Air-water heat pump - installation location of the split unit - maximum distance / efficiency

Hello dear forum community!

Due to recent developments, I would like to ask about your experiences regarding the remote installation of the split unit. In our previous planning, the installation was to be as close as possible, meaning directly at the technical room. In this case towards the street = front garden.

Now the building authority has demanded a replanning because installation there is not permitted, which we or the architect apparently overlooked. Fundamentally understandable, as we are not fans of these things in the front gardens ourselves and originally had a different location in mind. Now the replanning will be forced, so that actually only an alternative installation at about 11-12 m is possible.

What does this now mean for us in terms of efficiency and possible additional costs? Previously, this remote installation was generally discouraged because every additional meter would cause several hundred more in installation costs and efficiency would suffer.

Are there any practical experiences here?

Many thanks in advance!

Hello again everyone! :)

In case future generations are interested, I will add my own input: I have already received feedback today from the heat pump manufacturer (Vaillant) that the distance should generally not be a problem, but for efficiency reasons the pipes would have to be "insulated from above." They referred to "district heating insulation" which would cost about 300€/m.

We will probably have to accept the latter, for better or worse. If anyone has their own experience with efficient implementation and/or costs, feel free to share it :)

Best regards

They were talking about "district heating insulation" that would cost around 300€/m.

We would probably have to accept the latter, for better or worse.

I think they're making quite a profit there and telling you something about some high-tech stuff. 300€/m is quite a figure... I would definitely have gotten the insulation myself and coordinated accordingly with the plumber...

I think they are adding quite a profit margin and telling you something about high-tech stuff. 300€/lm is quite a number... I would definitely have gotten the insulation myself and coordinated accordingly with the plumber...

You are certainly right there, I would also like to get the insulation myself ... Apart from the fact that I haven’t found such an expensive/special insulation anywhere online and am curious what it is supposed to be, unfortunately we have the disadvantage of getting everything from the general contractor and having little room for "personal initiatives."

In the end, the efficiency must not be neglected here, since the BAFA subsidy we hope to receive depends on it. As far as I understand, the corresponding efficiency must still be proven after commissioning. Let’s see what comes of it ...

You are certainly right, I would also like to get the insulation myself

And why don't you do it then? The district heating pipe (with two pipes) costs about €40 per running meter in DN25 (for DN32 it is about €70). Top insulation values.
For example

You can also buy the district heating pipe with integrated empty conduits at an extra charge. That way you have the electrical connection laid at the same time.

We also had to install such a pipe for our air-to-water heat pump. 13m cost 1600€ there. :oops: Plus end caps, threaded couplings, transition nipples. In the end, that was 2900€. The electrical cables etc. for the outdoor unit were also laid inside.