The heat pump is an energy-efficient, reliable, and green heating solution for those living in areas without access to district or local heating. We are happy to help you switch to a heat pump – and hopefully make the transition as simple and affordable as possible. That’s why we’ve created this guide with four simple steps.
What is a heat pump?
A heat pump is an energy-efficient solution for heating your home that uses natural heat from the surroundings.
It works by extracting heat from the air, ground, or water and converting it into usable energy to heat both your home and your water.
Heat pumps require only a small amount of electricity to move the heat, making them much more environmentally friendly and cost-effective compared to traditional heating systems like gas or oil boilers.
Benefits of a heat pump
A more climate-friendly heat
An oil boiler emits an average of 5,600 kg of CO₂ per year, while a gas boiler emits 3,800 kg.
By comparison, a heat pump uses electricity to extract thermal energy from the surroundings (air, ground, or water), making it much more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
As renewable energy sources expand, the electricity grid becomes greener year by year. In the Sønderborg area, we are working strategically to make all energy CO₂-neutral by the end of 2029. This means that heat pumps will gradually become an even more climate-friendly solution.
Save money
A heat pump saves energy because it produces more heat than the amount of fuel or electricity it consumes. In fact, a heat pump can deliver 3 to 4 times more heat than traditional sources like oil, gas, or wood pellet boilers.
This means you can save money on your annual heating bill if you’re switching from oil or gas. Most people who invest in a heat pump see the investment pay off over time.
Cleaner air quality
Oil and gas boilers contribute to local air pollution by emitting harmful substances such as sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).
By switching to a heat pump, you help improve air quality in your local area.
How to replace your oil or gas boiler
I have an oil boiler
What should I do?
To have your oil boiler removed, it is recommended that you contact a local plumbing and heating company. They can help you disconnect and dispose of the boiler.
When replacing your oil boiler with a heat pump, you must report the change to the BBR register:
Additionally, you must deregister your oil tank at borger.dk:
Help with financing
If you need help with financing your switch from an oil boiler to a greener heating source, you can contact your bank. Most banks offer special green loans with favorable interest rates. Some mortgage institutes even offer a cash subsidy to their customers who replace their oil boilers with a heat pump.
I have a gas boiler
What should I do?
To get help with disconnecting and disposing of your gas boiler, you should contact a local plumbing and heating company.
When removing your boiler, don’t forget to deregister your gas supply with Evida:
Additionally, you must report the change from gas to another energy source in the BBR register:
Help with financing
There is currently a disconnection scheme, where you can apply for financial assistance to cover part of the costs of disconnecting your gas boiler.
If you need help with financing your switch from a gas boiler to a greener heating source, you can contact your bank. Most banks offer special green loans with favorable interest rates. Some mortgage institutions even offer a cash subsidy to their customers who replace their gas boilers with a heat pump.
Which heat pump should I choose?
The performance of the heat pump must match the size and insulation conditions of your house, as well as the size of your family and your habits. It can therefore be useful to contact an independent advisor before making your decision.
Choose the heat pump that suits your needs:
Air-to-water heat pump
An air-to-water heat pump utilizes heat energy from the air and can provide sufficient heat for your home year-round, even when the temperature drops below freezing. It consists of an outdoor unit and an indoor unit.
It uses electricity when producing heat for your radiators, underfloor heating, and hot water.
An air-to-water heat pump is a complete heating solution that can help you heat your home affordably. The heat pump is a popular heating source that ensures both heating for your home’s rooms and hot water for the bath and taps.
The air-to-water heat pump is slightly less efficient than a ground-source heat pump, but it is ideal for homeowners who don’t have a large plot of land or, for various reasons, don’t want to dig up their garden.
Ground-source heat pump
A ground-source heat pump extracts energy from the ground, which is then converted into heat that can be used to heat both your home and hot water. The ground-source heat pump is the most expensive of the heat pumps, but also the most efficient.
Ground-source heating is an affordable, environmentally friendly, and reliable way to heat your home and hot water, and it can be customized to meet your individual needs. However, it is also a relatively expensive heating source to install, as pipes need to be buried in the ground around the house.
A ground-source system typically requires an outdoor area of at least 300 m² for the installation of horizontal pipes.
If your property is not large enough for horizontal ground loops, you may consider the option of vertical ground heating.
Air-to-air heat pump
An air-to-air heat pump converts the outside air into warm air, which is then distributed inside the home.
This type of heat pump is typically used in summer houses, smaller single-story homes, or as a supplement to other heating sources. However, it is not suitable for heating larger year-round homes.
According to the Danish Energy Agency, an air-to-air heat pump can cover approximately 70 percent of the heating needs, so it is often necessary to supplement it with other energy sources.
An air-to-air heat pump does not provide hot water. If you also want hot water, you should choose either a ground-source heat pump or an air-to-water heat pump.
Choose a supplier and get a tax deduction
When purchasing and installing your heat pump, we recommend choosing a Renewable Energy-approved company. You can also contact your local plumber.
SparEnergi has a page where you can search by your address and see which RE-approved companies are located near you:
Use the home improvement tax deduction
You can receive a tax deduction of up to DKK 9,000 per person in the household through the Danish home improvement tax deduction scheme.
The deduction can be used for the installation, repair, or replacement of heat pumps, including air-to-air heat pumps with or without cooling functions, air-to-water heat pumps, and ground-source heat pumps (brine-to-water systems), including ground loops and boreholes.
To claim the deduction, log in to the Danish Tax Agency’s TastSelv service, open your preliminary income assessment, and find the section for the home improvement tax deduction.