After a standstill in sales: the ‘expensive’ heat pump in six myths and how the fork is right | Residential

“It is true that a heat pump is more expensive to purchase than, for example, a new gas boiler. But you have to think about the future. You don’t buy a heat pump for a few years, but for 20 years. So ask yourself how much the heat pump will cost you over the next 20 years.

In any case, government policy will (must) make fossil heating and heating systems that emit a lot of CO2 more unattractive if we want to achieve the climate goals. On the other hand, sustainably heating your home and sanitary hot water will be made more attractive.”

“Sooner or later the tax shift will come, with gas and fuel oil as fossil raw materials being taxed more and electricity less. As soon as that tax shift comes into effect, the heat pump will have a lower operating cost and you will recoup your investment in it, with a profit. Today the consumption costs are still approximately the same, but this will not remain the case for another 20 years.”

Experts from VITO/Energyville recently calculated that the payback for a heat pump under current conditions in Belgium can take up to 15 years.

Lined up: the prices of the different types of heat pumps.

“Today’s electricity is greener than that of five years ago. In addition, the amount of renewable energy will only increase in the coming years. Suppose we only have our electricity produced by gas-fired power stations, and therefore not by wind turbines or PV parks, then a heat pump is more sustainable than a gas boiler. The heat pump extracts its heat from the outside air or underground, and only requires a limited amount of electricity. As a result, even in the worst case, it produces less CO2 emissions than a gas boiler.

“A heat pump works best when it is very cold outside, and when you are more likely to be indoors. If you stand right next to the outdoor unit of your heat pump on a freezing winter day, you will hear the sound of a toothbrush at most, 60 decibels. Distance plays a crucial role here. As soon as you stand a little further, the perceptible sound decreases sharply. That is why there are standards in some countries that impose a maximum of 45 dB for heat pumps that are only one meter from your neighbor’s window.”

“There are high-quality heat pumps on the market that produce so few decibels that the noise is negligible. But of course there are also those that reach 60 dB sooner. So be well informed during your purchase.”

“In an environment where many people live together in a limited space, it is desirable that the government works with standards. This way you send the signal to manufacturers to develop sufficiently quiet models. Heat pumps have improved enormously in recent years, but there is still room for innovation to further reduce noise levels.”

“There are also installers who offer special sound-absorbing heat pump cabinets. The aesthetic aspect also plays a role here. Some people do not like to look at their outdoor unit on their terrace or small garden and opt for wooden formwork, for example. In addition, we should not forget that not every heat pump produces noise. Just think of the geothermal heat pump, which does not get its heat from the outside air, but from the subsurface and you don’t hear anything about it.”

Reading tip: What is a geothermal heat pump? And what types are there?

“In Belgium alone, there are thousands of old homes that are heated with a heat pump. That is sufficient evidence to conclude that a heat pump works just as well in existing homes. What is true is that heat pumps work most efficiently in very well-insulated houses. As a result, many people think that heat pumps are only suitable for new-build homes. But that is not correct. The myth of the extremes must be removed. A heat pump is perfect for renovations and for this you do not need, so to speak, 30 cm thick roof insulation, triple insulated glass and underfloor heating.”

From a light to a major renovation: a heat pump can play this role.

“If you are going to renovate, be sure to contact the Flemish Energy Houses. They have the expertise and can assess whether your home is suitable. And that is almost always the case, unless very basic renovation work needs to be done first, such as replacing single glazing or installing basic insulation. The consumption costs will be lower for a new-build home that is well insulated than, for example, for a 1960s home. If the tax shift comes into effect, even modestly renovated homes will cost less to heat with the heat pump.”

You can save a lot with premiums and subsidies, even when installing a heat pump. The difficulty is knowing when you can get one and what the correct terms are. Our Premium Linker will help you with this.

“Heat pumps work most efficiently in a well-insulated house low temperature underfloor heating. Due to the large surface area, a floor only needs to reach 35 degrees to bring your home to, for example, 21 degrees. These conditions are ideal, but underfloor heating is not a must.”

“You might as well continue to heat with radiators. The bigger they are, the better. More surface area means they don’t have to heat up as much to heat your space, meaning your heat pump doesn’t have to work as hard. Convectors are also an option: compared to radiators of the same size, they distribute the heat generated even better to your home, which again helps your heat pump to consume less electricity.”

“There is some truth in it, because consumption will increase significantly. Elia talks about 50 percent more electricity consumption by 2035. We are in a transition towards electrification. In any case, investments are needed to produce sufficient electricity and make the grid strong enough. (Reading tip: Fluvius will invest an additional 4 billion euros in the energy transition over the next ten years, ed.) Suppose we all start heating with a heat pump, we all start driving electrically, the industry also electrifies as much as possible and 0 euros are invested in the production and transport of electricity? Then we would have a problem.”

“Fortunately, this transition does not happen overnight, and electrification goes hand in hand with the necessary investments. Nevertheless, smart control of your heat pump plays an important role. This way, operation can be automatically adjusted to times with more renewable energy and cheaper electricity prices. This way, your heat pump not only becomes extra sustainable and cheaper to use, but it also contributes to grid stability and security of supply.”

“If there is a power outage or the grid encounters problems, which is extremely rare, it will only take a few hours at most. During those few hours, your house will not cool down like 1-2-3. After all, your insulation keeps the heat inside. Moreover, you cannot heat with a gas boiler during a blackout, because it just as well needs electricity to work.”

Out the Daikin National Heating Survey shows that 28 percent of Belgians surveyed who do not have or are considering a heat pump think that a heat pump is too expensive. 15 percent think that their home is not suitable for this. Only half of home owners (47 percent) indicate that they know which heating systems are sustainable and which are not.

Energy expert tips: “Heat pumps can improve the energy score of your home by 50 percent”

Installing a heat pump or heat pump boiler: you can count on these premiums

Will we soon be installing heat pumps on the roof? “It already happens often in the Netherlands”