Investment costs heat pumps
Which heat pump is the right one
When choosing a heating system, the cost factor in particular plays a decisive role. The price range of the respective heating systems varies greatly.
Behind the total price of a heating system with heat pump is not only a particularly environmentally friendly and modern system, but also an investment in a more sustainable future. A heat pump uses environmental energy from the ground, air or groundwater to provide comfortable temperatures in the home. In the process, it dispenses with fossil fuels and requires only a small amount of electricity.
Invest in an environmentally friendly heat pump and learn all about the costs of the various options.
The topics at a glance
Choosing the right heat pump
You are spoiled for choice when deciding on a heat pump. Which one is the right one for you and your requirements cannot be answered across the board. Rather, the choice of the appropriate heat pump – in addition to personal wishes and budget – depends on the specific conditions on site, for example, the type of building, the insulation standard of the building and the surrounding property.
Air/water heat pump the standard solution
Air source heat pump
the standard solution
The cheap and standard solution is the air-to-water heat pump. It can be installed easily in both new and old buildings; no major construction work is required. This makes them comparatively inexpensive to purchase. So if you are looking for an inexpensive, simple solution or do not have a property that would allow a brine-to-water heat pump, you can reach for the air-to-water heat pump with a clear conscience in both old and new buildings.
Brine/water heat pump the most efficient solution
The brine-to-water heat pump is simply unbeatable in terms of efficiency. Although the initial cost and construction effort for a geothermal heat pump are higher compared to an air-to-water heat pump, the investment can still be worthwhile in the long run. There is a clear difference, especially in terms of efficiency and annual operating costs. While the air-to-water heat pump is exposed to the temperature fluctuations of the seasons, the ground has constant temperatures of about. 6 degrees throughout the year. This means that the geothermal heat pump has to provide constant power throughout the year and can, therefore, operate more efficiently and cost-effectively. Especially in new buildings, the payback period is only slightly slower than for air-to-water heat pumps, because the necessary earthworks are significantly cheaper than in old buildings. In addition, a brine-to-water heat pump is literally an investment for life, because its probes and collectors have a very long service life.
Cost composition of a heat pump
The cost of a heat pump is composed of a range of components. In addition to the costs of purchase and installation, which may vary to a greater or lesser extent depending on the design, there are often peripheral costs for the heating system. The last cost factor is the operating costs, which are composed of electricity and maintenance costs.
In general, the more elaborate the development of the heat source, the more efficiently the heat pump works. This means that higher acquisition costs are always accompanied by lower electricity costs. The purchase cost consists of the device itself and installation, as well as accessories, if any, and the development of the heat source. Depending on the type of construction, the average costs here range from €15,000 to €25,000.
Average costs in new building
heat pumpe | acquisition cost | annual operating costs |
|---|---|---|
air/water heat pump | 15.000 € | 530 € |
brine/water heat pump | 20.000 €. | 440 € |
Average costs in old building
heat pump | acquisition cost | annual operating costs |
|---|---|---|
air/water heat pump | 15.000 € | 2.200 € |
brine/water heat pump | 25.000 € | 1.700 € |
Cost comparison of various heat generators
Heat pumps perform very well from an ecological perspective, but the economic efficiency is of course just as important to many homeowners. Basically, each house and its occupants is an individual case, but we can nevertheless give a tendency regarding the payback period at this point.
Assuming an average new building with an annual heat requirement of around 7,200 kWh, the brine-to-water heat pump is the cheapest heating system after only 5 to 10 years - even in comparison with oil, gas or wood heating systems. In the ratio between purchase costs and running costs, air/water and water/water heat pumps are not much different.
All types of heat pumps become even more economical when combined with a photovoltaic system. In addition, this ensures that your heat pump is operated with green electricity - so you also get the most out of it in terms of environmental friendliness.
Heat source | Total costs after 1 year | Total costs | Total costs | Gesamtkosten |
brine/water heat pump | 15.900 € | 20.500 € | 23.600 € | 27.200 € |
air/water heat pump | 15.500 € | 21.100 € | 24.900 € | 29.300 € |
Pellet heating system | 17.100 € | 23.900 € | 28.400 € | 33.600 € |
Gas heating with connection + solar thermal | 18.700 € | 25.800 € | 30.700 € | 36.400 € |
Oil heating with tank + solar thermal | 20.200 € | 27.400 € | 32.400 € | 38.100 € |
Operating costs heat pump
The operating costs for a heat pump depend on many factors.
- Electricity prices: depending on the region and the electricity provider, the cost of electricity can vary greatly. In this case, the combination of a heat pump with a photovoltaic system is recommended, since the required electricity can be obtained mainly from that system.
- Insulation of the house: the better a building is insulated, the less the heat can escape and the operating costs are then lower.
- Heating surface: the larger the heating surface and, thus, the heat requirement, the higher the operating costs will be
- Climatic conditions: depending on the region, winter temperatures can vary. Therefore, in colder regions, more electricity is needed for heating in the winter months than in others.
- Number of people: the more people that live in a household, the more heating is needed, e.g. for hot water for showering.
Combination heat pump and photovoltaics
In combination with a photovoltaic system, all types of heat pumps become even more economical, because the solar power produced can be used directly for the heat pump.
The heat pump obtains its energy from the environment, but needs a certain amount of electricity for its operation. If this electricity is generated directly from the photovoltaic system, the carbon footprint of the heat pump is improved further. The increased self-consumption rate increases the return on investment of the photovoltaic system, because unused PV surpluses can be avoided.
In this way, you not only get the best in terms of environmental friendliness, but also in terms of economy.
