Heat Pump CHAmpion.

The function of a heat pump is based on a cycle in which a refrigerant absorbs heat from the environment and "pumps" it to a higher temperature level. The heat energy can also be extracted from the air at minus temperatures and multiplied by means of auxiliary energy (electricity).

1. Evaporation: the refrigerant absorbs environmental heat and evaporates - it becomes gaseous.
2. Compression: The compressor compresses the gaseous refrigerant - the temperature level rises.
3. Liquefy: The refrigerant releases the heat energy in the condenser to the building's heating circuit - in the process it becomes liquid again.
4. Expansion: The pressure is reduced by the expansion in the expansion valve - the cycle now starts again.

In order for retrofitting a heat pump in an existing building to make sense, a few prerequisites must be met. Underfloor heating is ideal, but not a must. It is helpful to have good thermal insulation, which enables the heat pump to provide energy-efficient heating with low electricity consumption. The second factor is low flow temperatures of no more than 55 degrees - this can also be achieved by conventional radiators. Your heating engineer will find out whether individual radiators need to be replaced by calculating the heating load.

You can easily calculate this yourself. The important thing is the annual performance factor (APF) of your heat pump, which tells you how many kilowatt hours (kWh) of heat are produced with one kWh of electricity invested. Simply divide your electricity price by the expected COP of the heat pump. If the result is lower than your previous heating oil or gas price, then the heat pump will pay for itself over time. However, you should also bear in mind that since January 2021 there has been a CO2 price increase, which means that the prices for gas and oil are more likely to rise in the future. The maintenance costs for heat pumps are low compared to gas and oil heating systems.

The most reliable answer to the question of heating capacity is a heating load calculation. Ask your installer or energy consultant about this!

The costs for development, purchase and installation amount to about 20,000 to 30,000 euros - the price varies greatly depending on the product, region and conditions in the property. In addition, there may be renovation measures to make the house fit for the heat pump. The installation of heat pumps and the surrounding measures are supported with 35 % of the eligible costs through state subsidies ("Federal subsidy for efficient buildings"). If an existing oil heating system is replaced, up to 50 % is possible.

In the past, partially fluorinated hydrocarbons (HFC) were mainly used as refrigerants in heat pumps. They have a high global warming potential and are up to several thousand times more harmful to the climate than CO2 when they escape or when the system is disposed of. The modern alternative to HFC refrigerants are natural refrigerants with virtually no global warming potential. R290 in particular is considered a safe, cheap and environmentally friendly substitute.