Postimees · Energy-Efficient Home (Energiasäästlik kodu) · 2025
Choosing a heating system to suit the building – pros and cons
English translation of the original Estonian article. Original headline: Küttesüsteemi valik vastavalt objektile – plussid ja miinused
See the original design in the magazineCreating an energy-efficient and comfortable home is key for anyone building a house, whether new or renovated. The choice of heating system is critical, because it directly affects costs, the time you have to put in yourself, property value and maintenance needs. How do you find the best solution for your house?
The choice on the market is wide: various heating systems are available, from traditional ones to modern technologies linked to renewable energy. The best solution, however, is not always universal, but depends largely on the specific type of building (private house, apartment building, commercial building), its size, the level of insulation and access to different heat sources (e.g. gas, district heating, etc.).
Let's take a closer look at the main pros and cons of the common options, providing information for a more informed choice that balances results, preferences and budget.
Consider several options when choosing a heating system
There are many factors in choosing a building's heat source. You have to take into account the condition of the house, its floor area, the occupants' consumption needs, the size of the windows, the homeowner's wishes and the planned budget. When choosing a suitable solution, the following should be considered: the size and location of the house, financial means, personal preferences and the associated maintenance costs. Below we assess common heating systems and their characteristics.
Wood heating
+ The pros are a rather reasonable price, independence from power cuts and electricity prices, and reportedly healthier air quality in the building. It is also a renewable energy source. And listening to the crackle of wood and admiring the flames can be relaxing, among other things.
– The downside is constant work: wood has to be carried, stored, put in the stove and the damper closing time watched. The ash drawer has to be emptied, a chimney sweep called in from time to time, and you have to accept that heat may not be distributed evenly in the building.
Suitability: a sensible choice for a private house if you can stock up on wood at a reasonable price and are willing to carry it, light the fire and deal with the ash. A good idea as an alternative or addition to another type of heating.
Pellet heating
+ The pros are the convenience of a fully automatic heating system, steady heat and environmental friendliness, as it uses a renewable energy source. With quality pellets, relatively little ash is produced.
– The cons are the need, depending on the size of the hopper, to fill it with fuel and remove the ash, and a room with controlled humidity is needed for storing pellets.
Suitability: depending on their output, pellet boilers can heat a private house as well as an entire apartment building or office building. For very small houses, however, the investment may not make sense.
"High-quality pellets help save money, give more heat and produce little ash, which also reduces the need for refuelling and maintenance. In addition, pellet heating is an environmentally friendly way of heating, because the same amount of carbon dioxide released in burning would also be released when wood decomposes naturally. Pellets are therefore a carbon-neutral fuel, as well as renewable and domestic," says Kristjan Niine, sales manager at Kodukolle LT, about the advantages of pellet heating.
Gas heating
+ Heating with gas is convenient, but it requires a gas main.
– A possible downside is dependence on our eastern neighbour, which may bring unexpected price fluctuations. It is also a fossil fuel, which is not an environmentally friendly choice.
Suitability: both private houses and large buildings, regardless of size, but dependent on the proximity of gas mains.
Air-to-air heat pump
+ An air-to-air heat pump is simple and convenient to use. As it is more of a local system, installation may not require a great deal of preparatory work.
– On its own it is not enough to heat larger areas and needs additional heating in colder weather. Noise and the dry air caused by heating are also downsides.
Suitability: rather a smaller private house with an open plan, or a single apartment in an apartment building where using another additional heat source is permitted.
Ground-source heating
+ Ground-source heating is very convenient, efficient and keeps monthly heating costs low. It is also an environmentally friendly choice.
– Installing the system is quite costly, usually requires a large plot, and it doesn't make sense to put it into every kind of soil.
Suitability: above all for a house with underfloor heating or radiators and a plot of the right size. For smaller houses, the initial investment does not pay off.
Air-to-water heat pump
+ An economical system that offers a lot of comfort and keeps heating costs relatively reasonable. Almost maintenance-free and not particularly complicated for professionals to install.
– The downside is dependence on electricity, and at very low outdoor temperatures efficiency drops noticeably. The outdoor unit produces a certain level of noise.
Suitability: smaller units suit a private house, and for larger buildings there are more powerful ones that can heat even very large spaces.
Although an air-to-water system seems sensible, you have to bear in mind that in very cold periods heating costs can rise sharply. "The heat pump starts to compensate for the decline in compressor output with an electric heating element, which increases electricity consumption. It varies between manufacturers, but it can be said that it doesn't really make sense to run a heat pump compressor at –20 to –25 degrees. It's no longer efficient," describes Sivar Mändul, project manager at Prokliima, from Climaservice OÜ.
Combining systems is a safe bet
The costs of installing the heating solutions mentioned above can differ considerably. After all, a house's heating needs depend not only on its size but also on the quality of insulation, the size of window areas, the residents' preferences and so on.
For example, if you are torn between ground-source heating and an air-to-water heat pump, you could choose ground-source heating if the budget is generous and there is enough free land. On the other hand, an air-to-water heat pump is a sensible choice if you prefer a cheaper installation and a quicker solution. Choosing wood heating as an alternative helps you stay independent of electricity prices if you wish.
The best solution is to combine two or more types of heating – one that keeps the temperature stable and another that helps out or offers an alternative.