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Hybrid Heat pump Review: Experiences of two winters
- J+A
- Feb 24
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 30
In the summer of 2023, we switched to a heat pump with the goal of reducing our energy bill. After two winters using the heat pump from DeWarmte, we can evaluate the benefits and experiences this choice has brought us.
In this post, we share our experiences with the heat pump in a house from 1970, with first-generation double glazing (and even one single-glass window) and about 200m2 in size.
For the Dutch version of this article: Click here
🔧 What Is a Hybrid Heat Pump?
A hybrid heat pump is a combination of two systems: a traditional gas boiler and an electric air-source heat pump. The heat pump is used as the primary heating source, especially during mild or moderately cold weather, when it can operate efficiently and cost-effectively. When the outside temperature drops too low for the heat pump to work efficiently—or quickly heat the home—the gas boiler automatically takes over or supports the system.
This ensures consistent indoor comfort without fully relying on one energy source.
Hybrid systems are designed to balance efficiency, cost savings, and reliability. You get the environmental and financial benefits of electric heating while keeping the boiler as a backup for extreme weather. This makes hybrid heat pumps a great option for older, less-insulated homes that might not be suitable for a full electric-only solution yet.
Why did we choose this Hybrid Heatingpump?
To be honest, purchasing this heat pump was somewhat impulsive. Most heat pumps were hard to get in 2023, especially on short notice. Fortunately, this wasn’t the case with DeWarmte—they were still relatively new and could install it within a few months. The claims made by various parties regarding the efficiency didn’t vary much, and there weren’t many experiences available. What appealed to us most was the price. With a relatively low investment, we could get started. We ultimately paid 4,300 (including the subsidy), which also included the cooling function.
Is our house suitable?
As described, our heat pump needs to heat quite a large area during the winter. The house is old, and you can feel it in the insulation. We’ve lived in this house since 2022 and have added insulation to the cavity walls (Thermofoam) and also to the floor (Foil). The roof still has the original insulation (partly on the roof and partly on the attic floor). We have underfloor heating throughout the house, both upstairs and downstairs. The windows and doors are old and from the first generation of double glazing. You can definitely feel a draft in our home, although we try to minimize it with strips (but let’s just say there’s plenty of ventilation).
We are aware that preventing energy loss is better than solving the problem with a heat pump. However, quotes for replacing the windows and doors range from 40k to 60k, and that’s a lot of gas you could burn through.
Installation and service
The installation of the DeWarmte heat pump went smoothly. It was done by two very friendly Polish men, one of whom spoke Dutch. Due to some miscommunication between DeWarmte and me, we found out that the thermostat (Ecotherm from Remeha) I had and a Google Nest version I still had didn’t work. Fortunately, they had a new version of Google Nest available, and I could have it installed for free. The installer also explained the option to cool the house and ensured that we could participate in a pilot program to try it out at no cost.
💰 What Have We Saved So Far?
In the first winter (2023), the heat pump wasn’t running optimally. It frequently switched back to the boiler, which limited efficiency.
Winter 2023 Summary:
🔥 Gas saved: 300 m³ (~€390)
⚡ Extra electricity used: 900 kWh (~€270)
💸 Net savings: €120
⚠️ Result: Disappointing savings due to early system inefficiencies.
After a software update and manual adjustments, things improved significantly in the second winter (2024). We disabled the boiler entirely for heating, letting the pump take over completely.
Winter 2024 Summary:
🔥 Gas saved: 800 m³ (~€1,040)
⚡ Electricity used: 1,050 kWh (~€315)
💸 Net savings: €725
⚙️ Heat pump ran steadily from sunset to sunrise, with some passive heating from sunlight during the day.
✅ Much better performance, even during colder nights.
📈 Total So Far (After Two Winters):
Metric | Total Value |
Total gas saved | 1,100 m³ (~€1,430) |
Total electricity used | 1,950 kWh (~€585) |
Net savings | €845 |
📊 Estimated Payback Time:
💰 Initial investment: €4,300 (after subsidy)
⏱️ Payback period: ~6 years, assuming current energy prices and similar annual savings
💡 Note: We now only use gas for hot water. Heating is fully handled by the pump.
💬If you're considering a similar setup, remember that optimization (both in system settings and insulation) plays a major role in achieving a faster return on investment. It requires some playing time before you get it right, but in the end it is worth the wait.
Reliability and Maintenance
So far, the DeWarmte heat pump has been reliable and trouble-free. We’ve had it running for two winters, and no maintenance has been required. The pump operates quietly and efficiently, and we haven’t experienced any breakdowns or technical problems. Since the pump requires relatively little maintenance compared to a traditional boiler, we still need to figure out how to carry out maintenance in the future.
⚠️ What Else Should You Know?
Before rushing into buying a hybrid heat pump and turning off your boiler, it’s important to understand the limitations—especially in less insulated homes like ours.
We heat to a relatively low temperature (around 18-18.5°C). On a higher temperature the benefits could be potentially even higher.
Our home is poorly insulated, with old windows and some drafts, although we do have underfloor heating throughout.
In cold weather (around -2°C or lower), the heat pump struggles to keep the indoor temperature above 18°C, even when running at full capacity.
We’ve turned off the boiler completely, which helps maximize savings—but it comes at the cost of some comfort during very cold days.
This trade-off works for us because:
Harsh cold snaps are rare in our region.
We're comfortable living at 18°C.
If needed, we can temporarily use extra heaters.
However, this setup may not be suitable for everyone—especially if you:
Prefer a warmer indoor temperature
Live in a colder climate
Don’t have underfloor heating or decent insulation
💡 Bottom line: Make sure your home’s insulation, heating system, and comfort preferences align with the limitations of a heat pump before fully committing.
What should you keep in mind?
To decide if a heat pump is right for you, you should have a good understanding of your goals and how well your home is insulated.
If you currently live in a new house that’s about 10 years old without a heat pump, I don’t think you’ll get your money’s worth. Your energy consumption is likely already so low that you’d be better off investing your money elsewhere.
But if you live in an older house and your gas consumption is above 1200m3, it may be worth seriously considering whether it will be cost-effective for you.
Let us know in the comments what is your experience with a heating pump, or whether you are thinking about purchasing one.