⚡ In brief: Hydraulic balancing costs around €500–1,500 for a single-family home, saves 10–15% on heating costs, and often pays for itself in 2–3 years. It's a prerequisite for many subsidy programs and mandatory for larger buildings since 2023.
What Is Hydraulic Balancing?
Hydraulic balancing ensures that every radiator receives exactly the right amount of hot water — not too much and not too little. The valves on each radiator are individually adjusted to achieve this.
Without balancing, radiators close to the boiler receive too much water (rooms overheat), while distant radiators are undersupplied (rooms stay cold). The result: flow temperature is turned up, the pump runs at full power — and you pay more than necessary.
Method A vs. Method B
Method A (Simplified)
Estimation based on radiator size and room area. Cheaper but less accurate. Sufficient for GEG requirements, but not accepted by most subsidy programs.
Method B (Room-by-Room Heat Load Calculation)
Complete heat load calculation for each room per DIN EN 12831. More accurate, considers insulation level, windows, and orientation. Required for BEG subsidies and recommended for heat pump operation.
Mandatory Since 2023
Since October 2023, hydraulic balancing is mandatory for gas-heated buildings with at least six residential units (GEG §60b). There's no legal requirement for smaller buildings — but plenty of good reasons to have it done anyway.
Additionally, hydraulic balancing using Method B is a prerequisite for almost all BEG subsidies for heating measures. No balancing — no grant.
Costs and Savings
With rising energy prices, hydraulic balancing pays for itself ever more quickly. Especially in multi-family buildings, where the cost per unit decreases, the cost-benefit ratio is excellent.
When Is Balancing Especially Important?
- ✓Before installing a heat pump — it only works efficiently with low flow temperatures, balancing is essential
- ✓After replacing windows — room heat loads change due to better insulation
- ✓After facade or roof insulation — less heat demand, radiators are oversized
- ✓With uneven heat distribution — some rooms too warm, others too cold
- ✓Before applying for BEG subsidies — Method B is a prerequisite
Subsidies
Hydraulic balancing is eligible for funding as heating optimization under BEG individual measures:
- ✓ 15% base subsidy on costs
- ✓ +5% iSFP bonus (with a renovation roadmap)
- ✓ Often combined with pump replacement (old pump → high-efficiency pump)
💡 Tip: Combine with Pump Replacement
When having hydraulic balancing done, check the circulation pump too. Old, unregulated pumps use up to 80% more electricity than modern high-efficiency pumps. Replacement costs around €300–400 and is subsidized together with the balancing.
Optimize Your Heating? We Can Help.
We inspect your heating system, calculate hydraulic balancing, and take care of the subsidies.