HeatingHeat pumps constitute a good heating system for houses. They transfer the heat from outside into the building and the other way round. The source of thermal energy can be water, air or ground, which is free and renewable.
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What are heat pumps?
What are heat pumps?
Heat pumps constitute a good heating system for houses. They transfer the heat from outside into the building and the other way round. The source of thermal energy can be water, air or ground, which is free and renewable.
Can heat pumps be used on any plot of land?
Basically, yes. There are a few types of heat pumps, so we can always select one which will be appropriate for a particular building. What is more, it can even be installed in most of flats.
Air-source pumps may be used in countries, which have mild climates, and where temperatures do not drop to 0 degrees Celsius through a long time during the year. Due to low temperatures, the pump may not be able to gather so much thermal energy from the air.
Ground-source pumps can be used on large plots of land, because the installation is quite big. Fortunately, it is not visible because it is situated under the ground and we can still grow plants on the area they buried, but it requires much space and cannot be placed under the building.
In the flat, we can install water-source pump, because it is small and we do not need to have a garden to use it. It can be mounted on the roof or the balcony.
When it is recommended to install a heat pump?
It is worth to consider buying a heat pump, when the house does not have access to any gas pipe. Of course, a homeowner may also heat the building with the liquid gas from the tank, but this is a lot more expensive. Therefore, in such a case, it is better to use electricity.
It is also advisable to choose a heat pump, if we want to have floor heating in the building. Heat pumps cooperate with this type of system very well, because they have a higher efficiency ratio if the temperature of heat exchange is lower.
When the house is big and not energy-efficient, the installation of the heat pump is also recommended. If the building is well-insulated, the investment in the purchase of the heat pump will not be returned and it is not reasonable to pay a lot of money for the insulation and then again spend a large amount of money on expensive source of energy.
What is the actual cost of a heat pump?
The cost of a heat pump depends on many factors, so it is not possible to give an exact number here. First of all, it depends on the type of the pump we will select. Air-source pumps are the cheapest, but there are some restrictions on their use, for example they can provide enough amount of heat only in places with mild climate. Geothermal and water-source pumps are more expensive, but we will also save more on utility bills, because since the temperature of the water and ground is constant, the device needs less electricity to run.
The price of a heat pump ranges from 40,000 – 70,000 PLN. This is of course a lot, but we should compare it with other heating systems, to see if it is economical. The investment seems high, but it is worth checking if in our area it is possible to obtain some refund of the cost its purchase. Thiswill certainly lower the amount of the investment. What is more, in the long run we can expect a return on the investment, because we can enjoy lower utility bills. Annually, the savings can be assessed at a level of three to four thousand PLN. We should also take into account the amounts saved on the construction of the chimney, which is needed when heating with for example coal but is not required in the case of heat pumps, and costs another few thousand PLN. When heating with coal, we also need to remember to build a storage room. And if we decide to heat with liquid gas, we need to install the tank and pay for its lease and technical service. And we should also look at the market trends, according to which the price of the gas is constantly increasing, and this tendency may be carried on, while the renewable sources of energy used by heat pumps will always be free.
So if we calculate all those costs, it will turn out that the difference between the price of the heat pump and other installations is not so big.
Heat pumps constitute a good heating system for houses. They transfer the heat from outside into the building and the other way round. The source of thermal energy can be water, air or ground, which is free and renewable.
Can heat pumps be used on any plot of land?
Basically, yes. There are a few types of heat pumps, so we can always select one which will be appropriate for a particular building. What is more, it can even be installed in most of flats.
Air-source pumps may be used in countries, which have mild climates, and where temperatures do not drop to 0 degrees Celsius through a long time during the year. Due to low temperatures, the pump may not be able to gather so much thermal energy from the air.
Ground-source pumps can be used on large plots of land, because the installation is quite big. Fortunately, it is not visible because it is situated under the ground and we can still grow plants on the area they buried, but it requires much space and cannot be placed under the building.
In the flat, we can install water-source pump, because it is small and we do not need to have a garden to use it. It can be mounted on the roof or the balcony.
When it is recommended to install a heat pump?
It is worth to consider buying a heat pump, when the house does not have access to any gas pipe. Of course, a homeowner may also heat the building with the liquid gas from the tank, but this is a lot more expensive. Therefore, in such a case, it is better to use electricity.
It is also advisable to choose a heat pump, if we want to have floor heating in the building. Heat pumps cooperate with this type of system very well, because they have a higher efficiency ratio if the temperature of heat exchange is lower.
When the house is big and not energy-efficient, the installation of the heat pump is also recommended. If the building is well-insulated, the investment in the purchase of the heat pump will not be returned and it is not reasonable to pay a lot of money for the insulation and then again spend a large amount of money on expensive source of energy.
What is the actual cost of a heat pump?
The cost of a heat pump depends on many factors, so it is not possible to give an exact number here. First of all, it depends on the type of the pump we will select. Air-source pumps are the cheapest, but there are some restrictions on their use, for example they can provide enough amount of heat only in places with mild climate. Geothermal and water-source pumps are more expensive, but we will also save more on utility bills, because since the temperature of the water and ground is constant, the device needs less electricity to run.
The price of a heat pump ranges from 40,000 – 70,000 PLN. This is of course a lot, but we should compare it with other heating systems, to see if it is economical. The investment seems high, but it is worth checking if in our area it is possible to obtain some refund of the cost its purchase. Thiswill certainly lower the amount of the investment. What is more, in the long run we can expect a return on the investment, because we can enjoy lower utility bills. Annually, the savings can be assessed at a level of three to four thousand PLN. We should also take into account the amounts saved on the construction of the chimney, which is needed when heating with for example coal but is not required in the case of heat pumps, and costs another few thousand PLN. When heating with coal, we also need to remember to build a storage room. And if we decide to heat with liquid gas, we need to install the tank and pay for its lease and technical service. And we should also look at the market trends, according to which the price of the gas is constantly increasing, and this tendency may be carried on, while the renewable sources of energy used by heat pumps will always be free.
So if we calculate all those costs, it will turn out that the difference between the price of the heat pump and other installations is not so big.