Can you connect a heat pump to the radiators in your old house? This is what you need to know | My guide

If you only insulate the roof and replace some windows, your home won’t be insulated enough for a heat pump. A heat pump heats at a lower temperature. Since existing radiators are not compatible with that low heating water temperature, it becomes difficult to heat the house to room temperature during the winter.

There are many alternatives on the market that can drastically reduce your heating costs: these are all refurbishment options for your heating system.

1. High temperature heat pump

There are “high temperature” air-to-water heat pumps that you can theoretically install in a poorly insulated house. To reach that higher temperature, the compressor has to work harder. As a result, you will use more electricity and your heat pump will become less profitable.

Also, an air-to-water heat pump operates less efficiently when the outside temperature drops below freezing. Even with this system it will therefore be difficult to heat the house to a comfortable room temperature during the winter.

The main difficulty lies in the sizing of the heat pump. On the one hand, it must be powerful enough to heat during the coldest time of the year. On the other hand, it shouldn’t be too powerful for the rest of the year.

If you still want to heat a poorly insulated house with a heat pump, it is best to keep the existing heating system and connect it to an air-to-water heat pump. It will heat your home with low to medium temperature water for most of the season, while your gas boiler will continue to produce high temperature hot water during the colder winter months.

The heat pump then runs most of the year. The gas boiler comes into operation only in the colder months. Your old boiler’s low efficiency isn’t a major obstacle, as it will only run for a short time of the year.

Tip: Read here exactly how a hybrid system works.

Do you have bigger renovations planned? So the choice for a heat pump is much more obvious. With a careful energy renovation, where the entire building envelope is faced (roof, floor, walls and windows), a heat pump becomes a profitable investment. In addition, you will also need to improve air tightness and install a high-performance and well thought-out ventilation system.

Do you opt for a heat pump? Then you need a system that can operate at low temperatures, such as underfloor heating, low-temperature radiators or fan coil units. Even if you don’t install a heat pump right away, choosing a low-temperature heating system is relevant.

This system also improves the efficiency of a condensing boiler and facilitates its subsequent replacement with a heat pump.

No budget for a heat pump (yet)? Read here how to keep your options open.

Many 1980s homes have separate electric radiators and/or electric storage heaters. When you want to replace it, the heat distribution system is essential.

Do you opt for a central heating boiler with radiators? Then you need to install a network of pipes for the distribution of heating water and connect your home to the natural gas network (or install a propane or diesel tank). If you opt for an air-to-water heat pump in combination with a low-temperature heat supply system, you will also need to install a completely new pipe network.

Do you opt for an air-to-air heat pump? So it is necessary to provide pipes with refrigerant that connect the outdoor unit to the indoor units. In an air-to-air heat pump, the fan blows warm air into the rooms. This is cheaper than a heating system with a central heating boiler and radiators. By inverting the operation of this heat pump, it is also possible to use it for cooling.

An air-to-air heat pump can cause annoying noises. The outdoor unit of a heat pump produces around 40 dB of noise. For comparison: a dishwasher reaches about 50 dB and a passing car about 85 dB.

With some air-to-air heat pumps, the efficiency also decreases in cold weather, which means that they consume a lot of electricity and cannot provide the desired comfort temperature.

Not sure which type of heat pump to install? Read here which is the best choice for you, depending on your budget and housing situation.

The vast majority of heat pumps consume electricity. With solar panels you can produce the electricity for your heat pump yourself. Combining solar panels with a heat pump is therefore the most efficient way to provide sustainable heating. Not only does it offer you great energy savings, but you also reduce your impact on the environment.

Tip: If you have a heat pump installed, you may be eligible for the Mijn VerbouwPremie. You can find the conditions and prize amounts here.

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