Which heating? Please provide recommendations

Moin Moin

When I deal with the "why" I rarely come to 19??
where in Germany I knew nothing......so long ago!?!
Where the devices were developed doesn’t really matter either.
And the conditions are certainly different today.

explain to those who have no time for a language course
why I should cut holes in an airtight and windproof building.
why I should use the building as a heat source for a heat pump.


Olli

So I am still in favor of gas condensing boilers and nothing else...

I don’t understand all these calculations! With an air-to-water heat pump, I don’t need a chimney flue (about 3000€) or a chimney sweep and also save quite a bit on heating costs annually with heat pump electricity tariffs. After 7-10 years, you easily make up the difference and then heat at a profit compared to the gas boiler, without even considering the possible rising gas prices!?

save a lot on heating costs with heat pump electricity tariffs

You may save a few cents per kWh, but that does not necessarily mean a saving in heating costs if you instead heat with a gas condensing boiler.

According to "forum opinion," a modern house of average size currently incurs about EUR 50.00/month in heating costs. If consumption decreases by 10% for an additional investment of, for example, EUR 1000, the investment pays off after at least 17 years (additional financing costs etc. not yet considered)...

then heats at a profit compared to the gas boiler, without considering the possible rising gas price!?

It is just guesswork how the development of electricity and gas prices will be in the next years. Not only gas prices can rise!

Yes, the fact is that with a heat pump you save the following costs!

[*]Chimney flue approx. €3000
[*]Gas connection approx. €2500
[*]Chimney sweep approx. €800 in 10 years

That means I already save about €6300 just on the investment compared to gas, not to mention the savings on consumption. So you don’t need 17 years for it to pay off!

You stated that the air-to-water heat pump only pays off after 7-10 years.

Whether the numbers you mentioned above correspond to reality for your project, I cannot judge either. Prices vary greatly.

I merely pointed out that savings in heating/primary energy do not lead to significantly lower heating costs that justify the additional investment.

However, it is quite clear that many people justify their preferred heating system nicely. As you do with your numbers above as well. I doubt that your heat pump can operate maintenance-free for 10 years, so at least some additional costs will arise for you there. To my knowledge, an efficient air-to-water heat pump is more expensive than a gas condensing boiler, which then eats up savings for the gas connection, etc., and so on.

Whether you actually save compared to gas with an electrically powered heating system depends heavily on the insulation and location of your building. Not every house benefits from an air-to-water heat pump...

However, due to the changed framework conditions as of 1.4.2016, there are of course many arguments in favor of a heat pump.

It is quite clear, however, that many people make their preferred heating system appear economically favorable. Just like you do with your numbers above. I doubt that your heat pump can be operated maintenance-free for 10 years, so at least some additional costs will arise there as well. To my knowledge, an efficient air-to-water heat pump is more expensive than a gas condensing boiler, which then eats up savings for the gas connection, etc., and so on.

Whether you actually save with an electrically powered heating system compared to gas strongly depends on the insulation and the location of your building. An air-to-water heat pump is not suitable for every house...

I would like to at least partially disagree here. An air-to-water heat pump can basically be used in most houses. They come in a quite large performance range that covers everything from small to large single-family homes. There are also some that modulate their output. Regarding real savings, it is generally the case that the investment in an effective heating system pays off more the worse a building is insulated (as you basically say). However, I think the location is probably even more important than the insulation – gas is more worthwhile in locations that are too cold, whereas heat pumps definitely make sense in warmer ones. I also believe that a good air-to-water heat pump is more expensive than a gas condensing boiler, but there are exactly no costs for the connections, etc., so overall the air-to-water heat pump does not cost much more! Additionally, it may be that with gas you also need (thermal, i.e., hot water) solar to achieve (at least theoretically) appropriate primary energy values. And then the gas condensing boiler is at a disadvantage cost-wise compared to an air-to-water heat pump. Maintenance for heat pumps, however, is very low aside from that. How often do you service your refrigerator? And in the case of a gas condensing boiler, after 10 years there may be more than just maintenance needed, to use your example. I think there is little wishful thinking involved here.