ᐅ Which heating system would you recommend?

Created on: 28 Jan 2018 16:25
C
Chris2806
Hello everyone,

After a long back and forth with the building authorities, our house construction project is now about to start.
We still have an important decision to make…

Which heating system should we use?
We are planning a single-family house of about 180sqm (1938 sq ft) without a basement.

Option 1 (my personal favorite):

Water-bearing fireplace + solar thermal system + gas condensing boiler

We have our own forest, and currently, I harvest about 6 cubic meters (7.8 cubic yards) of firewood each year anyway.

Option 2 (this option is preferred by our developer):
Air-to-water heat pump from Nibe + photovoltaic system including battery (Viebrockhaus).
However, I’m concerned about the dependency on electricity on overcast days. After all, you use the most energy when the sun isn’t shining.

Regardless of the developer’s preference, what would be the best option for us?

Thanks and best regards
J
Joedreck
28 Jan 2018 18:19
Yes, that sounds reasonable. To truly save, you have to consistently heat with wood. Otherwise, it probably is never worthwhile.
A
Alex85
28 Jan 2018 20:04
Whether hydronic fireplaces ever really pay off, especially in new builds, is questionable. In my opinion, it’s more of a hobby since you would have the wood anyway. The extra costs for the fireplace, piping, and controls—you could heat conventionally for years with that money. Not to mention the effort involved in preparing the wood and the low convenience of keeping it running consistently.

If you really want to prepare and use the wood, enjoy a cozy evening in front of a traditional fireplace and sell the rest. That would be much better for your budget.
wrobel28 Jan 2018 22:40
Hello

I would recommend your personal favorite.

I have installed several similar systems for clients. Usually without a gas connection.
That might also be worth considering.
Size the buffer tank larger – it costs almost nothing extra.
Collector area over 20m2 (215 sq ft) – possibly eligible for innovation funding.

The power consumption of the pump should not differ significantly from that of the fan motor on the gas boiler.

Olli
wrobel28 Jan 2018 22:56
Hello again

Why is it that when it comes to biomass heating systems, the discussion always revolves around whether it is "worth it" or about "profitability"?
In topics concerning a kitchen island or a third bathroom, these questions never come up.


Olli
ares8328 Jan 2018 23:19
To put it bluntly: A heating system serves one purpose—to warm the house efficiently. I don't want to see it, hear it, or deal with it daily, not even monthly.

The other questions concern things you want to interact with daily, including appearance and usability.
T
Tego12
29 Jan 2018 07:00
The standard Nibe heat pump from Viebrockhaus is an exhaust air heat pump... Just look it up online, these units are basically electric heaters, not recommended for anything other than passive houses.

A water-bearing fireplace combined with a gas boiler... Too expensive. You will never recoup the extra costs for the water-bearing system, even with nearly free wood... Plus, it makes the system unnecessarily complicated and therefore more expensive to maintain and replace eventually. If you want a fireplace, build one without this complicated connection and control system.

For comparison between kitchen and heating... No comment, apples and oranges and all that...