Suche
Mein Konto
Heat pumps are booming: high costs for dismantling the gas connection!
The article highlights the challenges and costs of switching from gas heating to heat pumps in Germany, especially in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Heat pumps are booming: high costs for dismantling the gas connection!
In Germany, heaven and earth are moving when it comes to the heating technology of the future. Around a million households have already decided on heat pumps, which have really boomed, particularly in the last ten years. The number of installations has even increased sixfold, not least due to the rising costs of climate-damaging fuels. Around 56% of households currently heat with gas, but the trend clearly shows that more and more people want to switch to more environmentally friendly heat pumps, reports AZ.
However, switching to heat pumps presents challenges that should not be underestimated. A current survey among 37 gas network operators in North Rhine-Westphalia shows that many of the 193,000 switches in 2024 were faced with high costs. This led to consumers reporting dismantling costs of between 1,000 and 4,000 euros, while in one extreme case even 6,000 euros were due for complete disconnection from the gas network. Shutting down a gas connection costs on average around 980 euros. However, the legal situation regarding these costs is complicated: There is no uniform legal regulation, which leads to uncertainty for consumers.
High costs and unclear regulations
A particularly worrying fact is that the cost of dismantling gas connections varies greatly. On average, this costs around 1,750 euros, but for some network operators the costs can be up to 6,000 euros, according to them Energy consultant. In addition, the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Center surveyed 115 gas distribution network operators, over two thirds of which offered to shut down their connection free of charge. Nevertheless, uncertainty remains for many. In order to achieve a fair distribution of costs, the Federal Heat Pump Association (BWP) is calling for the dismantling costs to be shared among all gas customers based on solidarity.
Heating systems that use at least 65% renewable energy are currently in demand. By mid-2026/2028, cities must also submit heat plans that regulate future heating technologies. The costs and requirements associated with these changes make it clear that it is important for consumers to receive timely information about expected expenses.
How do heat pumps work?
The technology behind the heat pump offers several advantages compared to conventional gas heating. But how do these devices actually work? The process begins with the extraction of environmental heat, be it from the soil, groundwater or the air. Liquid, usually brine, circulates in the heat source system, absorbs the environmental heat and converts it. Using a refrigerant, the energy obtained is converted into usable heat for the household heating system.
The way it works is relatively uncomplicated and yet highly efficient: in the evaporator, the environmental energy is transferred to the refrigerant, which then evaporates. A compressor then increases the temperature of the refrigerant before it cools down again in the condenser and releases the heat. This system is particularly energy efficient and can be used for both heating and cooling, reports heat pump.de.