Know the main heat pump types before you ask for quotes
A ground-source heat pump costs most but can cool passively; an air-to-water pump is cheaper but makes noise outside; an air-to-air pump can't heat tap water; a hybrid bridges a house that isn't insulated yet.
Do it yourself
Sources checked on .
A heat pump takes heat from the ground, the outside air or groundwater. A ground-source pump is the most expensive type, especially with a deep borehole, which needs a free patch of garden of about 4 by 4 metres. It heats tap water efficiently and can also cool the house in summer, which the government calls "passive" or "natural" cooling.
An air-to-water pump costs less to install but can't cool passively, and its outdoor unit makes noise that can bother you or your neighbours. An air-to-air pump heats rooms directly but can't heat tap water. Water-source pumps are rarely used in homes.
All of them need low-temperature heat emitters, such as underfloor heating, adapted radiators, fan convectors or wall heating, to run efficiently. A hybrid pump, which combines a heat pump with a gas boiler, can bridge a house that isn't well insulated yet. In a well-insulated house, choose a full heat pump straight away.
Details
| Impact | Indirect · This saves no energy by itself: it is a rule, a service, a contract, or a health or safety item. How we rate impact |
|---|---|
| Estimated saving | Not quantified; savings depend on insulation level and low-temperature heating, which the source calls necessary for good efficiency. (confidence: low) |
| Who acts | You (owner) |
| Needs landlord's agreement | No |
| Type | Rules explained |
| Constant or subject to change | Constant · Good practice that barely changes with new laws, prices or services. |
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Sources
- Types warmtepompen (in Dutch) · Vlaamse overheid (vlaanderen.be) (official source) · checked on
- Warmtepomp (in Dutch) · Vlaamse overheid (vlaanderen.be) (official source) · checked on
- Hybride warmtepomp (in Dutch) · Vlaamse overheid (vlaanderen.be) (official source) · checked on