Sometimes, people hesitate about choosing the right heating system for their home. Should we return to the old fossil fuel-powered central heating boilers, or should we opt for modern alternatives?
Modern alternatives include heat pumps and infrared heating. Both systems can run on green energy and are therefore CO2-free. These alternatives are especially popular in modern new construction.
Deciding between a heat pump and infrared heating isn't always easy. It takes some careful consideration to determine which system best suits the home and its owner.
Let's take a look at the pros and cons of a heat pump.
HEAT PUMP
Advantages
- Low consumption
- Possibly passive cooling
- Can also provide hot water.
Disadvantages
- Requires annual maintenance
- Pump life is limited
- Expensive purchase
- Slow heating when connected to underfloor heating.
In concrete terms, we can say that the use of a heat pump should be carefully considered and that a thorough TCO calculation should be carried out to assess the correct cost of heating.
But what about infrared heating? Here too, we know the advantages and disadvantages.
INFRARED HEATING
Advantages
- Relatively low purchase costs
- Very fast heating
- Local heating is also possible (room by room)
- Does not require maintenance
- Long lifespan (25 – 30 years)
Disadvantages
- Cannot cool passively
- Can't make hot water
- Consumes slightly more than a heat pump.
So, you see, both systems have advantages and disadvantages. The choice will really have to be tailored to the homeowner's needs.
What are the advantages of a combination of both systems?
Sometimes a combination of systems has more advantages than disadvantages. Consider hybrid cars that run on electricity in the city and switch to their combustion engine on the highway. A heat pump can be perfectly combined with infrared heating, for example.
By implementing this combination, you can eliminate some of the disadvantages of the heat pump and add a few additional advantages.
A disadvantage of the heat pump connected to underfloor heating was its very slow response. This means that while a constant temperature of 20°C during the day feels perfectly comfortable, in the evenings, when we're watching TV, we'd prefer it to be a bit warmer. With underfloor heating, this is a hopeless situation.
But when we combine this underfloor heating, whether or not powered by a heat pump, with infrared heating, we enjoy the best of both worlds. The heat pump provides a constant base temperature, while the infrared panel can boost the desired temperature to the desired setting in the evening.
You can also enjoy this combination perfectly in the spring and autumn. Just think of the bathroom you'd like to warm up a bit on a cool spring morning. You can easily achieve this without turning on the full main heating system. With an infrared mirror in the bathroom, you can achieve this comfortably and energy-efficiently.
Combining a heat pump with pleasant infrared heating is therefore really worthwhile and increases the user's comfort.
