Heat pumps: what do you need to consider?

The term heat pump is actually misleading. A heat pump performs a remarkably efficient task: both cooling and heating your home. As the name suggests, a heat pump transfers heat, or pumps it, from one location to another. An air-source heat pump generates heat from the outside air, even when the temperature drops to zero degrees Celsius.

A ground-source heat pump is considered one of the most efficient heating options because of its heat source: the earth itself. One of the heat pump's biggest advantages is that it doubles as an air conditioner in the summer. The operating principle is the same, but it collects heat from inside the house and transfers it outdoors.

The two most common types of heat pumps are ground-source heat pumps and air-source heat pumps. If you use electricity to heat your home, a heat pump can reduce the amount of electricity used by at least 30%. Moreover, you can even reap financial benefits in the summer, as the heat pump outperforms most air conditioners, resulting in lower energy consumption and greater cooling comfort.

Before choosing the type of heat pump, there are several important things to consider:

• Is your garden suitable for digging a sufficiently deep borehole?
• Is your home properly insulated? For an effective heating system, it's essential that your home is well-insulated. A ground source heat pump offers the best efficiency, producing heat at a lower temperature than traditional boilers.
• What fuel are you looking to replace? You'll see the cost benefits of installing renewable energy faster if it replaces electricity or coal heating.
• Is the system designed for future development? An additional way to reduce installation costs is to combine them with other construction activities.
• A ground source heat pump is more suitable for new construction than retrofitting into an existing home.

The purchase price of a heat pump is between €2,000 and €25,000 depending on which system you choose.

The cost of a building inspection (up to 250 m²) is only €489 including VAT. We'll conduct a comprehensive building inspection and you'll receive a building report. Do you have any questions? We're happy to help and can schedule an appointment with an expert inspector right away if you wish!