A published price reference and its actual limits
When searching for the cost of installing aerothermal systems, it is common to find fixed figures that can cause confusion if not explained what they include. As external market guidance, the promotional documentation from Daikin on air heating systems (published on October 26, 2026) publish a range of between 8,460 and 15,000 € for the installation of heat pumps that heat water intended for heating and domestic hot water (DHW).
The manufacturer itself conditions that range on the size of the property, the level of thermal insulation, and the necessary modifications to the installation. Furthermore, that informational page does not break down taxes nor detail all the construction, electrical, or hydraulic items that separate the lower end from the upper end. Therefore, you should treat that figure solely as an external reference attributed to a manufacturer: it does not represent a rate from Uniclima nor does it replace a finalized budget for your home.
Practical breakdown: what information is advisable to clarify in writing
A clear budget goes beyond indicating the model of the machine and a final amount. The Regulations for Thermal Installations in Buildings (RITE) it considers design or sizing requirements, execution, testing, and technical documentation as appropriate for the action, although it does not require that a commercial budget lists exactly a closed relationship of accessories.
To understand what you are contracting and to compare offers on the same criteria, it is advisable to clarify the following points separately according to the characteristics of your installation:
- Generator equipment and design specifications: brand, exact model of the units (monobloc or bibloc indoor/outdoor) and the thermal power delivered by the system under the design climatic conditions of your location, in addition to the nominal catalog data.
- Production of domestic hot water (DHW): When this service is included, it is advisable to specify whether the accumulator is integrated into the indoor unit or is external, its capacity in liters, the material of the tank, and the hydraulic safety elements provided.
- Thermal emitters: indication of whether the offer includes installing underfloor heating, placing fan coils, replacing or expanding existing radiators, or if it connects the equipment to the current circuit.
- Hydraulic circuit and technical room: specification, when applicable according to the installation scheme, of the inertia tank, hydraulic separator, secondary circulating pumps, valves, filtration systems, pipe insulation, and chemical cleaning or conditioning of the existing circuit. Neither the domestic hot water accumulator nor the inertia tank or certain treatments are universal: they depend on the contracted service, the hydraulic design, the condition of the network, and the manufacturer's specifications.
- Electricity and control system: scope of electrical protections and wiring from the existing panel (or dedicated panel if the action requires it), as well as the supply and configuration of thermostats or zoning control.
- Civil works, supports and access: vibration-damping base or supports, conduits, cable pass-throughs, masonry finishes, and auxiliary lifting or access means when the location of the outdoor unit requires it.
- Withdrawal, testing, and administrative processing: clarification on whether the disassembly and management of the old generator (when a replacement exists) is included, the commissioning tests, the intervention of the manufacturer's technical service (if the brand conditions it for the warranty), and the documentation or registration with the competent authority that may apply according to the work.
- Taxes and express exclusions: breakdown of the taxable base, applicable VAT rate, validity of the offer, and transparent list of excluded works for separate valuation.
Why do two houses with the same square meters cost differently?
Calculating a budget for aerothermal energy by applying a fixed price per square meter often proves to be inaccurate. As noted by the Institute for the Diversification and Saving of Energy in its publication on the heat pump in the energy rehabilitation of buildingsThe selection of the system depends on the energy demand of the property, the design outdoor conditions, and the emitters.
Two homes of equal size may require very different budgets for four reasons:
- Insulation and climate zone: A well-insulated home loses less heat than one without insulation in a severe climate, which alters the required thermal power.
- Existing emitters: making the most of radiators requires checking if they meet the demand while operating at a lower temperature or if it is advisable to adapt equipment or elements; you can consult the technical details in our guide on aerothermal with radiators.
- Distances and layout: Placing the outdoor unit next to the technical room reduces materials and labor compared to long runs between floors or on hard-to-access roofs.
- Current circuit status: Connecting to a clean and balanced network costs less than having to modify collectors, zone or clean old pipes.
Matrix to compare two offers without leaving any work out.
A price difference between two quotes may be due to the fact that they cover different scopes or that certain items have been excluded for the owner to contract on their own. The fact that an offer transparently excludes auxiliary work (such as electrical wiring or masonry) does not make it incorrect, but it requires checking who will carry it out and how much it adds up to in order to compare on equal terms.
| Concept to audit | Given that there is a need to compare | Question if not specified. |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment capacity | Brand, exact model, and thermal power provided under the design conditions of the location. | What exact model is being quoted and what power does it deliver at the minimum calculation temperature of the house? |
| Domestic hot water (DHW) | Existence of domestic hot water service, capacity and material of the accumulator (integrated or external) and safety group. | Does the offer include domestic hot water production, what is the capacity of the tank, and what hydraulic accessories does it include? |
| Hydraulics and inertia | Expected hydraulic diagram and whether the design or condition of the network requires an inertia tank, filtration, or cleaning. | Does the system require an inertia tank or cleaning of the current circuit, and are they included in the price? |
| Electrical adaptation | Scope of wiring, electrical protections, and connection of the thermostats or controls included in the batch. | If the electrical part is the owner's responsibility, what technical requirements must it meet and how much does it cost to hire it separately? |
| Work, removal and procedures | Dismantling of previous equipment, masonry, commissioning conditions, and applicable administrative procedures. | Who carries out and what is the total cost of the removal of the old generator, the commissioning, and the corresponding registration or documentation for the operation? |
Initial investment, operating expenses, financing, and public subsidies
When evaluating the expenditure and return of proposals, it is advisable to clearly distinguish three aspects:
- Cash price versus financing: Paying in installments makes the initial outlay easier, but it comes with financial costs. If you are considering a financed offer, check the cash price and compare it with the total amount owed by adding principal, interest, and fees.
- Aid and subsidies: It is advisable for the budget to distinguish the full price of the installation from any public aid or conditional discount. Since subsidies depend on current calls, available funds, and administrative validation, if the offer applies a commercial discount or estimates aid whose approval is still uncertain, request clarification in writing on who assumes the risk in case of denial, what amount you must pay at each milestone, and how much the documentation management costs.
- Estimation of energy expenditure: any calculation of future consumption is an estimate subject to the design of the installation, the actual climate, the usage profile, the electricity rate, and the consumption of auxiliary elements. As explained by the technical glossary of IDAE on COPthis coefficient measures the relationship between useful heat and absorbed electrical energy under specific conditions; for its part, the SCOP regulated in European legislationEU Regulation 2016/2281It offers a seasonal index based on a reference demand. No single catalog index equates to an exact calculation of your bill if it is not adjusted for the flow temperature and the actual conditions of the home.
What information should you gather to request a quote tailored to your home?
The more objective information you provide before the technical visit, the smaller the margin of uncertainty in the initial quote will be. Before contacting a professional, gather this basic data:
- Location and envelope: municipality or postal code (determines the climatic zone), approximate year of construction and renovations made to the facade, roof or windows.
- Energy history: type of heating and DHW currently (natural gas, diesel, propane, electric thermal), contracted power and invoices or annual consumption for the last complete year.
- Inventory of emitters: if you have underfloor heating or radiators (material, number of elements per room and approximate dimensions) and what services you want to cover (only heating, heating with domestic hot water or also cooling in summer).
- Available space and access: photographs of the location where the current boiler is installed, the free space for the indoor unit or the tank, and the terrace, garden, or facade planned for the outdoor unit, indicating the approximate distance between both points.
If you already have this information or have two proposals on the table and need to compare their technical scope before deciding, you can consult the available advisory options in our section of services.
Frequently asked questions
Not reliably for closing a contract. Two homes with the same usable area may require very different machines and works depending on their insulation, the climatic severity of the location, the condition of the hydraulic circuit, and the type of existing emitters. The calculation per square meter only serves as a very generic first approximation and never replaces the thermal study of the home.
Not in all cases. The domestic hot water (DHW) accumulator is only necessary if you contract the production of DHW with aerothermal energy (it can be integrated into the indoor unit or be an independent tank). On the other hand, the inertia tank depends on the hydraulic scheme, the flow rate, and the minimum water volume required by the heat pump manufacturer, as well as whether there are multiple zones with independent regulation.
It depends on the contracted scope and a design intended for cooling. Just because a heat pump is reversible does not mean that all existing emitters can operate with cold water. If its surface falls below the dew point, condensation may occur.
To cool using water, a design intended for that purpose is required —for example, fan coils or radiant cooling floors with condensation control—; check that this function is included in the offer.
There is no universal legal prohibition on how to present commercial offers, but to avoid misunderstandings, it is advisable that the total price of the installation and the forecast of aids or financing are clearly differentiated. If a proposal discounts a subsidy in advance whose approval is not guaranteed, request that the contract specifies what happens if the administration does not approve it, who assumes that difference, and whether the processing service has an additional cost.
The price difference between two quotes for the same property can be due to several combined factors: different scope of the included work (such as civil work, electrical adaptation, hydraulic cleaning, or equipment removal), differences in brand, range, and thermal capacity of the heat pump under cold conditions, inclusion or exclusion of components such as tanks or controls, as well as the cost structure and profit margin of each installation company. Therefore, it is essential to equalize the scope item by item before comparing the total.