Viessmann Air Source Heat Pump Review

Our Viessmann Heat Pump Review in Summary

Viessmann is a well known brand, founded in 1917, the recipient of dozens of industry awards and has a 4.4 star rating on Trustpilot.

The most popular products in their range include the Vitocal 150-A, 151-A and 200-A. Between those units, there’s a suitable heat pump for every property sitting in the 1-5 bedroom range. 

Noise levels of the Viessmann, at just over 50 dB(A), are at a similar level to other units.

In addition the efficiency of the Viessmann heat pump range is up there with the best heat pumps we’ve reviewed. Depending on the exact unit and flow temperature used, along with the quality and specification of the isntallation, they can be up to 500% efficient. 

Expect your Viessmann heat pump to last up to 20-years and cost somewhere close to £12,500 to install (based on a simple open loop system and 8kW unit, without trenching, buffer or radiator changes). 

The net price you’ll pay will be roughly £5,000, assuming you’re eligible for the £7,500 government grant (via the Boiler Upgrade Scheme). 

You can use our eligibility checker here to see if you qualify for £7,500 in funding. 

Viessmann Heat Pump Review

Is Viessmann A Good ASHP Brand?

Viessmann is an extremely popular heating brand in the UK, better known for their gas boilers. 

Based in Germany, they've been producing a range of heating and cooling solutions for residential and commercial properties since 1917. And as a testament to their quality they’ve received awards including / from:

• National ACR & Heat Pump Awards
• German Innovation Prize for Climate and Environment
• HVR Awards

But to really see if Viessmann is a good brand, it’s worth checking online reviews from customers that are living with the product day to day.

Viessmann Heat Pump Reviews Online

As with most brands these days, the best place to check reviews for Viessmann, is on Trustpilot.

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To date, Viessmann has amassed over 5,000 reviews, with an average rating of 4.4 / 5 stars; that's above the industry norm. 

However, it's also worth digging through the amount of 1 star and 5 star reviews. 

Things happen, so it's expected that a company will get some 1 star ratings. However, anything over 15% of total reviews being 1 star is a red flag. Viessmann sits well below this figure, with just 9% being 1 star.

More importantly, 75% of the 5,000+ reviews rate Viessmann as a 5 star brand. Needless to say, customers consider Viessmann to be a good air source heat pump brand.

Current Heat Pump Range

The main residential air source heat pump offering from Viessmann includes the: 

• Vitocal 150-A
• Vitocal 151-A
• Vitocal 200-A

The Vitocal 150-A is one of Viessmann’s most popular heat pumps, using a monobloc design and available with a rated heating output of 2.1-14.9kW. 

For those wanting a similar pump but are short on space, the Vitocal 151-A is likely to be more suitable. Thanks to its compact design, it needs a smaller installation space. Rated heating output is the same as the 150-A at 2.1-14.9kW. 

And finally, they have the Vitocal 200-A. Heating output is 4-12kW and thanks to it using both an indoor and outdoor unit, it's able to be installed in the smallest of outdoor spaces; perfect for built-up areas.

Rather than reviewing each individually, we’ll focus below on their base unit (Vitocal 150-A) and directly compare it to some of the best air source heat pump brands on the market.

Noise Levels

Heat pumps can be incredibly noisy, with some operating at up to 60 dB(A). For the Vitocal 150, noise levels when operating sit in the range of 51-56 dB(A), depending on the kW output unit you choose. 

The 51-56 dB(A) noise level is typical in the heat pump market. As a direct comparison, the popular Vaillant aroTHERM operates at 54 dB(A). 

Warranty

We always focus on warranty in any heat pump review we write, and this review is no different. 

Air source heat pumps are expensive to fix and even more expensive to replace; you want to be covered for as long as possible. 

Viessmann offers a basic warranty of 2-years on all Vitocal air source heat pumps. When you’re forking out thousands on your heating system, a 2-year warranty simply isn’t going to cut it.

We generally fit heat pumps with a longer 5-7 year warranty. 

Viessmann does offer a warranty extension for their Vitocal air source heat pumps. Usually, you'd get this by using a brand certified installer. 

However, in the case of Viessmann, they offer the warranty directly, for a £360 one off charge. With the warranty extension, you’ll get a 7-year package, which is in line with other top heating pumps.

We offer heat pump installation, including long warranties from a range of brands. 

Use our clickable heat pump tool here to see how much it's likely to cost to install a heat pump in your property.

ViCare App

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Viessmann ViCare is an app that allows you to control and monitor your heat pump. 

You can easily view the current status of your system, scheduling heating to come on / off remotely. You'll see real time electricity consumption, as well as solar yield if you're connected to a solar panel system. 

And if you're not at home, you can see outdoor temperature via the app, allowing you to adjust your heating accordingly. 

Better still, your heat pump engineer can access the app remotely using ViGuide. That means they'll be able to check the system is working effectively as well as diagnose problems, without the need for a costly site visit!

Efficiency

The high efficiency heat pumps offer is one of the main reasons people choose to fit them. An A-rated gas boiler works at around 94%, whereas the majority of heat pumps work at 400% or higher.

Depending on the size of the Viessmann heat pump you buy, you'll see Coefficient of Performance (COP) levels of 4.7-5. 

But how does this actually translate to efficiency? A heat pump with a COP of 5 can produce up to 5kWh of heat for every 1kWh of electricity it consumes. 

Part of the reason the Viessmann Vitocal can hit these figures is thanks to it using an eco-friendly refrigerant; R290. This is the most eco-friendly and efficient refrigerant used in air source heat pumps.

How Much Does A Viessmann Heat Pump Cost?

Viessmann is considered a premium brand, so they're not the cheapest air source heat pumps on the market. 

As an example, a quick browse via online merchants will see prices for the Vitocal 150 (8kW) well in excess of £6,000. By the time you've added on heating controls, radiator upgrades, water cylinder and labour costs, expect an installation to cost in the region of £12,500. 

By comparison, it's likely you'd have a Ideal Logic Air fitted for around £500 cheaper. 

So, whilst Viessmann is a top brand and the Vitocal range is above par, their price point means there are better options out there. 

As with all air source heat pump installations, it's likely you'll qualify for a £7,500 government grant thanks to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. 

So, expect the overall cost of an 8kW Viessmann heat pump to be in the region of £5,000. 

You can check if you're eligible for the £7,500 government grant here. 

How Long Will A Viessmann Heat Pump Last?

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly how long your heat pump will last. As with boilers, heat pump manufacturers will cover you for the first 2-10 years with a warranty, but it’s likely they’ll last much longer if they’re properly maintained. 

So, whilst there is no guarantee, you should expect your Viessmann heat pump to last anywhere from 10-20 years. At this point, the cost of constant repairs isn’t as cost effective as a replacement, especially with the £7,500 government grant available. 

You can get prices on heat pumps with a long warranty by using our heat pump tool here. 

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