A heat pump is a good solution for both new and modernized buildings. When choosing a device before purchasing, however, it is worth paying attention to some differences that may prove important. An analysis of the efficiency and energy efficiency of split and monoblock air pumps, as well as ground pumps should be carried out. Read the article and find out more!
Read to find out:
- what is the cost of operating a heat pump,
- why is the type of heating installation so important,
- Is a heat pump a good solution when modernizing a building?
Choosing the right type of heat pump often depends on the type of investment. Careful analysis of the capabilities of these devices, as well as individual issues related to operation and installation, will allow you to purchase the best possible equipment, thanks to which your bills will be significantly reduced.
Heat pumps – operating costs
The cost of operating a heat pump depends mainly on the energy demand of the building. It is worth noting that two similar buildings, one new and the other being modernized, will likely have different energy requirements .
In most cases, a modernized building will have a higher energy demand than a new building with the same parameters. However, a new building with a much larger area may have greater demand than a smaller modernized one. Then the cost of operating the heat pump in a new building will be higher.
In the case of new buildings, the heating power demand should be calculated and provided in the design. In order to estimate the needs of the modernized building , an audit should be commissioned by an accredited energy auditor . Knowing the demand value, we cannot yet determine the operating costs, but this is the starting point in the analysis.
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Which heat pump should you choose? Installation type issues
In addition to demand, the efficiency of the heat pump also influences operating costs. As the efficiency decreases, the operating costs increase . The main factor affecting efficiency is the supply temperature. Installations requiring higher temperatures reduce the efficiency of the heat pump (COP).
Unfortunately, in most cases, modernized buildings are equipped with radiators that require high supply temperatures, unlike new houses, which are increasingly equipped with underfloor heating. Underfloor heating usually operates at a maximum temperature of 40° C, while radiators sometimes require up to 70° C. This is a very big difference. Therefore, at the stage of building modernization, it is worth taking care to reduce the operating parameters of the installation, e.g. by increasing the area or the number of radiators.
The efficiency (COP) of the Vaillant flexoTHERM ground heat pump with a radiator installation is at the level of 3.3, while for underfloor heating it is around 5. This means that the pump with the installation has to transfer 15,000 kWh (typical value for a house with an area of 150 m2 ). with a radiator, it will draw about 4,500 kWh from the network, while with an "underfloor" heating system it will only draw 3,000 kWh . The real difference is 1,500 kWh, which at the current price of PLN 79/kWh means almost PLN 1,200 difference per year. This difference increases with the increase in demand, i.e. with a decrease in the standard of construction and insulation of the building and with an increase in surface area.
Of course, not every pump has such a COP. It is worth choosing proven devices with high efficiency. Air-source heat pumps have different COP values. This value is slightly lower and the operating cost will be higher, especially at high parameters, i.e. in combination with radiators.
However, this difference does not make an air heat pump uneconomical, quite the contrary. The cost of purchasing and installing an air heat pump is lower compared to a ground heat pump . When installing a ground heat pump, we must add the cost of constructing a lower source (wells or a horizontal collector), which significantly increases the cost of the investment. Therefore, it is worth analyzing both variants and choosing the best one in the long run. Heat pumps have a service life of over 20 years, so it is worth looking at this issue in perspective. After conducting a short building audit, Vaillant's technical advisors prepare a simulation of the costs of both heat sources - both air and ground heat pumps, thanks to which we can make the best decision for ourselves.
How to choose a heat pump for modernization?
As we have already mentioned, as the supply temperature increases, the efficiency of the heat pump decreases. However, Vaillant offers a heat pump equipped with the natural R290 refrigerant , thanks to which it maintains high efficiency even when heated with radiators.
The aroTHERM PLUS monoblock heat pump is therefore perfect for modernized buildings. The pump does not require F-gas licenses and can be installed in one day. aroTHERM Plus not only has high efficiency when heating with radiators, but can also operate at higher temperatures than a standard split pump. In addition to high temperatures and high efficiency , it is characterized by extremely quiet operation, which can even be confused with the rustling of leaves . Thanks to this, installation is possible even in dense buildings without violating legal regulations related to noise. SoundBox allows you to check how quiet this pump is before installing the device.
Of course, the final choice of solution in each case requires taking into account the characteristics of the installation in a specific building, regardless of whether it will be an air-water or ground-source heat pump. Therefore, it is worth contacting authorized Vaillant installers who have completed authorization training and are able to verify on-site the applicability of individual solutions . You can find a list of trained installers in your area on the manufacturer's website.