ᐅ Types of Heating Systems: Underfloor Heating, Gas, Air Source Heat Pump? Any Experiences?
Created on: 5 Apr 2013 13:18
L
Lisa86
Hello everyone,
My boyfriend and I are about to start detailed planning for a new single-family house in the Berlin/Brandenburg area. We have already had a few discussions with different construction companies just to gather some initial experience. In many areas, we feel more confident now, but we are completely uncertain when it comes to the heating system.
It feels like every company tells us something different. Just when we think we have made up our minds, the next conversation tells us that is totally wrong.
That’s why I wanted to ask the more experienced members here for advice, since I didn’t find clearer answers in other forum posts.
The house will be one and a half stories with about 140sqm (1,507 sq ft) and a basement. We want to build to KfW 70 standard to qualify for subsidies. We do not want geothermal energy. There definitely will be underfloor heating. Currently, we are just two people. Eventually, we plan to have two children...
What we have been told so far: underfloor heating combined with a gas boiler is not sensible... underfloor heating with an air-source heat pump, on the other hand, is very sensible... why? I can't remember... probably because it would offer a better energy balance... A ventilation system with heat recovery combined with underfloor heating is also said to be not good. It supposedly causes drafts, you might easily get sick, and that wouldn’t be ideal...
We are very uncertain. Ideally, we would just go with underfloor heating and gas without much extra hassle. But apparently that is considered a bad choice... So what is correct? Can you help?
My boyfriend and I are about to start detailed planning for a new single-family house in the Berlin/Brandenburg area. We have already had a few discussions with different construction companies just to gather some initial experience. In many areas, we feel more confident now, but we are completely uncertain when it comes to the heating system.
It feels like every company tells us something different. Just when we think we have made up our minds, the next conversation tells us that is totally wrong.
That’s why I wanted to ask the more experienced members here for advice, since I didn’t find clearer answers in other forum posts.
The house will be one and a half stories with about 140sqm (1,507 sq ft) and a basement. We want to build to KfW 70 standard to qualify for subsidies. We do not want geothermal energy. There definitely will be underfloor heating. Currently, we are just two people. Eventually, we plan to have two children...
What we have been told so far: underfloor heating combined with a gas boiler is not sensible... underfloor heating with an air-source heat pump, on the other hand, is very sensible... why? I can't remember... probably because it would offer a better energy balance... A ventilation system with heat recovery combined with underfloor heating is also said to be not good. It supposedly causes drafts, you might easily get sick, and that wouldn’t be ideal...
We are very uncertain. Ideally, we would just go with underfloor heating and gas without much extra hassle. But apparently that is considered a bad choice... So what is correct? Can you help?
Hello,
The only way to protect yourself is through external consultation/planning/dimensioning.
Best regards
Lisa86 schrieb:We simply live in a sales-driven society! Every provider sells “their” miracle solution ;-)
...It feels like every company tells you something different. Whenever you think you’re sure, in the next conversation they say that is totally wrong.
Lisa86 schrieb:That is probably intentional!
...We are completely unsettled...
The only way to protect yourself is through external consultation/planning/dimensioning.
Best regards
M
Micha&Dany6 Apr 2013 08:13Hello
In my personal opinion, I would never build without a ventilation system. We currently live in a rental apartment that was heavily insulated 2-3 years ago. Since then, there is hardly any fresh air indoors. It feels like living in a plastic bag, and we practically have to keep some window open all the time. Of course, that doesn’t really save on heating costs...
That’s why today’s highly insulated houses simply don’t work without controlled mechanical ventilation.
We are building with gas heating—without solar! (with the 15% rule)—and controlled mechanical ventilation.
Is this a good solution? I believe so—ask me again next year after I have lived through a winter in the house ;-)
Best regards
Micha ;-)
In my personal opinion, I would never build without a ventilation system. We currently live in a rental apartment that was heavily insulated 2-3 years ago. Since then, there is hardly any fresh air indoors. It feels like living in a plastic bag, and we practically have to keep some window open all the time. Of course, that doesn’t really save on heating costs...
That’s why today’s highly insulated houses simply don’t work without controlled mechanical ventilation.
We are building with gas heating—without solar! (with the 15% rule)—and controlled mechanical ventilation.
Is this a good solution? I believe so—ask me again next year after I have lived through a winter in the house ;-)
Best regards
Micha ;-)
P
perlenmann6 Apr 2013 09:56The choice of heating system also depends on other factors:
I didn’t care about the KFW subsidy—too many requirements! Solar wasn’t an option for us due to the building’s orientation. Thicker insulation was not considered because we wanted to build the semi-detached house as wide as possible. At first, I was convinced not to install a ventilation system, but I decided to include one during the shell construction, and it turned out to be the best decision. Not having to ventilate in winter yet still always having fresh air is simply brilliant.
I didn’t care about the KFW subsidy—too many requirements! Solar wasn’t an option for us due to the building’s orientation. Thicker insulation was not considered because we wanted to build the semi-detached house as wide as possible. At first, I was convinced not to install a ventilation system, but I decided to include one during the shell construction, and it turned out to be the best decision. Not having to ventilate in winter yet still always having fresh air is simply brilliant.
We are asking ourselves the same question right now.
An air source heat pump is inexpensive to purchase, but you have to use electric heating when temperatures drop in winter – for me, that was the deal-breaker besides the noisy humming unit.
Geothermal heating is too expensive, not cost-effective, and still requires a significant amount of electricity.
We are currently torn between pellets and gas, but we want to connect the fireplace in the living room to the heating system as well.
I am skeptical about ventilation systems – the vents look unattractive, and no one has been able to tell me what happens if the ventilation gets mold. Do you have any detailed information on this?
An air source heat pump is inexpensive to purchase, but you have to use electric heating when temperatures drop in winter – for me, that was the deal-breaker besides the noisy humming unit.
Geothermal heating is too expensive, not cost-effective, and still requires a significant amount of electricity.
We are currently torn between pellets and gas, but we want to connect the fireplace in the living room to the heating system as well.
I am skeptical about ventilation systems – the vents look unattractive, and no one has been able to tell me what happens if the ventilation gets mold. Do you have any detailed information on this?
Hello,
A side question: What is the actual demand (capacity, energy) for heating and hot water?
Overall: Just assumptions, or is there actual evidence?
Best regards
linthe schrieb:How many additional kWh are actually required due to this? For well-designed systems, less than 1% of the annual heating energy demand! ;-) Also, not all “boxes” buzz loudly; some are barely audible.
We are asking ourselves the same question right now.
Air source heat pumps are inexpensive to purchase, but you have to use electric heating at certain low temperatures in winter – for me, that was the dealbreaker besides that noisy buzzing box.
linthe schrieb:Where does this certainty come from? ;-) With geothermal use, the usable renewable share is the highest! Not comparable to uneconomical solar thermal systems, which are usually sold to the naive alongside gas condensing boilers.
..Geothermal energy is too expensive, not cost-effective, and also requires a significant amount of electricity.
A side question: What is the actual demand (capacity, energy) for heating and hot water?
linthe schrieb:Does the latter really make sense? Are there concrete balance figures available for this?
..We are currently debating between pellets and gas but want to integrate the fireplace in the living room with the heating system as well.
Overall: Just assumptions, or is there actual evidence?
Best regards
If the heating system is properly designed and, above all, well installed, a gas condensing boiler can be a very reasonable choice. Underfloor heating requires low flow temperatures, but this is not a problem at all with a properly designed system. Amid all the discussions about heat pumps, it is important to remember that they operate on electricity, and whenever the heating demand cannot be met due to external factors, additional electric heating will be necessary.
In any case, it is always better to meet with a local technician to get detailed information about the different systems. A home seller cannot and will not have an overview of the many types of systems, which naturally leads to uncertainty.
In any case, it is always better to meet with a local technician to get detailed information about the different systems. A home seller cannot and will not have an overview of the many types of systems, which naturally leads to uncertainty.
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