Which heating system is more economical. Heat bills no longer scare! What is the most economical way to heat a house? Varieties of heat pumps

Energy prices are steadily rising, so an increasing number of suburban residents are thinking about how to heat their homes inexpensively and efficiently. Most often, homeowners are concerned about what options for heating a private house and country house, which boiler has the highest efficiency, which boiler to choose for the heating system, how to install the heating system correctly, what types of heating exist without gas and which of them are the most economical.

FORUMHOUSE advises a different approach. First, we determine the type of fuel, and already “under it” we select a heating system.

From our material you will learn:

  • What are the costs of a heating system?
  • What type of fuel can be called the most affordable;
  • What does a comfortable heating system mean;
  • Can heating with electricity be cheap;
  • What can become the basis of an economical heating system.

What are the costs of a heating system?

How much a particular heating method will cost depends on many factors. Only by calculating all the costs (it is also necessary to take into account the increase in fuel prices in the long term), you can decide on the most cost-effective heating method. For this it is necessary to take into account:

  • fuel cost;
  • the cost of its delivery;
  • The cost of heating equipment;
  • The cost of its installation;
  • The cost of its operation;
  • Average monthly air temperature in winter;
  • Way of living in the house: mode "cottage" or permanent residence;
  • Availability of communications connected to the site (gas, required electrical power);
  • The degree of insulation and energy efficiency of the home.

Thinking about choosing a heating system and considering different options for heating in a house, first of all, you need to answer yourself the question: not “how”, but “what” will you heat your home. It is the type of fuel, its cost and availability that determines the cost of heating season.

Consider the following situation: at the moment there is no main gas, as a more economically profitable type of fuel, or its connection will be too expensive. What to do in this situation, what type of fuel to choose: firewood, liquefied gas, coal, pellets, fuel briquettes, electricity, even - there are a lot of options. Let's see which type of energy carrier will be the most preferable.

Conclusions:

  • It will be correct to choose a heating system after a competent calculation. This is the only way to achieve a balance between efficiency, economy and convenience;
  • A country house must be well insulated, all heat losses must be minimized, otherwise the lion's share of energy will go to heat the "street";
  • Approximately, the required power of heating equipment is calculated by the formula: 1 kW of energy is required to heat 10 sq.m of the house area;
  • The efficiency of the heating system largely depends on the availability of a particular type of fuel;
  • To obtain the maximum effect, it is necessary to combine different types of heating systems and energy carriers. It cannot be said that if these conditions are met, we will get heating cheaper than gas, but we will be able to save significantly.
  • combined heating system. And here -

With ever-increasing fuel prices, homeowners are looking to minimize their space heating costs. A natural question arises, what kind of heating is the most economical in a private house, and how can the burden on the family budget be reduced? At the same time, it is necessary to provide comfortable living conditions in the cold season.

Residents of urban apartment buildings, which are heated from centralized networks, as a rule, cannot choose and are content with the proposed method of heating.

Owners of private cottages in this regard have more options and can provide themselves with the most suitable heating method by installing an efficient and easy-to-maintain heating system. At the same time, some of the latter can be mounted with your own hands, without involving specialists.

Comparative cost analysis for different types of heating systems

When choosing a method of heating a country house, most of our fellow citizens confuse two obvious things. We are talking about the costs of purchasing and installing a heating system and the costs of maintaining a comfortable temperature regime. There is an inverse relationship between them: the cheaper the equipment, the more expensive the heat it produces will cost.

Any competent specialist in the field of heat engineering will confirm that the so-called "economical heating" is in most cases a trick of marketers.

The efficiency of a particular system depends on a number of factors, including external ones that are beyond human control, such as climatic conditions and the dynamics of rising fuel prices. To estimate the cost of heating buildings, special methods are used to determine the cost of one gigacalorie (Gcal) of thermal energy.

The calculation methods mentioned above are, in fact, quite complex and therefore usually come down to simplified calculations based on statistical data over a fairly long period of time. This period can be five or ten years. This is the only way to get more or less reliable information about the efficiency of a particular heating equipment.

Currently, the most profitable and efficient device for heating residential buildings is a heat pump. In use, it will cost 4 times cheaper than equipment running on traditional gas or coal. However, the operation, but the purchase of a heat pump and the cost of its installation are very expensive and pay off even not in the first few years of its use.

Classification of heating systems

Choosing a method of heating a private house, the owner is faced with a huge variety of heating systems offered by domestic and foreign manufacturers. The latter are classified according to three criteria:

  • by type of fuel used: solid fuel, electric, gas, universal;
  • according to the heating method: traditional water and air ducts;
  • according to the principle of operation: chemical reaction of combustion, conversion of electricity into thermal energy, etc.

To date, alternative methods of heat generation are being actively studied and proposed. So, solar collectors are used for heating and water heating. However, a significant part of our country is located in such latitudes where the level of insolation is insufficient for the use of such systems to be truly effective.

Let us consider in more detail the most traditional methods of heating private houses.

gas boilers

Methane is mainly used for heating housing, which is supplied through the system of main pipelines and distribution networks. At the moment, this is the most economical way to heat a private house.

In areas where gasification has not yet been carried out, gas tanks with a liquefied propane-butane mixture can be used.

A modern gas boiler is fully automated and maintains the set temperature in the house, depending on weather conditions. This reduces fuel consumption during warming, contributing to savings in the family budget.

At the same time, gas prices are rising, which, combined with the high costs of acquiring and installing the appropriate equipment and obtaining a permit for its operation, makes the use of this type of fuel not so profitable.

Electric heating

In recent years, the popularity of electric boilers is gaining momentum. Choosing the most economical heating, our compatriots increasingly prefer electricity. This method of space heating has a number of advantages:

  • Low prices for, convectors and accessories for underfloor heating.
  • Relative ease of installation - lay power wiring in any room and install a boiler there even for a non-specialist.
  • Autonomy and efficiency - the system turns on with the onset of cold weather and does not require attention until the end of winter. At the same time, the automation maintains the set temperature.

Of course, gas will cost several times cheaper than electricity, but, nevertheless, the use of the latter is justified, first of all, in rural areas. Here, the tariffs are lower, and if there are subsidies and the installation of a two-zone meter, electric heating becomes a fairly profitable option.

Solid fuel boilers

Classic solid fuel boilers are relatively inexpensive and easy to install. In fact, this is a slightly improved version of a conventional stove with all its shortcomings: low efficiency and the need to regularly add firewood or coal.

The most economical heating systems for a private house at the moment can be considered solid fuel boilers - pyrolysis and. When retrofitting a solid fuel boiler with a pellet or gas burner, you can save a decent amount of money during operation. The use of pellets is several times cheaper than burning conventional firewood, and the system itself is completely automated. As for the presence of a gas burner, the ability to switch to an alternative type of fuel if necessary is a fairly useful option.

Recently, omnivorous waste heat boilers have appeared on the market, consuming any combustible materials. They burn not only traditional types of solid fuel, but also all kinds of solid household waste. We do not recommend this type of heating equipment due to its dubious environmental friendliness.

Types of heating systems by heating method

Maintaining a normal temperature in the premises is provided in a variety of ways. Experts distinguish the following types of heating systems according to the method of heat transfer:

  • Water. The heat carrier is heated by a gas, solid fuel or electric boiler, the circulation can be natural or forced.
  • Air. Heating of the premises is provided by electric or gas convectors, as well as heated surfaces of stoves.
  • Heating with an open fire. We are talking about classic wood-burning fireplaces, which, by the way, have an extremely low efficiency and can be considered solely as an additional source of heat and interior decoration.

Recently, underfloor heating has become widespread, which can hardly be called the most economical type of home heating - they are quite expensive to install. However, this is a real find for those who do not like radiators hanging on the walls. In addition, underfloor heating provides a stable and uniform heating of all rooms.

Alternative and hybrid heating systems

Given the regular rise in fuel prices, it is logical to assume that the most economical way to heat a home is the one in which the latter will not be needed at all. Such heating systems exist - these are solar collectors and heat pumps.

The effectiveness of the first option seems very doubtful - taking into account the peculiarities of the Russian climate, it can only be considered as an addition to the main equipment.

Heat pumps are truly innovative technology. Residential and other premises in a private house are heated by low-temperature energy of the earth's interior. The main disadvantage of a heat pump is the high cost of purchasing and installing equipment; its payback period in our country is up to 10 years.

If you are forced to choose which heating is the most economical, it makes sense to think about the most efficient systems. The use of parallel installed equipment will reduce your space heating costs by using cheaper fuel according to the situation. You can also buy a solid fuel boiler with built-in heating elements and equip it with a gas burner.

These components of the design are too important. That is why the selection of all parts of the installation is important to carry out technically competently. The design of heating an apartment has various devices. Heating installation includes, batteries, air vents, expansion tank, fasteners, boiler pipes, pressure-increasing pumps, thermostats, manifolds, connection system. On this page of the site, we will try to select certain parts of the system for your garage.

Choosing once profitable heating for your home outside the city, you can sleep peacefully like a baby, knowing that nothing will happen to your warmth. The heating network will work and heat your home the way you want it, no matter what mood the utilities are in today.

Select the best heating difficult, but possible. It is difficult for the simple reason that the range presented today is very wide. But the specialists of our Savard engineering company are always ready to help you and help you find the best solution. Do not forget that only companies with the necessary licenses have the right to establish such communications.

The most profitable heating for private, country houses

By the way, profitable home heating can also be installed when you decide on the heating method. The thing is, there are two methods. One of them - single-pipe - is suitable for small buildings. While for large or two-, three-story cottages, the two-pipe method is preferable, since it does not mix hot water and coolant.

The owners of private country cottages, who managed to install a water heating system in their homes, unanimously claim that such heating is very comfortable. After all, the heating is excellent, the system is safe, the air is clean, dust-free and not dry.

The boiler acts as a heating element for the system. The boiler runs on natural gas or oil. Water enters the boiler using a special pump, which also supplies water to batteries and radiators. It should be noted that the pump works almost silently, which, you see, is very convenient.

What kind of heating is profitable and why?

After installing the heating system, it is necessary to carry out pressure testing. This requires a pressure pump. There are different types of pumps. For a private house, manual is quite suitable.

Crimping is needed not only for pipes of heating systems, but also for sewer pipes. By the way, the sewerage scheme in a private house is simple. Its quite easy to build. Read about the sewerage scheme in a private house in this article.

Characteristics of a heating boiler for a private house

The power of the heat generator is selected depending on the volume of the room. For a house with dimensions up to 400 m2, a 42 kW boiler is enough. For large area volumes, including guest houses, country panel houses. garages, saunas and greenhouses, a high-performance unit or an economical cascade system is required. It consists of several boilers connected to each other in turn. The thermal mode is supported by automation, if necessary, turning on or off the units.

Fuel boilers are available in two types: floor and wall. Outdoor ones are more expensive, but more reliable and durable.

Types of double-circuit boilers, depending on the power:

  • flow type. Used when hot water consumption is minimal
  • With integrated boiler. This system is designed for a full-fledged hot water supply of a country house
  • Specialized Solutions: for heating water in the pool, devices for saunas and jacuzzi

In domestic boilers, an atmospheric burner is installed. The products of combustion are discharged through the chimney, naturally or with the help of a fan.

  • Steel
  • Galvanized
  • Stainless
  • Copper
  • Polymer
  • It is forbidden to gasify basements and basements
  • Ensure free access to the tank from all sides
  • Do not expose the gas container to heat or direct sunlight.
  • Operation of tanks with damage to the body and corrosion is not allowed.
  • The distance from the cylinder to the boiler must be at least 1 m

For a continuous supply of fuel, it is best to install several cylinders. They are connected by means of a special ramp with a flexible connection, a gas pressure sensor and a safety valve. If the cylinder is heated, the valve releases excess gas, thereby reducing the pressure inside the cylinder.

The costs of private homeowners for the maintenance of the house are already quite high. That is why the question is so popular, the cheaper it is to heat a house, the answer to which will save your budget.

Why is it profitable to heat the house yourself?

To do this, you need to understand the operation of the system. So, there should be a boiler with the function of heating water, which then goes through pipes and enters heating radiators. After a while, the water cools down and goes back to the boiler, where it is heated again. This system works in a vicious circle. In some cases, you can not do without a special pump when supplying fluid on a forced basis.

Many people are interested in how it is more economical to heat a house with a water heating system, because it is known that heating equipment can operate on various energy sources. That is why the equipment is usually divided into:

When answering the question of how to economically heat a house, it is worth stopping at gas and solid fuel boilers, since the cost of "fuel" in this case is quite acceptable. Electric boilers can be quite expensive due to the cost of electricity.

Use of heaters for heating

Modern heaters are a very efficient and safe method of heating rooms. Especially if they live in the house not all the time, but several seasons a year. The most profitable option is the use of oil coolers, which store heat for a long time and consume a small amount of energy.

Thus, in order to determine which type of heating suits you best, you must first examine all the available options, weighing their advantages and disadvantages, the economic costs of installation and operation. Do not forget to choose the heating option based on the time spent in the country house. After all, if you live in the country only in the summer, a fireplace with a stove is enough, but if you live there in the winter, you cannot do without a high-quality heating system.

Most have an impressive area, and due to the fact that Russia is a non-resort country in which summer reigns all year round, this very area needs to be heated somehow in the winter. For these purposes, there is a whole arsenal of diversity, but due to the large volumes, many options hit the pocket hard. If you approach this issue correctly, it turns out that electricity is the most economical way.

Read in the article

Types of electric heating of a private house

Heating by electricity can be divided into several categories: spot, general, combined. Below, the varieties and principles of operation of electrical appliances of such a plan are described in detail.

Spot heating with space heaters

The domestic market can offer a huge range in the segment. The pricing policy will allow you to choose models of both economy class and premium units. In order not to get confused in the options, they are divided into subgroups:

  • . Based on the work of needle or x-shaped heating elements.

The body of these devices is mainly made of stainless steel, but there are models that are made of glass or stone. The geometry of the box suggests the presence of holes for air intake at the bottom and a grate for ejection of a hot stream at the top.

Such devices are equipped with all kinds of regulators. Which provides complete protection against overheating, tipping over, short circuits, etc. Some instances have additional privileges: electronic control, touch screen, remote control, moisture protection, dust protection, and more.

Installation can be done on the walls, or with the help of wheels.


  • Thermal fans. Very comfortable and easy to use, have small dimensions and low weight. The standard power that most fan heaters have is 2 kW, they are enough to heat a small room in just 10 minutes.

The device works thanks to a fan that drives air to a heated coil, which, in turn, heats the flow and transfers it to the room. Such devices have a number of disadvantages, such as: heats while blowing, high power consumption.

In stores you can find devices with additions in the form of an ionizer, sleep timer,. Such electric heating is the most economical without.


  • . They have a lot of advantages, which ensures comfort during their operation. The excellent directed heat dissipation generated by the infrared emitter will be able to fully warm you not only indoors, but also outdoors.

The design is a concave aluminum reflector with a special heat-repellent coating that concentrates and directs all thermal energy in a certain direction. There are models that have a moving base that provides heating at 90, 180 or 360 degrees.


  • Oil heaters. An old acquaintance who managed to warm more than one generation of families. Its ability to heat up more than 100 degrees, while consuming an acceptable amount of energy, has won many fans. The mineral oil that is inside the heater does not expand when heated strongly with a heating element, which increases the operating temperature.

Description of popular models and systems for heating

To fully determine the most profitable models, you need to analyze a whole ton of material about the characteristics and performance indicators. Of course, there are a large number of TOPs on the Internet that describe the most popular models of heaters in their segment (one of the best TOP 10 electric heaters is presented here), but in fact the choice can be limited. This is done according to the following criteria:

  • Required power;
  • Mounting method;
  • Safety protection class;
  • Required additional features;
  • Case dimensions;
  • Design;
  • The budget for the purchase;

Having made a list, you can easily choose the appropriate option.

Overview of electric boilers for heating private houses: prices for the most popular models

Here is a list of the most popular manufacturers who have distinguished themselves by excellent quality and excellent performance. Heating in a private house with an electric boiler (cost in the table below) is considered an alternative in the absence of a gas main.

Table of electric boilers

Image Manufacturer Number of circuits power, kWt Area, m2 price, rub.

EVAN-S1-3one3 25 7 500
RUSNIT 204one4 30 9 600

Ferroli Zews (Zeus) 6two6 60 29 500

Protherm SKAT 9KRtwo9 90 31 000

Wespe Heizung W.H. Foreman 8one8 80 15 000

Zota - Econom 7.5one7.5 70 10 000

Vaillant eloBLOCK VE 6two6 65 33 000

Heating the house with electricity. The most economical way for you

All explanations about savings will be considered on the example, which has an area of ​​​​100 m2.


What happened in the end? The total cost without solar panels is 70,000 rubles. Power consumption is 14 kW / h, for a day of operation of two boilers at a street temperature of -10, consumption will be about 90 kW / day. The cost of a kilowatt of light is 5.38 rubles, which means 90 × 5.38 × 30 = 14526 rubles per month. If we count with installed solar panels, then the amount of expenses will be 11,500 rubles.

This is one of hundreds of options, what to choose is up to you.

Note! To understand how to heat a house with electricity economically, you need to know some tricks. One of them is the installation of a three-tariff meter.

Overview of the latest solutions in electrical heating systems

It can be immediately noted that all the latest developments are very expensive, but they have a good tendency, they quickly pay off.

  • Solar collectors that heat water. Such panels are placed on the roofs of houses from the sunny side. They show themselves very effectively in sunny regions. They have a fairly high efficiency and the maximum level of environmental friendliness. And the downside is the impossibility of operation in the dark. In most cases, they are installed as .

  • Solar systems. Heat pumps that suck heat from the environment (air, ground and water) and transfer it to the heat carrier. An excellent option for heating, but very costly at the initial stage. The equipment takes up a lot of space. Payback period from 2 years.

  • Electrode boilers designed for (owner reviews and approximate prices are on many forums and sites). A small device in the form of a pipe, heats up water, passing through itself. The coolant must contain salt. Charged particles accelerate to tremendous speed inside the pipe and heat the water with their friction. A very efficient technology. A negative nuance is the discrepancy between the power and the heating area declared by the manufacturer.

conclusions

Heating a house with electricity is the most economical way only if you approach it wisely. By investing more money when installing units, you will save a tidy sum in the future. Moreover, in today's world, where the level of pollution is off scale, the use of environmentally friendly technologies is a very important point both for you and for future generations. Remember this.

Since gas is the cheapest fuel, a heating system using gas fuel is considered the most efficient. But if there is no gas main in the village to which you can connect, then autonomous heating in a private house is done using electric heaters. Since the price of electricity is much higher than gas, the issue of the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of electric heating of an apartment or a private house is acute.

If you decide to make autonomous heating at home, the most economical way is to use gas fuel. In second place after it is electric heating. Electric heaters have an advantage over stove or water heating because the installation and maintenance costs of the latter two systems make them uneconomical.

Electric heating of the cottage has the following advantages:

  1. Electric heaters are characterized by silent operation, do not need transportation and storage of fuel and do not emit harmful substances that pollute the atmosphere. Such devices are quite simple to connect to the electrical network. They do not need to allocate a separate room with good ventilation and a chimney, as for a gas boiler, nor do they need to be regularly cleaned of soot and ash, like solid fuel boilers. In addition, no additional storage space is required.
  2. To install electric heating, you do not need to make significant financial investments at the initial stage, as with the installation of systems with a liquid heat carrier. Heaters can be purchased as funds become available and installed in the desired room.
  3. To make economical heating on electricity, you can use two-tariff meters or install solar panels on the roof of the house.
  4. You can connect electric heaters with your own hands without seeking help from specialists.

Heating options using electric heaters

To make cheap heating of a private house, you can use several types of electric heaters. Consider the features, advantages and disadvantages of each device.

Electric boilers

The most common option for such heating is the installation of an electric boiler that heats the liquid coolant in the circuit. However, at the first stage of the device of such a system, you will have to spend money on the purchase of pipelines, radiators and components, as well as the assembly of the circuit.

Important! The efficiency of water heating a house using an electric boiler is 90%.

However, this option cannot be called economical, because the boiler will work continuously and consume a lot of electricity.

To make a system using an electric boiler truly effective, you can do the following:

  • use a two-tariff meter and start the electric boiler only at night, and heat it from a solid fuel unit during the day;
  • install thermostats in each room and use the automation system (when the coolant is heated to the specified temperature, the boiler turns off, the unit turns on again if the temperature in the room drops below the user-set limit);
  • the simultaneous use of a two-tariff meter and a heat accumulator allows you to start the boiler only at night, when electricity is cheaper, and during the day to heat the house due to the heated liquid from the heat accumulator.

infrared panels

The most economical heating of a private house can be done using infrared heaters. Such devices do not heat the air in the rooms, but the surrounding objects (furniture, walls, floor), which then give off this heat to the room.

If you install infrared panels on the ceiling, then the floor will heat up the most, then the heat will rise up. IR panels have a significant advantage over radiators. They heat the air more in the lower part of the room where we walk on the floor, and create a comfortable zone at a height of 1.5-1.8 m from the floor. Conventional radiators heat the air more in the upper part of the room, where it is completely unnecessary.

Important! If infrared heaters are equipped with thermostats, they will work much more efficiently. One controller can control the operation of three devices.

Convectors

Cheap heating of the house can be organized using convectors. These units have heating elements inside. Cold air enters the device in its lower part, passes along the heating elements and is heated, then it is discharged through the slots in the upper part.

On a note! For greater efficiency, convectors are fixed on the wall under window openings so that the device creates a thermal curtain in front of the window.

Of course, the principle of heating the air in a room when using a convector is similar to the operation of heating radiators (warm air rises), but greater efficiency is achieved due to the rapid heating of the device and the absence of installation and connection costs.


Benefits of using convectors for home heating:

  1. The price of convectors is in the range of $ 35-167, which is much less than the cost of a water heating device.
  2. The devices are distinguished by fire safety, which is especially important when they are installed in wooden buildings.
  3. If necessary, the heating system can be built up and expanded at your discretion. That is, you can buy convectors and connect to the network.
  4. Attractive design and compact dimensions allow not to spoil the interior of the room.
  5. The operation of IR electric heaters does not depend on voltage drops in the network, which is especially important in rural areas.

What electrical appliances are not economical?

Above, we told which electric heating is the most economical. Now let's talk about electric heaters that are not economical. The most expensive option for electric heating of a country house is an oil radiator. This is related to the power of the device. Several of these radiators will lead to significant energy costs and require reliable wiring in the house.

At high power, the efficiency of heating the room with an oil unit is lower than that of other devices. For example, if we compare the time during which the room heats up to a comfortable temperature when using an IR panel with the terms for heating the room with an oil radiator, then the results do not speak in favor of the latter.

Important! Oil radiators cannot be installed on the ceiling or wall like convectors or infrared panels, so the free space of the room is reduced.

Also, it is not recommended to use fan heaters due to their uneconomical nature. In addition, such devices make noise during operation, burn oxygen and promote dust circulation. The device heats the room unevenly - with a heater power of 1.5 kW, the temperature in the central part of the room and near the floor can differ significantly.

How to reduce heating costs and increase its efficiency?

Want to know how to make cheap heating? To do this, it is not enough just to buy an economical electric heater and install it in the house, you need to insulate the building well. Significant room heat losses through building envelopes can cause you to be disappointed in its operation after purchasing the most efficient and economical electric heater.

Any gaps, cracks and holes in the flow or around windows and doors contribute to the rapid cooling of the room. Also, the reason for this may lie in leaky windows or in the absence of insulation in the wall structure. With high-quality insulation of the house, the heating efficiency indicator reaches 80%.

Attention! Since heat loss through the ceiling surface is 20%, this part of the room must be well insulated, especially if there is an unheated attic above.

Be sure to install automatic heating control systems. So, if there is no one in the house during the day, it is better to set up the equipment in such a way that it automatically turns on for heating a couple of hours before your arrival. As a result, you will enter a warm house, but at the same time save on heating.

It is equally important to correctly calculate the power of the heating equipment and choose suitable places for their installation. Be sure to install a two-rate meter and set your appliances to operate at full capacity at night, when electricity is cheapest.