Households are concerned about the short lifespan of heat pumps, even though they last as long as gas boilers

High cost, as well as concerns about a short lifespan, are among the main reasons why households still largely refuse to switch to heat pumps. The first problem, namely the higher cost of acquiring a heat pump, can currently be partially addressed by subsidies. Concerns about the short lifespan of heat pumps, however, are not well-founded.

There are still concerns circulating online and among people that heat pumps will not last as long as, for example, current gas condensing boilers, partly due to their complexity. However, most of the currently used heat pumps operating on the air-water principle do not differ significantly in lifespan from gas boilers. It is not uncommon to find owners of heat pumps acquired more than fifteen years ago that are still functioning without issues.

This is also confirmed by a study by scientists from the University of Applied Sciences in Zurich. They focused on the costs and lifespan of heat pumps, specifically the two most popular types, namely the aforementioned air-water and air-air. The data showed that the most common heat pumps can last 18 to 20 years without problems.

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This could ultimately be a longer period than for some gas boilers, whose lifespan experts estimate to be 15 to 20 years. The overall lifespan, both of a heat pump and a gas boiler, of course, depends on other factors, with regular maintenance playing the main role in this case. However, it is often neglected, and preventive checks of heating equipment at least once a year are frequently missing.

A regular inspection by an authorized service technician costs approximately 1500 to 5000 crowns. Timely service intervention and maintenance can not only reduce the energy consumption of the device but also extend the actual lifespan of the gas boiler or heat pump. Neglecting inspections can thus become significantly more expensive in the long run.

Fears that heat pumps might have only a short lifespan and would need to be replaced after a few years are not based on truth. When acquiring a new heating source, which heat pumps are becoming more and more frequently thanks to subsidy programs, it is a suitable choice not only from an ecological but also an economical point of view.

Heat pumps are increasingly appearing even in older houses, where there were previously concerns that a heat pump would not be able to heat the house, and if so, that households would face disproportionate increases in electricity costs. However, as shown by other studies, heat pumps can be a suitable choice for heating these homes as well. Due to their low susceptibility to technical problems, climatic potential, and future outlook where these devices will become more common, they prove to be a suitable choice even for older properties without quality insulation and other measures.