Heat pump or air conditioner? This is the daily topic of conversation when we visit our potential customers for quotations. People do not know whether their house is suitable for a heat pump or are wary of the high cost of purchase and building modifications.

The current generation of heat pumps is only suitable for well-insulated houses. Homes built before 2020 are already less well insulated. This means that a heat pump can only be installed in older houses after major modifications.

Good insulation and an underfloor heating system is necessary for a properly functioning heat pump.

Heating with air conditioning is a good alternative. Less comfortable than the heat pump but much cheaper. Also in use.

The loss of the current generation of heat pumps is in keeping the hot water warm. A buffer tank of at least 90 litres has to be kept warm all day. Making it bacteria-free is still done with an old-fashioned electric heater.

Cooling with a heat pump can be very limited. The water in the system should not get too cold otherwise condensation (water) will form on floors and possibly radiators.

With air conditioning, you only heat the room the air conditioner is hanging in. So you do not lose energy to rooms that are not being used at the time.

As long as the heat pump still works with low water temperatures, we at Aircobrabant BV think heating with air conditioning is a better and cheaper solution.