Heating systems have a service life of 15 to 30 years. When they burn fossil fuels, they pollute the environment massively. Moreover, oil and gas are in short supply, and not just since the Russians invaded Ukraine. It's no wonder that the share of oil heating has fallen from 58 to less than 40 percent in the last two decades - and will continue to fall. 2022 Zurich was the first canton to effectively ban the installation of new oil-fired heating systems in older properties. They must be replaced at the end of their service life (15 to 30 years) with climate-neutral alternatives. For example, a heat pump. New oil heating systems will only be allowed if the alternatives are technically unfeasible or more than five percent more expensive than the alternatives over their entire life cycle. We have researched how much alternatives cost if you want to replace an oil heating system.
The proportion of heat pumps in Switzerland has quadrupled since the turn of the millennium. Today, one in six heating systems is a heat pump, and the trend is rising rapidly. According to the Houzy survey from the beginning of 2024, 26% want to replace their heating system this year, many of them with a heat pump. The higher initial investment in a heat pump pays for itself in a few years because the annual heating costs are significantly lower than those of gas or oil heating systems. In addition, maintenance and servicing costs are lower.
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The air-to-air heat pump is the cheapest and most popular heat pump in Switzerland. Calculate plus/minus 32'500 Swiss francs* for an air-to-air heat pump for an average single-family home, including installation. In addition, there are the costs for removal and disposal of the oil heating system (4,000 to 8,000 Swiss francs*). On the other hand, annual operating costs are significantly lower: expect heating costs of around 1,300 Swiss francs* (as of the end of 2022) and maintenance costs of around 250 Swiss francs*.
The air-water heat pump costs more than an air-air heat pump, but its operating costs are lower. For an air-water heat pump for an average single-family home, calculate plus/minus 40,000 Swiss francs*, including installation. Add to this the cost of removing and disposing of the oil heating system (4,000 to 8,000 Swiss francs*) and the annual operating costs: expect heating costs of around 1,150 Swiss francs* (as of the end of 2022) and maintenance costs of around 250 Swiss francs*.
The brine-to-water heat pump is the most expensive heat pump, but it is unbeatably cheap to run. Calculate plus/minus 50,000 francs* for a brine-to-water heat pump for an average detached house, including installation. Add to this the cost of removing and disposing of the oil heating system (4,000 to 8,000 francs*) and the annual operating costs: expect heating costs of around 900 francs* and maintenance costs of around 250 francs*.
The cost of removal and disposal depends on the heating system, the oil tank and the amount of work involved. A heating engineer or installer charges 75 to 125 Swiss francs per hour; a plastic tank (500 to 1,000 Swiss francs*) is easier and quicker to clean, dismantle and dispose of than a steel tank (900 to 1,500 Swiss francs*) or a welded steel tank (1,250 to 2,000 Swiss francs*). All in all, you can expect to pay 4,000 to 8,000 Swiss francs* for professional removal and disposal. Don't save in the wrong place: If you dispose of the oil tank yourself, you endanger not only your health but also the environment and risk a hefty fine.
* These are only approximate values. Calculate the investment costs for your new heating system with our heating system comparison or ask certified heating engineers or heating system installers from your region for an offer.
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From an ecological point of view yes, from an economic point of view in many cases. The higher initial investment pays off after a few years thanks to subsidies, tax deductions and lower heating costs, especially in times of high oil prices and rising CO2 taxes. In addition, maintenance and servicing are less expensive. Whether it is worthwhile for you to replace your oil heating system before the end of its service life depends on many factors. The older the oil heating system, the more likely it is to pay for replacement.
The figures in these examples are only guidelines for an average single-family home and family with average heating energy consumption. Calculate the investment costs for your heat pump with the Houzy heating calculator or ask a certified heating technician from your region if you want to know more.
