ᐅ Which Heating System for a Prefabricated House: Air Source Heat Pump, Geothermal, Solar Thermal, Photovoltaic

Hello everyone,

we have done quite a bit of research and have decided on a prefabricated house with 150 sqm (1,615 sq ft). Since we want to plan everything carefully and inform ourselves beforehand, without being influenced by the salespeople or consultants from the construction companies, we have a question for you.

We are currently considering how to heat our new prefabricated house. Just a little background: the house will be built in a very rural area (a village with about 100 residents). To the left of the house there is a residential building, another residential building above, and fields below and to the right.

Since we are building without a basement, an oil heating system is not an option.

We are torn between an air-source heat pump, geothermal heating, gas, and a wood pellet heating system.

We also want to optimize this with either solar thermal or photovoltaic systems.

Could you give us some advice or information on what would be the best choice for us, also considering the long term?

Thank you in advance.

wir.zwei schrieb:


We are debating between an air source heat pump, geothermal system, gas heating, and wood pellet heating. We want to optimize this with either solar thermal or photovoltaic panels. Can you give us advice or information on what would be the best option for us, especially in the long term?

.. the location is also crucial, then the cost of the heating system, followed by the annual energy expenses, and when you calculate your payback period considering all these factors, you arrive at a conclusion ....

All right, as I said, the house is located quite close to the fields 😉

What type of heating do you use? And what experience have you had with it?

Hello,

wir.zwei schrieb:
Since we want to plan everything carefully and inform ourselves in advance, without being influenced by the individual salespeople or consultants from the house building companies....

Certainly the only sensible approach.

wir.zwei schrieb:
...We are undecided between air-source heat pump, geothermal, gas, and wood pellet heating systems....

The systems could hardly be more different.
First, a basic assessment is necessary (actual demand: capacity, energy for heating, hot water, and possibly ventilation).
With these results, considering the various technical solutions, the expected consumption can be estimated. Only then can investment costs or financing charges be reliably evaluated.
Everything else is speculation, guessing, in other words, a shot in the dark. Not a reliable basis for a significant investment decision.

Best regards.

Hello,

Here was our approach:

Pellets or oil → not possible because we have no basement for storage, generally more expensive, and uncertain fuel costs in the future.
Geothermal heat → not feasible in our specific case since we are building in a water protection area. Also, the very high initial investment cost was not appealing.
Air-source heat pump → 1. You end up with an unsightly and noisy (up to 60 dB(A)) unit in the garden. Not acceptable, especially if you or your neighbors want to sleep with the windows open. 2. It is difficult to achieve an annual performance factor above 4.
Gas → This was our remaining option. Proven, cost-effective technology. The money saved was invested in better insulation.

All of the above heating systems usually last only about 15 years. Possibly up to 20 years, but then their time is up. Some will scrap their very expensive heat pumps while I still have my affordable gas condensing boiler.

Regards

klblb schrieb:


All of the above-mentioned heating technologies usually last only about 15 years. Maybe 20 years at most, but then they need to be replaced. Some people then scrap their very expensive heat pump, while I replace my affordable gas condensing boiler.

Best regards
klblb

I am currently facing the same problem of choosing a heating source. For the reasons mentioned above, I am currently of the opinion that the gas heating system is the better alternative compared to other heating systems.