Individuals are encouraged by public authorities to replace their old gas or oil boilers with heat pumps. But to avoid disappointments, there are some precautions to take before investing in this equipment.
Heat pumps are attracting more and more households, encouraged by the government to install these devices with the help of subsidies subject to means tests. Around 12% of French people now heat their homes using these devices and 91% of them are satisfied with it, according to a survey carried out in February by the BVA institute for Thermor, a French manufacturer. However, the testimonies collected by franceinfo show that between the multiple incentive aids and the tempting promises of certain installers, there are sometimes disappointments. Here are the answers and solutions to five of the main problems encountered by people who have opted for heat pumps.
“The heat pump makes a lot of noise”
The problem encountered. Marine and her husband bought a house in Eure in October 2022 and had a heat pump installed the following month. The day after it was put into service, their closest neighbor complained about the noise constant generated by the equipment. It is as Marine and her family hear it at the other end of the house. A malfunction has been identified on the device, but as long as the installer sends the ball back to the retailer, it is impossible to invoke the warranty, relates Marine.
Waiting for, “we turn off the heat pump during the day so that the noise stopssays the owner. We are cold in our house, with electricity bills of 270 euros per month.” At an impasse, Marine and her husband are considering taking out a new loan to install a pellet boiler worth 20,000 euros, even though they have already paid 13,000 euros for the heat pump.
The expert’s opinion. “The noise generated by heat pumps is a recurring subject, says Céline Laruelle, engineer in the building department of Ademe (Ecological Transition Agency) in charge of climate equipment. Manufacturers are very interested in it.” This is one of the points to check, she continues, inviting people to consult the technical instructions for the products. There are more or less noisy heat pumps: more high-end machines, more expensive to purchase, can produce less noise pollution. The expert emphasizes that it is also possible to carry out acoustic treatments. This involves surrounding the device with special plates which help reduce noise. Such an operation adds costs, which vary depending on the configuration.
“The promised bonus was not paid”
The problem encountered. In Loire-Atlantique, Claude reached the milestone in August 2022. The quote for his heat pump announced 14,000 euros. To finance it, the installer dangled 7,000 euros in aid to the sixty-year-old: 3,000 euros linked to MaPrimeRénov’ and 4,000 euros via a bonus promised by a company. But after signing the quote, the installer informed him that the 4,000 euros had disappeared and that he would ultimately only benefit from 382 euros. “It was very hard to swallow”blurted Claude.
The expert’s opinion. MaPrimeRénov’ is distributed by the National Housing Agency (Anah), its communications director, Martin Lagane, reminds franceinfo. This bonus can be combined with Energy Saving Certificates (EEC) which are distributed by companies. “The State, in 2023, has not changed the amount of CEE on heat pumps”he emphasizes. “There may be slight variations on the CEE, of the order of a few tens of euros, but not a change from 4,000 euros to 382 euros”insists Martin Lagane.
To avoid this type of inconvenience, he invites individuals who plan to undertake work to contact France Rénov’. “This public service, set up in 2022, allows you to find out about possible work, the aid to which you are entitled, and supports you in order to secure your journey”, he explains. The France Rénov’ advisor can help you put together your financing file and reduce what you will still have to pay. In addition to the website, advisors can be reached by telephone (on 0 808 80 07 00) and in person with 550 advice spaces throughout France. You can find them here, by entering your postal code.
“Maintenance and repair costs are prohibitive”
The problem encountered. Serge lives in the Var, in a condominium equipped with a collective heating system using a heat pump. Installed in 2019, the complex cost 156,000 euros for 26 lots. Since then, two out of three heat pumps have already had to be replaced, not to mention many other maintenance-related problems. The owner mentions for example the “e-cards” which are found in each apartment and are necessary to regulate the device. When a card is defective and it has to be replaced, it costs 500 euros, the septuagenarian chokes up. “Everything that can break down, breaks down.”he comments, tiredly. “The heat pump is not profitable”judge Serge, arguing that the significant repair costs cancel out any possible savings made.
The expert’s opinion. “Heat pumps for collective residences are not yet very common”, remarks Céline Laruelle, from Ademe. She believes that this 2019 installation should probably be one of the first deployed and concedes that Serge “maybe wipe off the cast a little”. If this was not yet considered “totally mature” a few years ago, Céline Laruelle ensures that this technology has since become more reliable.
“We save money by leaving it off”
The problem encountered. In Charente-Maritime, Danielle finds herself with a heat pump that is too powerful for her home. The one that was installed, in March 2021, is ideal for a house of 120-130 square meters, while his is 100 square meters. Arguing to the company that carried out the installation that the device was still under warranty, the septuagenarian asked if an exchange was possible but was refused.
Its heat pump, which cost 13,000 euros, causes significant electricity consumption. The annual electricity bill increased by 675 euros, when it already stood at 1,500 euros. Danielle and her husband now heat themselves with reversible air conditioning, recently changed, and the fireplace. “We find ourselves with a heat pump on our hands that is of no use to usshe snaps. We are afraid to turn the pump back on. We save money by leaving it off. We feel like we’ve been ripped off.”
The expert’s opinion. “The sizing of the heat pump is an important subject”underlines Céline Laruelle. Generally speaking, the engineer explains that“it is better to size smaller than larger”. Not only does a smaller heat pump cost less to purchase, but it operates more efficiently if it is at the limit of its power. It is preferable, according to her, to possibly have to call on a backup solution a few days a year, rather than to have an oversized device all year round that operates at low speed. “Professionals are normally well trained”she says, specifying that the specific training cycle on heat pumps lasts five days.
“The savings are not up to what was promised”
The problem encountered. “We had an oil boiler and decided to take the plunge in 2020, switching to a heat pumprelates Raphaël, who lives in Moselle. Contrary to the arguments announcing a reduction in heating costs ‘well beyond 30%’, the costs linked to electricity to run the pump only made it possible to achieve a heating saving of 10 to 15%, and this before the increases in 2023″he continues.
The cause of these lower than expected gains has been identified. The forty-year-old had his heat pump installed before insulating his house. Result: the device, which was originally correctly sized, turns out to be too powerful now that the work has been carried out. During the last annual interview, the technician told him that with the current exterior insulation, he would recommend another heat pump, more suitable, less powerful, less electricity intensive and therefore more economical.
The expert’s opinion. Céline Laruelle emphasizes that, ideally, it is preferable to carry out the renovation before installing a heat pump. This avoids having sizing problems. “When we plan work, we must first of all reduce the needs [c’est-à-dire optimiser l’isolation] and then look at changing the heating system”she explains.