Hello everyone,
I would like to briefly present a specific case for discussion.
My father lives with his wife in an old, relatively large house, approximately 200 sq m (2,150 sq ft). There is no energy performance certificate available, but I assume the energy demand is quite high due to the age of the house.
Currently, the house is heated with 4 or 5 individual wood stoves. There is no other heating system installed—no hot water distribution system with radiators or underfloor heating.
Any changes should be done without major renovation work. So, removing the screed and installing underfloor heating is not an option.
At a trade fair, my father was offered electric radiators combined with photovoltaic panels. Of course, this involves minimal effort but comes with significant upfront investment costs.
Do you have any other ideas?
I am concerned that a heat pump with a hot water distribution system and radiators might not be very efficient.
Oh, and the heating system should maintain the house at a basic temperature of around 15°C (59°F). Any temperature above this will continue to be provided by the wood stoves. The goal of the heating system is simply to reduce the amount of wood needed in winter—from about 20 cubic meters (700 cubic feet) to maybe only 5—and to prevent the rooms from cooling down completely during short absences of 1 to 2 days.
I look forward to your suggestions.
Best regards,
Specki
I would like to briefly present a specific case for discussion.
My father lives with his wife in an old, relatively large house, approximately 200 sq m (2,150 sq ft). There is no energy performance certificate available, but I assume the energy demand is quite high due to the age of the house.
Currently, the house is heated with 4 or 5 individual wood stoves. There is no other heating system installed—no hot water distribution system with radiators or underfloor heating.
Any changes should be done without major renovation work. So, removing the screed and installing underfloor heating is not an option.
At a trade fair, my father was offered electric radiators combined with photovoltaic panels. Of course, this involves minimal effort but comes with significant upfront investment costs.
Do you have any other ideas?
I am concerned that a heat pump with a hot water distribution system and radiators might not be very efficient.
Oh, and the heating system should maintain the house at a basic temperature of around 15°C (59°F). Any temperature above this will continue to be provided by the wood stoves. The goal of the heating system is simply to reduce the amount of wood needed in winter—from about 20 cubic meters (700 cubic feet) to maybe only 5—and to prevent the rooms from cooling down completely during short absences of 1 to 2 days.
I look forward to your suggestions.
Best regards,
Specki
Is running pipes and installing radiators too much effort? Especially if there is a basement, supplying the ground floor with pipes from below is quite easy; on the upper floor, pipes can be hidden behind thick baseboards, for example.
If that is an option, gas (if available on the street), oil, or pellets are possible. The latter, however, require space in the basement.
But let me be pragmatic.
If the main issue is the effort of cutting wood, just don’t do it yourself anymore. Buy a wood splitter, hire a helper, or simply purchase the wood ready to use. Because no matter which heating system you choose, it won’t be cheap. Even infrared heating or similar options require investment and electricity, so you might as well buy the wood ready and leave the “right” solution to the next generation.
I consider photovoltaic systems irrelevant. During the heating season, solar panels produce hardly any output and therefore have little to do with the heating system itself.
If that is an option, gas (if available on the street), oil, or pellets are possible. The latter, however, require space in the basement.
But let me be pragmatic.
If the main issue is the effort of cutting wood, just don’t do it yourself anymore. Buy a wood splitter, hire a helper, or simply purchase the wood ready to use. Because no matter which heating system you choose, it won’t be cheap. Even infrared heating or similar options require investment and electricity, so you might as well buy the wood ready and leave the “right” solution to the next generation.
I consider photovoltaic systems irrelevant. During the heating season, solar panels produce hardly any output and therefore have little to do with the heating system itself.
Similar topics