A house with a heat pump or gas? What should you know before buying a property?

When viewing a house, it is easy to focus on the location, the size of the plot and the standard of finish. The heating system often takes a back seat, although once you’ve bought the property, it can have a significant impact on your bills, the comfort of the occupants and the costs of future upgrades.

My name is Rafał Radomski and I have been helping clients choose properties in the Tri-City area for many years. I know from experience that the question: heat pump or gas There is no single correct answer. What matters far more is whether the system has been correctly selected for the building, how efficient it is, and the condition of the entire heating system. I invite you to read on.

Table of contents

• A house with a heat pump – when is it a good choice?
  • Does a solar panel system always reduce heat pump bills?
• A house with gas heating – what should you check?
  • Does gas heating reduce a property’s value?
• Heat pump or gas – a comparison before buying a house
• What should you look out for when buying a house?
• FAQ - Frequently asked questions
  • Is it worth buying a house with a heat pump?
  • Which is cheaper: a heat pump or gas?
  • How much electricity does a heat pump use?
  • Is it possible to replace a gas heating system with a heat pump?
  • What should you check before buying a gas-heated house?

A house with a heat pump – when is it a good choice?

A house with a heat pump It can offer low running costs, but only provided that the system is used in conjunction with a properly insulated and airtight building. Low-temperature systems, particularly underfloor heating, usually achieve the best results. The higher the water temperature required by traditional radiators, the more electricity the system may consume.

Before buying, it’s worth checking:

• the model, power and year of manufacture of the pump,
• Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP),
• installation documentation and maintenance records,
• electricity consumption over the last few full seasons,
• the role of the electric heater in the heating system,
• type of heat emitters: underfloor heating or radiators,
• noise level and the installation location of the outdoor unit,
• integration of the system with a photovoltaic installation.

According to the POBE calculator, for a typical, well-insulated house with a floor area of 150 m², the annual cost of heating using an air-source heat pump and underfloor heating was estimated at around 2,930 zł, whilst the cost of domestic hot water was estimated at around 1,010 zł. With the same heat pump used in conjunction with radiators, the heating cost rose to around 4,030 zł. These are approximate figures, but they clearly illustrate how important the entire system is, rather than just the unit itself.

Does a solar panel system always reduce heat pump bills?

A solar panel system can reduce energy costs, but it does not automatically mean free heating. The greatest demand for heat occurs in winter, when solar energy production is lower; therefore, before purchasing a system, you should analyse your actual energy bills, the system’s capacity and the terms of your billing scheme.

A house with gas heating – what should you check?

A modern condensing boiler can still be a convenient and reliable source of heat. A house with gas heating It does not, therefore, necessarily mean high running costs, particularly when the building has good insulation, efficient automation and a heating system operating at the lowest possible temperature.

During the inspection, it is worth establishing:

1. Is the property connected to the mains, or does it use LPG from a tank?
2. How old is the boiler, and when was it last serviced?
3. Does the installation have valid documentation and service records?
4. What has the gas consumption been over the last two or three seasons?
5. Is the boiler also responsible for providing hot water?
6. What condition are the chimney, flues and ventilation system in?

From February 2026, the price of gas for domestic use is 197.29 zł/MWh; however, the final bill also includes distribution, a standing charge and other fees. The supply tariff at this level has been extended until 31 December 2026, so costs should not be estimated solely on the basis of the price per kilowatt-hour.

Does gas heating reduce a property’s value?

A gas boiler in good working order does not detract from a house’s appeal. However, buyers are increasingly taking into account the prospect of modernisation, future fuel costs and the direction of energy policy changes, which is why an older boiler room may become a talking point during price negotiations.

Heat pump or gas – a comparison before buying a house

Two properties should not be compared solely on the basis of the type of heating system. A poorly insulated a house with a heat pump may result in higher bills than an energy-efficient building with a modern condensing boiler. The outcome depends on the insulation of the walls and floors, the airtightness of the windows and doors, the floor area of the house, the temperature maintained indoors, and the technical condition of the appliances. In our range Homes come with a variety of heating systems, which is why, when showing a property, we help you assess not only the building itself, but also its future running costs and any potential refurbishments.

Comparison element	Heat pump	Gas heating
Running costs	Depending on electricity consumption, SCOP and supply temperature	Depending on gas consumption, tariffs, distribution and boiler efficiency
The best working conditions	A well-insulated house and underfloor heating	An insulated building, a condensing boiler and a low-temperature heating system
Service costs	Inspections of the unit and the refrigeration system	Annual boiler servicing, inspection of gas pipes and the gas installation
Technical requirements	Adequate power output at low outside temperatures	Gas connection or cylinder, ventilation and flue gas discharge
The risk of additional expenditure	Heater, compressor repair, unit replacement	Boiler replacement, chimney repair or boiler room modernisation
Integration with photovoltaic systems	Direct and usually beneficial	Limited, unless the system is a hybrid
Ease of use	High; the process is virtually automatic	High, but requires regular safety checks
The prospect of modernisation	A solution compatible with the electrification of heating	Possible future replacement or addition of a second heat source
What should you check before buying?	SCOP, capacity selection, bills, heating element and servicing	The age of the boiler, bills, servicing, the flue and the type of connection

What should you look out for when buying a house?

The basis should be an analysis of bills covering at least one full heating season. A mere declaration by the owner that home heating costs are low, so they do not yet give a complete picture. One must take into account the number of residents, the temperature maintained indoors, and whether the entire building was actually in use.

You might also like to check out:

• energy performance certificate,
• the building’s energy requirements,
• the thickness and type of insulation,
• the condition of the windows, roof and façade,
• technical documentation for the equipment,
• service records and warranties,
• the possibility of upgrading the system,
• the estimated cost of replacing the heat source.

When selling an existing house, the owner should provide the buyer with an energy performance certificate. Among other things, this document shows the building’s energy consumption, but it does not replace an analysis of utility bills or a technical inspection.

As real estate office in Gdansk We do not assess a property solely on the basis of price and floor area. We help buyers to also consider the condition of the building services, the documentation and any expenses that may arise following the purchase of the property. It is precisely this practical and transparent approach that is particularly important when buying a house, where the consequences of overlooking a technical issue can be considerably more costly than in the case of a flat. If you are interested in our services, please do get in touch!

+48 783 187 968 (Gdansk)
+48 884 843 118 (Gdynia)
biuro@radomskinieruchomosci.pl

FAQ - Frequently asked questions

1. Is it worth buying a house with a heat pump?

Yes, provided that the unit has been correctly selected, is regularly serviced and is used in a building with a good energy efficiency rating. Before purchasing, you should check your bills, the pump’s specifications and how often the electric heater is activated.

2. Which is cheaper: a heat pump or gas?

In a well-insulated house with underfloor heating, a heat pump can result in lower running costs. In an older, poorly insulated building, the benefit may be considerably smaller, so any comparison should take into account the energy requirements of the specific property.

3. How much electricity does a heat pump use?

Consumption depends on the floor area of the house, the insulation, the outside temperature, the unit’s SCOP and the method used to heat water. The most reliable indicators will be bills covering a full heating season and the data recorded in the pump’s controller.

4. Is it possible to replace a gas heating system with a heat pump?

This is usually possible, but sometimes it requires upgrading the radiators, increasing the connection capacity or improving the building’s insulation. Before making a purchase, it is worth commissioning an audit to find out the actual cost of such a change.

5. What should you check before buying a gas-heated house?

You should check the age and condition of the boiler, the history of system inspections, the clearance of the flue pipes, the type of connection and the fuel consumption to date. It is also important to assess whether the appliance will require costly replacement in the coming years.