Cost savings are important when installing a heating system for your home, but when is a heat pump really worth it? Given energy efficiency and the fight against CO₂ emissions, the answer to this question is not always easy. For years, the HVAC industry consisted solely of furnaces and air conditioners. However, that hasn't stopped new technologies and inventions from coming to market. With these advances, you can now heat your home using just electricity or heat and cool it using the same system. This is a system that can be a great option for many families. The following information can help you decide whether or not to use the appropriate technology.
So how do heat pumps work and why is such a technology used at all? Most systems work by pumping or moving heat from one location to another. They do this by using a compressor and a circulating structure of liquid or gaseous refrigerant. In doing so, they extract heat from external sources and pump it inside the corresponding room. Heat pumps bring many advantagesmodern homewith yourself. Pumping the heat uses less electricity than if you just use it as a means of conversion. In summer the cycle can be reversed and the device acts like an air conditioner.
In addition, heat pumps are becoming increasingly popular, and governments are introducing a number of new programs that incentivize a smooth and more affordable transition to oneenvironmentally friendly livingand create an alternative use of energy. The International Energy Agency (IEA) stresses in its latest special report that no new gas boilers should be sold after 2025 if net zero targets must be met by 2050. In this regard, heat pumps should be a better, low-carbon alternative for heating apartments and houses in the future.
Choose environmentally friendly and energy-efficient heat sources
By combining heat pumps withenergy-efficient solar panels and photovoltaic systemsyou can make your home self-sufficient and environmentally friendly. Properly designed and installed heat pumps can be worthwhile because they regularly achieve an efficiency of over 300 percent. For this reason, these are worth it in most cases, although they are usually more expensive to install. These systems save more money year-round through low maintenance costs, making heat pumps a great investment. In addition, such cooling and heating systems are much safer and there is no risk of a gas leak that can expose you to carbon monoxide.
As already mentioned, such devices do not generate heat directly, as is the case with other radiators, for example. Instead, a heat pump transfers heat between the outside and inside. This system requires no fossil fuels to burn at all. It can do the work using electricity only. A heat pump is able to do this because it is actually a system made up of two different units. One is placed indoors while the other is outside. Most of the time, heat is simply transferred between the two without the need for air ducts at all. But when is a heat pump worthwhile and what are the advantages and disadvantages of such a system? Below we'll take a closer look at the pros and cons of heat pumps to help you decide.
The advantages of a heat pump
The HVAC units take up a large portion of the monthly energy bills. Many consumers therefore want to make the right decision for their household before starting to install a new device. Ultimately, it doesn't matter how great a new technology is if it costs much more than existing equipment. Fortunately, this is not the case with heat pumps. In fact, one of the main advantages of a heat pump is that it costs much less to run.
One of the main reasons for this is the fuel source. Heat pumps can use electricity to move heat from one place to another using a refrigerant. This requires much less energy than burning fuel and trying to harness that heat. Additionally, electricity is an energy source that can be produced more efficiently each year with additional renewable energy infrastructure. The savings can, in some cases, help cut your heating bill in half.
When is a heat pump worth it for safety?
This added benefit is often overlooked, but it's important to remember. Any gas-powered appliance can accidentally release carbon monoxide into your home. It's a small chance, but when multiplied by millions of households, carbon monoxide poisoning impacts thousands of families every year. That doesn't mean all gas-powered appliances are bad. It just means you need to stay vigilant by keeping your smoke alarms up to date and performing routine maintenance. A heat pump avoids all of these problems because it does not pose the risk of gas leaks.
The disadvantages of a heat pump
Heat pumps can be more expensive to install. This relatively high initial cost of installing heat pumps can mean that if you are looking for a cost-effective way to become more energy efficient and save on energy costs, other options such as attic or cavity wall insulation may be more suitable. Fortunately, you can offset this with your monthly energy savings, but it may take a few months for those savings to make up for it. If you're planning on moving in the next few months or don't want to deal with the higher installation costs, a furnace may be a better option.
Ovens generate their own heat. While some may see this as an inherent inefficiency, others may view it as the best way to ward off the cold. Heat pumps are also still quite difficult to install considering the research that needs to be done to understand the heat movement, local geology, especially for geothermal heat pumps, and the heating and cooling requirements for your home. The heat pump installation process requires significant work and disruption to your home and garden. A relevant example would be that penetrations must be made through the building envelope. Few heat pumps experience problems in cold areas, which can ultimately damage the system, preventing the heat pump from achieving its full efficiency in cold weather. However, there are options for an improved heat pump system that overcomes this problem.
How much do heat pumps cost?
Prices for heat pumps are typically high when you consider installation, however costs vary for different models. The typical price range for a complete installation is between 10,000 and 30,000 euros, although you also need to take ongoing costs into account. Costs for air-to-water heat pumps typically start at EUR 8,000 and go up to EUR 24,000, while the cost of geothermal heat pumps can reach up to EUR 55,000. The current prices of heat pumps depend on your household, its insulation properties and size.
These ongoing costs tend to be lower than those of previous systems. The only difference is which system you are switching from. For example, switching from natural gas will give you the lowest savings figures, while a typical household switching from electricity could save more than €600 annually. The most important aspect of installing a heat pump system is proper execution. If there are significant differences in the amount of heat produced and the specific running time of the heat pump, the responsible installer must explain the optimal settings.
What is the best choice and when is a heat pump worthwhile?
The advantages of heat pumps clearly show that they are a wise investment in the long term. Given that running costs bring a lot of savings on your energy bills as the mechanism behind it simply moves heat from one room to another rather than producing it, and the government is supporting you in your transition to a green energy solution, heat pumps are absolute recommended.
With the upcoming new heat and buildings strategy, installations of various heat pumps as a low carbon heating solution are expected to continue to increase. You may look at the high upfront costs, but at the same time you also need to look at the bigger picture. Solar applications plus heat pumps equal a path to net zero energy. There are different types of heat pumps, each with its unique mechanism. Manufacturers and brands come with a variety of features and focus solely on making your life easier.
