Halved Heating Costs with District Heating
The price of oil was rising at an alarming rate and the housing company Asunto Oy Männistönranta in Ylivieska decided to switch from oil heating to district heating in the row house. When Herrfors expanded the district heating network in the area, they seized the opportunity and halved their heating costs within a year.
Erkki Partala lives in one of the five homes next to the Kalajoki river with a view over the Olmakoski rapids in Ylivieska. The row house was built in 1976 and Erkki has enjoyed living there for 26 years. He is now the chairman of the board of Asunto Oy Männistönranta. Erkki was the one who took care of the building’s oil boiler and all that it entailed until the oil boiler and all associated equipment were removed just in time for Christmas 2022.
“It was a great Christmas present. I was relieved to be done with the work involving oil, and district heating is practically maintenance free. During the first year we made a few small adjustments but since then it has worked smoothly. If you don’t understand the meters, it is easy to call for technical help,” he says.
A clear offer sparked interest
The property manager of the housing company, Ilkka Hakala from Op-isännöinti, says that Herrfors reached out during the district heating expansion in 2021 and 2022 and presented them with a well prepared offer for a turnkey solution including both district heating connection and heat exchanger. The clear numbers caught the attention of the housing company.
“There was a yearly cost estimate and a list of the connection fee and other expenses clearly itemized with prices. We got a good first impression of Herrfors and it felt like a reliable provider,” says Ilkka Hakala.
An extra general meeting was held in autumn 2022 where the decision to switch heating systems was approved, and then they just had to wait for their turn. The queue for district heating was long in Ylivieska at the time, since housing companies could still apply for state energy support when switching from oil heating to district heating. The opportunity to apply for ARA grants ended at the end of 2023.
“The housing company received around 6000 euros in support, which covered a quarter of the total cost of about 22000 euros. The switch would probably have happened anyway due to rising oil prices, but the support definitely helped,” says Ilkka Hakala.
Investment with a short payback period
The housing company used 9000 liters of oil per year for heating, and paid 12735 euros for it in 2022. After switching to district heating, the annual heating cost was cut in half, with the 2023 cost landing at 6170 euros. Ilkka Hakala notes that this is an investment with a short payback time.
“The world has changed and oil prices are now so high that the era of oil heating is over. District heating is a simple and affordable heating method for housing companies,” says Ilkka Hakala.
In addition to lower heating costs and less maintenance work, district heating brought a third benefit: more storage space.
“When we got rid of the oil boiler and hot water tank, we gained more room in the boiler room, as the district heating unit takes up very little space. In the old oil storage room next to it, we installed shelves and now store shovels and other shared tools there,” says Erkki Partala.
After two years with district heating in the house, Erkki Partala is satisfied with both the heating system and Herrfors as a supplier.
“The switch to district heating was handled very quickly and smoothly, and everything has worked well with Herrfors since then. We definitely have enough heat in this house now!”
Connect your row house to the district heating network!
A district heating agreement with Herrfors provides your housing company with maximum operational reliability and minimal maintenance compared to other heating alternatives. If the property is located less than 50 meters from the district heating network, it is easy to connect it to Herrfors district heating in Jakobstad or Ylivieska.
If you choose a turnkey delivery from Herrfors, the district heating connection and equipment are included, fully installed. The excavation work usually takes one week, while the interior work in the building can be completed in one to two days. It is best to carry out this work before or after the winter season.
