Everything about heat pumps
From the first question 'Does it suit my house?' to efficient operation: here you will find everything in one place, independent of brands and backed by sources.
- Burgenland Federal state public subsidy up to 2.500 €, plus federal and municipal subsidies where available. Air source heat pumps up to 35 dB operating noise only need notification 14 days before construction starts; louder units require building permit proceedings; geothermal and groundwater are handled via the water rights authority.
- Carinthia Federal state public subsidy up to 4.700 €, plus federal and municipal subsidies where available. Air source heat pumps up to 45 dB sound power level are exempt under building law; for louder devices, the procedure is not clearly regulated and must be clarified with the municipality.
- Lower Austria No separate grant from the state. What is available instead can be found on the page. Air source heat pumps up to 70 kW do not require approval, notification or reporting, except in conservation areas and historic town centres with visibility from public spaces.
- Upper Austria Federal state public subsidy up to 1.700 € (air HP), plus federal and municipal subsidies where available. Air source heat pumps are usually exempt from approval and notification, but may require approval in cases of significant disturbance to neighbours or disruption to the townscape.
- Salzburg Federal state public subsidy up to 3.000 €, plus federal and municipal subsidies where available. Air source heat pumps require notification if noise limits at the neighbouring property boundary of 40 dB(A) daytime and 33 dB(A) nighttime are met, otherwise a building permit is required.
- Styria The state public subsidy is currently suspended. What is still possible can be found on the page. Air source heat pumps require notification since 2026 with an expert confirmation of the noise level at the property boundary, otherwise a building permit is required.
- Tyrol Federal state public subsidy up to 9.075 € (air HP), plus federal and municipal subsidies where available. Building regulation procedure for air source heat pumps is not clearly regulated (ask the municipality); noise limits at the boundary always apply; geothermal probes almost everywhere require a water law notification procedure.
- Vorarlberg Federal state public subsidy up to 1.500 € (air HP), plus federal and municipal subsidies where available. Air source heat pumps up to 30 kW are exempt from approval and notification since June 2026 if set-back distances are maintained according to regulations; corner installation always requires approval.
- Vienna Federal state public subsidy up to 8.000 € (air HP), plus federal and municipal subsidies where available. Air source heat pumps are often exempt from approval if noise complies with the guide and refrigerant limits are met; geothermal probes are exempt under building law, but water law clearance is required.
The path to a heat pump
- 1
Does a heat pump suit your house?
The heating load and flow temperature are crucial. You can roughly estimate both in just a few minutes before speaking to installers.
Heat pump calculatorSuitability checkFlow temperature explainedGuide by house type
- 2
Clarify public subsidies before you sign
The federal government, federal states and some municipalities provide grants, each with their own rules and sequences. Some applications must be submitted before the order is placed.
Subsidy ManagerPublic subsidies by federal stateApplication before or after installation?
- 3
Installation site, noise and approval
Where the outdoor unit may be placed and whether you need a Bauanzeige (building notification) is regulated by your federal state. The distance to the neighbour is the most common point of contention.
Approval by federal stateNoise calculatorAir or geothermal energy?
- 4
Obtain and compare quotes
Get several quotes and compare not only the price, but also the design, device and services.
Request quotesHow to check a quote properlyHow we check the installersDevice eligible for subsidies
- 5
Installation and commissioning
The installer registers the system with the grid operator, configures it and hands over the documents for the subsidy application.
- 6
In operation: efficient and quiet
Electricity tariff, maintenance and a look at consumption determine how cheaply the heat pump heats over the years.
Electricity tariffMaintenanceChecking electricity consumptionHeating cost comparison
Glossary
40 terms from defrosting to flow temperature, explained in simple terms.
Approval by federal state
Bauanzeige (building notification), distance, noise and geothermal energy: what applies in your federal state.
Heating costs comparison
Heat pump, gas, oil and pellets with current energy prices, updated every month.
Practical questions
24 questions that homeowners actually ask, answered briefly.
Public subsidies
Federal government, federal states and municipalities with verification date, plus the Subsidy Manager.
Calculators
Heat pump calculator, cost comparison, heating load, suitability and noise.
Guides
Planning and basics
- Flow temperature: the number almost everything depends onHow warm your heating water needs to be determines electricity consumption, choice of appliance — and in several federal states, whether you get a public subsidy at all.
- Application before or after installation? It dependsSome public subsidies require the application before delivery, others require the completed system, and for the federal government, registration is what counts. A mistake costs money.
- What your appliance must be able to do to be subsidisedQuality seals, refrigerants, product database: three requirements are in almost every Austrian subsidy guideline. How you can check them yourself in advance.
- Air or geothermal energy? The decision has four levelsGeothermal energy is more efficient, air is cheaper — that is the short version. More interesting are permits, subsidy conditions and the installation site.
- Checking the quote: what must be included before you agreeThe subsidy forms reveal what details a system must prove. This becomes a checklist you can use to double-check any quote.
- After installation: the two numbers you should knowHeat meters and electricity meters are mandatory for some public subsidies — and the only way to find out if your system is really running efficiently.
By house type
- Heat pump in an old building with radiators: how to check your houseWhether your radiators are sufficient for a heat pump depends on the flow temperature. Here is how to check your house and take the steps in the right order.
- Heat pump in a terraced house and semi-detached houseLittle space, close neighbours: in a terraced house, the installation location decides domestic peace. Here is how to plan for noise, distance and equipment type right from the start.
- Heat pump in a farmhouse and large, older houseLarge area, thick walls, often a tiled stove: what matters in a large, older house regarding heating load, geothermal energy and partial heating.
- Heat pump in a flat and multi-family buildingIn an owner-occupied flat, you do not decide alone. What solutions exist in multi-family buildings, when district heating is the better choice, and who has to agree.
- Hybrid heating: heat pump alongside the old boilerThe heat pump takes over the majority of the work, the old boiler helps on cold days. When a hybrid heating system makes sense and what you need to consider regarding the public subsidy.
- Heat pump in a new build: plan early, size smallIn a new build, the heat pump has the best conditions. Why you should plan it early and how surface heating, photovoltaics and cooling work together.
In operation
- Adjusting the heating curve: how to find the right settingSlope, parallel shift, patience: how to flatten the heating curve of your heat pump step by step without freezing.
- Does a heat pump increase the value of your house?What switching from oil or gas to a heat pump changes in the Energieausweis (energy performance certificate), calculated for a house built in 1983, and when it doesn't increase value.
- Does the heat pump run constantly? What is normal and what is notContinuous operation, cycling, defrosting, steam clouds and noises: how to recognise if your heat pump is working correctly, and when to call the installer.
- Photovoltaics and heat pumps: what the combination really deliversSelf-consumption, hot water at lunchtime, SG-Ready and an honest expectation for the winter: how solar power and heat pumps work together.
Glossary from A to Z
DefrostingBivalence pointDomestic hot water heat pump (hot water heat pump)COP (coefficient of performance)Efficiency class (ErP energy label)Energieausweis (energy performance certificate) and heating demand (HWB)Surface heating (underfloor and wall heating)Horizontal collector (ground collector)GWP (global warming potential)Heating curveHeating loadHeating element (auxiliary electric heater)Hybrid heating (heat pump with boiler)Hydraulic balancingInverter and power modulationSeasonal performance factor (JAZ)RefrigerantAnti-legionella cycleAir-to-water heat pumpMonobloc heat pumpMonovalent, monoenergetic, bivalentLow-temperature radiatorPhotovoltaic self-consumption with heat pumpBuffer tankR290 (propane)Return temperatureSound pressure levelSound power levelSCOP (seasonal coefficient of performance)SG-ReadyBrine-to-water heat pump (geothermal)Grid operator blocking timesSplit heat pumpCyclingDeep borehole (geothermal probe)Flow temperatureHeat meterHeat pump tariffHot water cylinder (boiler)Water-to-water heat pump (groundwater)
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