there will be three of us.
The experiences shouldn’t be tailored to my needs – I simply want to hear good or bad experiences from other members.
For example, which models can be recommended and which ones not. Or if someone has had good or bad experiences with this or that type of heating system.
Best regards
René81 schrieb:
Sorry, but how am I supposed to know the demand if I don’t live in the house yet?! You can (and should) calculate it in advance, as long as the building, climate location, and user behavior (e.g. desired room temperatures) are defined. Or would you just buy a car without knowing its fuel consumption beforehand?
Best regards,
Hello Rene81,
Overall, the planning process for a house is an iterative one. In addition to your own wishes, the requirements based on the number of occupants, possibly also their age and health condition, the site conditions, external changes such as energy price developments, social changes, as well as legal regulations—both building codes and funding regulations—and your budget, and so on, your house will ultimately take shape. So far, the people involved in such a process have been the client and the architect, who can consider many of the mentioned framework conditions.
As you have noticed, the matter is highly complex, and both you and the other parties involved aim to develop the optimum solution and avoid any critical mistakes. In our opinion, an energy consultant should be involved in the planning phase, especially if the architect apparently cannot fully cover this field.
Probably for cost reasons, possibly due to the groundwater situation, or maybe also because of the topic of “age-appropriate building,” you have opted for a bungalow.
By deciding to install underfloor heating, you have laid the foundation for implementing all possible heating variations. The goal of an energy consultation, which can also be carried out by a suitably qualified heating engineer, should first be to achieve a correspondingly high building physics standard for the building envelope, since windows, roof, and walls should have service lives of 25 to 40 years (around 25 to 40 years). This raises, of course, the question of why double or triple glazing is partially being used, while it is important to know that the quality of a window consists of the frame, glass, and installation. Currently, overall U-values around 0.95 should be installed.
Due to the high energy standard and the underfloor heating, heating systems with low output capacities can be installed. For example, modern gas condensing boilers can adapt to the demand today (modulation) and are already available on the market with outputs around 2 kW (kilowatts).
Information is available from the energy consultant, heating specialist, or consumer testing organizations. Unfortunately, the latest test of gas condensing boilers dates back to mid-2010 but should still provide a valuable indication of the advantages and disadvantages of the systems.
Regards
Overall, the planning process for a house is an iterative one. In addition to your own wishes, the requirements based on the number of occupants, possibly also their age and health condition, the site conditions, external changes such as energy price developments, social changes, as well as legal regulations—both building codes and funding regulations—and your budget, and so on, your house will ultimately take shape. So far, the people involved in such a process have been the client and the architect, who can consider many of the mentioned framework conditions.
As you have noticed, the matter is highly complex, and both you and the other parties involved aim to develop the optimum solution and avoid any critical mistakes. In our opinion, an energy consultant should be involved in the planning phase, especially if the architect apparently cannot fully cover this field.
Probably for cost reasons, possibly due to the groundwater situation, or maybe also because of the topic of “age-appropriate building,” you have opted for a bungalow.
By deciding to install underfloor heating, you have laid the foundation for implementing all possible heating variations. The goal of an energy consultation, which can also be carried out by a suitably qualified heating engineer, should first be to achieve a correspondingly high building physics standard for the building envelope, since windows, roof, and walls should have service lives of 25 to 40 years (around 25 to 40 years). This raises, of course, the question of why double or triple glazing is partially being used, while it is important to know that the quality of a window consists of the frame, glass, and installation. Currently, overall U-values around 0.95 should be installed.
Due to the high energy standard and the underfloor heating, heating systems with low output capacities can be installed. For example, modern gas condensing boilers can adapt to the demand today (modulation) and are already available on the market with outputs around 2 kW (kilowatts).
Information is available from the energy consultant, heating specialist, or consumer testing organizations. Unfortunately, the latest test of gas condensing boilers dates back to mid-2010 but should still provide a valuable indication of the advantages and disadvantages of the systems.
Regards
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