The benefits of a heat pump

Quiet, safe and economical. For most homes, a heat pump is the optimal heating system. It uses free environmental heat, from air, the ground, or from a water source, that is already available all around us. This makes a heat pump both cheap to operate and an environmentally friendly source of heating and hot water. Furthermore, the purchase of a heat pump is supported with attractive subsidies by all cantons. Another benefit is the high level of operational reliability. Last but not least, most heat pumps are able to lower the temperature in the warm months using a so called “Active and Passive Cooling” function.

Benefits in a nutshell:

Large subsidies
Lowers utility costs
Needs no tank room
Uses renewable energy
Perfect to combine with a Solar System

Reduces CO2 pollution
Low maintenance costs
Fast amortization
Not dependent on volatile oil prices

Photo d'une pompe à chaleur et un chauffe eau, a l'intérieur d'une maison moderne. system esthétique et sobre.

How does a heat pump work?

A heat pump is a heating, and in many cases, a cooling system using the energy from the air, ground, or water to heat or cool your home. Since the efficiency is so high - in many modern heat pumps 75% of the energy needed for heating and cooling come from air, ground or water - a heat pump needs very little electricity and no fossil fuels at all to function.

photo d'un pompe à chaleur à l'extérieur d'une nouvelle maison moderne

As the name indicates, an air/water heat pump uses the energy in the air to heat up water for your home. Ambient air is available everywhere and in any quantity and can therefore easily be used as a heat source. Air / water heat pumps transfer the generated heat to a conventional heating system (floor heating, radiators) or to a water heating system. The used ambient air, cooled by a few degrees, is blown out again through air ducts. An air/water heat pump most commonly come in two version: one where the entire heat pump is located in the house and one where a separate unit is placed outside the house.

The natural energy stored in the ground can be used in a simple way: with vertical geothermal probes that are buried up to 300 meters deep underground. No material is exchanged underground, only heat. In the underground pipe system, mainly a brine, which consists of water and antifreeze, circulates. The heat pump is therefore referred to as a brine / water heat pump. As with air / water the ground heat source can not only be heated, but also cooled. This type is slightly more expensive than an air-water heat pump. In return it is cheaper to operate and it is more reliable in very cold weather.

Groundwater has an almost constant temperature all year round and is therefore ideal as a heat source for heat pump heating. Surface water from lakes, rivers and streams can also be used as a heat source. The operation of such a water / water heat pump always requires a permit and a license (cantons, municipalities). The aquifer is accessed via a well bore. This always requires a hydrogeological preliminary investigation (geologist) and, in case of doubt, a water analysis. The pipe system that leads to the heat source collects the water to be used and guides it to the heat pump.

More About Heatpumps

I.ON helps choose the right heat pump for your home

The answer to which heat pump is the best fit for your home depends on a on a number of factors such as what type of heating you currently have, if you would like the heat pump to also be able to cool your home in the summer, and what kind of water storage you want.

ION's heating experts will help you answer all these questions and more. You will also get many questions answered by carrying out a GEAK evaluation of your home. This is not only needed in order to get cantonal and Gemeinde subsidies for your heat pump, but it is also an excellent way to evaluate the general energy efficiency of your home.

More About GEAK Book a Free Appointment

photo d'une pompe à chaleur avec un chauffe-eau sanitaire très compact et moderne dans un local technique d'une maison moderne

Phot d'une pompe à chaleur intérieur avec des conduit à l'extérieur dans une maison moderne

Combine your heat pump with a solar system

Connecting your heat pump to a solar system has numerous benefits. A direct connection between the two systems lets you heat water directly with surplus solar power, which otherwise would have been fed back into the grid. This means both a cleaner way to heat your house and cutting back on your utility bill. If you have a heat pump that is constructed to also cool your home in the summer you can use even more solar power. Cooling needs more electricity than heating and since solar systems produce more power in the summer you will cover an even larger part of your energy needs with cheap and clean solar power.

Our Solar Systems

If you don't have a heat pump and don't plan on getting one in the near future it can be a great idea to connect your hot water boiler to your solar system. The most efficient boilers that can be connected to a solar system are heat pump boilers that are built to communicate with your systems inverter. You can also connect a normal electric boiler and even a boiler heated by oil and gas. In the latter two cases, you might need an extra heat rod and thermostat. Our solar and heating experts will help you choose the right connection for your system.

Our Heat Pump Boilers

Heat Pumps - Price comparison

The price of a heat pump first of all depends on what type of pump you choose to install. Air/water and geothermal heat pumps both have their specific advantages. Generally speaking the geothermal type is more expensive to install but cheaper to maintain and more reliable in cold weathers. For most homes though, an air/water heat pump is an excellent investment. No matter which one of these heat pumps you install, I.ON will help you apply for cantonal and, if applicable, Gemeinde subsidies, which will lower the total costs and shorten the amortization time significanly.

Air/Water

36'000 CHF

Subsidies range between 6'500 and 12'400 CHF

Green energy

Low maintenance costs

High subsidies

Can be used for cooling

Up to 1'450 CHF cheaper per year than oil heating

Geothermal

48'000 CHF

Subsidies range between 6'500 and 12'400 CHF

GreeneEnergy

Reliable in low temperatures

Very good for cooling

Very low maintenance costs

Up to 1'700 CHF cheaper per year than oil heating

*This price is approximate and could differ depending on the amount of prep work is needed before the installation.

*This price is approximate and depends on how deep you need to drill and the amount of prep work needed.

Why choose I.ON as your heat pump provider?

Premium Quality

I.ON was created to offer Swiss homeowners and businesses a higher level of quality than the market provides today. This means using superior hardware, greatly experienced installers, but also making sure your system meets the highest aesthetic standards.

Regionally Based

I.ON's installers and experts are close to where you live. Our regional focus helps us better serve our customers in everything from in person consulting to installations, repairs, and maintenance. We are always just a phone call away.

Expertise

As one of the leading Swiss heat pump providers, I.ON is proud to offer you that expertise not only in heating, but across the spectrum of services ranging from solar systems and heating to energy consulting. We make it easy for homeowners to become energy efficient.

All-Round Service

Buying a heat pump system usually means a lot of paperwork. At I.ON we take care all of that for you - from the permits, to applying for regional and local subsidies. And after your device is installed we're there to help you with any question you may have.