If the home is heated by gas heater(s), these serve as a local heat source. Gas heaters are available in both open and closed (DVS) systems. The danger posed by gas heaters, especially older ones, is the emission of hazardous gases when there is insufficient oxygen during combustion. This can lead to the release of highly dangerous carbon monoxide, a gas that can be fatal even in small doses.
Newer gas heater models are subject to strict requirements these days. Not only must such heaters be installed and connected by a certified installer, but the heaters themselves must also meet the necessary safety standards. For example, they must have a safety feature that switches the heater off if complete combustion is not achieved. This significantly reduces the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Are there any defects in the gas heater's controls, missing parts, or defects in the flue, gas connection, mounting, or suspension? You may be able to order the relevant parts from your installer or online, and a control panel can be replaced if necessary. For such gas appliances, we recommend contacting your local installer for these repairs.
If your home has a fireplace with a flue: it's not easy to check whether a fireplace is fully functional! The flue and ducts also need to be checked. Older fireplaces burn less cleanly and produce significantly more soot than modern ones that do burn cleanly. Soot formation is also caused by the use of damp wood.
In an air heating system, it's important that the system of ducts, filters, and grilles (intake and exhaust valves) are regularly and properly maintained. Annual and regular maintenance should be performed. Inadequate maintenance inherently poses a risk to the user's health, and the system will not function properly and as intended. Overdue maintenance and a complete cleaning of the entire system should be performed. Annual and regular maintenance are essential. The maintenance of pipes throughout a building naturally involves more than just a traditional heating system with pipes. Higher maintenance costs must therefore be taken into account.
Electric underfloor heating can be installed either deep in the floor or as close to the surface as possible. If the heating is installed deep in the floor, the overlying cement layer acts as a heat buffer. Electric underfloor heating is often installed directly under a tiled floor or under a thin finishing layer. The effectiveness of electric underfloor heating is unknown. It's important to inquire with the seller about these matters and the functioning of any installations or utilities.
If defects have been detected in the electric underfloor heating thermostat, they may still be repairable. It's cheaper and easier to replace the thermostat entirely.
With block heating, the home is heated via a collective system. The home doesn't have its own boiler, but uses utilities managed and maintained by the homeowners' association (VvE). This block heating system supplies multiple homes with heat and/or hot water via a collective boiler. The costs for maintaining this system, and any replacement costs at some point, are budgeted for in the VvE's multi-year maintenance plan .
Your home receives heat through a network of pipes (heating network). Learn more about district heating .
A heat pump provides environmentally friendly heating for your home and hot water for your shower and kitchen. It's a sustainable alternative to a gas-fired boiler: CO2 emissions from heating are reduced by approximately 50 to 60 percent! A heat pump extracts heat from the air, soil, or groundwater and converts it to a usable temperature. It does use electricity.
You can't simply measure the system's parameters, CO2 levels, or whether the combination of the pump and related equipment, electrical components, thermostats, etc., is functioning properly (together) and meets all safety standards. Such system adjustment and tuning is specialized work for a qualified professional. This is checked and adjusted periodically during normal and regular maintenance. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to have the system inspected annually.
It's common knowledge that a heat pump requires very little maintenance. However, this doesn't mean a heat pump is maintenance-free; quite the opposite. Maintenance performed on a heat pump is always preventative. Regular maintenance ensures the heat pump's lifespan is maximized, as is the system's energy efficiency. A heat pump contains a compressor, but no moving parts or burners. Maintenance involves a complete inspection of the unit and an assessment of its efficiency.
There are also some measures you can take to extend the lifespan of your heat pump. Consult your installer or maintenance technician for more information.
A pellet stove burns wood pellets: compressed wood pellets. A pellet stove sometimes heats just the living room, sometimes the entire house. Using wood pellets as fuel is climate-friendly. It results in lower CO2 emissions than a high-efficiency gas boiler. The system cannot be measured for values, CO2, or whether the combination of the stove and related equipment, electrical systems, thermostats, etc., function properly (together) and meet all safety standards. Such system adjustment and tuning is specialized work for a professional. This is checked and adjusted periodically during normal and regular maintenance. It is therefore strongly recommended to have the system inspected annually.
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!
