Water heat pump vs gas condensing boiler experiences?

Hello everyone,

since I mostly read discussions about the air heat pump here, I would like to hear your opinion on the water heat pump versus the gas condensing boiler.

I could possibly do the wells myself; according to the house builder, the heat pump should not mean much additional cost in terms of purchase.

What is your opinion, what is better? And which company would be a good provider?

Thank you very much
insgruene

Hello,

...., I would like to hear your opinion on water heat pumps versus gas condensing boilers.

The same applies here as with air source heat pumps! The comparison with gas condensing boilers is somewhat flawed because usually an uneconomical solar thermal system has to be purchased as well.
Water heat pumps have the advantage over ground source heat pumps of a higher source temperature. This results in a theoretically higher annual performance factor. The physical properties of water are also more favorable for heat transfer and pumping. However, only a few wells are actually suitable in terms of water quality. Problems particularly tend to occur with recharge wells. One should not forget the usually higher energy consumption of the source pump, which can cause an initially good annual performance factor to quickly become worse than that of a ground source system. (Open system)

....What is your opinion, what is better? And which company would be a good provider?

Without calculating the framework parameters, this question cannot be reliably answered, unless one trusts a crystal ball when making a significant investment ;)

Best regards

An independent energy consultant can probably tell me that too, I think, I have already scheduled one.

Can a soil survey tell me if the groundwater is suitable? I want to have that done anyway before signing the contract, I suppose I will have to pay for it? At least the house builder said that this is the case, but that I would get it back from him during the construction. Is that common?

And then I would have the groundwater tested at the same time, right?

Best regards
insgruene

...An independent energy consultant can surely tell me that too, I think, I have planned for one.

Unfortunately, "energy consultant" is not a protected professional title. Therefore, it would be quite important that this person is simultaneously an M&E planner and has also completed a construction engineering education!

...Can a soil survey tell me if the groundwater is suitable?

No, a separate examination is required for this. Soil surveys deal with load-bearing capacity as a basis for the building foundation.

Regards

Hello,

...Why do I have to buy a solar thermal system together with the groundwater heat pump? Collectors are included in the house price anyway, but I can also operate a heat pump without them, or what would be the most economical?

A solar thermal system is usually not needed as a heat generator with a heat pump. The fact that the collectors are included in the price is due to the concept of the general contractor, where gas condensing technology is probably the standard. Besides, it is not so much about what would be possible, but what is required in terms of primary energy.
What is actually economical can be determined with a profitability calculation. However, at least a heating load calculation is required beforehand. Whether the friendly architect is really well versed in building services engineering is something I would now doubt. ;)

Best regards

Dear €uro,

you brought up the solar thermal system, which was not the question at all.

My question was only whether a groundwater heat pump is worthwhile compared to a gas boiler.

I also did not say that my architect is knowledgeable about building services engineering. I said that he will arrange one for me, that is a difference.