District heating or air-to-water heat pump

Hello forum community,

we have a subtle problem with choosing our heating type.
Prerequisites: new build, 162m² bungalow with underfloor heating and ventilation system.
Possibility of district heating connection.

We had actually pretty much decided on district heating. After we literally begged several heating installers to give us an offer for a compact station (with which we can claim the subsidy).
3 declined without even asking about the installation date. 3 asked in surprise why we would choose the expensive district heating and not a heat pump.
In other words, we only have a half-baked verbal offer of €8500 (system with water tank, including installation). Then roughly €2000 connection costs from RWE come on top. Minus €1000/1500 subsidy.

Now we are a bit at a loss. Should we rather take an air-to-water heat pump? It would be one with a split unit (I believe that’s what the part mounted outside on the wall is called?). That’s supposed to be quite loud, right? The cost would be €7700 + €500 redesign costs.
Purely from the initial investment, the air-to-water heat pump is cheaper for me. As for operating costs, I can’t really say. I just don’t know much about it. What amounts come together for maintenance costs? Operating costs should actually remain within limits if properly adjusted, and there aren’t many days with severe subzero temperatures anymore.
Another advantage would be that everything comes from one source again and I don’t have this miserable organizational effort.

Oh, this back and forth is driving me crazy. I have no idea which direction is optimal for us.
Does the air-to-water heat pump heat just as well as a district heating compact station? (It probably does, otherwise there would be more complaints.)
How quickly do I get hot water?
Is the pump in the utility room then very audible?

If you want to get an air heat pump, consider taking a device that is installed inside the building, as otherwise significant disputes with your neighbors are likely, especially since systems installed outside produce considerable low-frequency noise 5-40 Hz at 80 dB. I have experience with an Alpha Innotec system. Also, for your own health, make sure that the system does not emit low-frequency noise. These are not the dB A values indicated by the manufacturers. They all hide the low-frequency noise. This system also runs 10-12 hours at night, which is not really energy efficient. Also, the COP of 3 is not achieved.

The issue was ultimately resolved by the dear money. Due to a lack of willing heating installers, we only received one offer for a FW compact station, which was also well above our budget. So we were left with only a heat pump. And since, because of the budget, no luxury model of heat pump was feasible, we had to take the one from the house builder. A Rotex HPSU compact 308 with split unit and 300l water tank. Since we have more than enough space to the neighbor, we don't have to worry about noise stress. The noise was also within limits during live operation and at full load. The thing is also far enough away from any living space.

Low-frequency noise is, I believe, often a problem with compressors... our brine-water heat pump also hums.. but of course not even close to 80 dB - really 80 dB?!

Caution, tinfoil hat wearers ahead ... you will probably still get to learn something about wind turbines, chemtrails, and mind controllers in drinking water ;)

Without knowing the exact tariff structure: Good (although not entirely voluntary) choice. District heating is usually by far the most expensive way to heat. Often extreme dependency and free pricing...

Alex responded very aptly to the rest ;)