Heating a Nordic house: wood stove, heat pump or direct electric?

A cheap house in the north of Sweden, in Norway or in Finland can cost more to heat than one in central Europe, simply because winter lasts longer. Before you buy, find out how the house is heated and what it costs. Here is what you are likely to find.

Wood stoves and wood-fired boilers

Almost every rural Nordic house has a wood stove, a tiled stove (kakelugn in Swedish) or a wood-fired cooker, and many have a wood-fired boiler connected to radiators. Wood is cheap or even free if the plot includes forest, but it is work: cutting, splitting, drying and stoking. Chimneys must be swept and inspected regularly; this is regulated by the municipality. Ask when it was last done.

Heat pumps

• Air-to-air heat pumps are common as a cheap way to reduce electric heating. They work well in milder conditions but are less efficient in very cold weather.
• Air-to-water heat pumps heat the radiators and hot water, and replace an oil or electric boiler.
• Ground-source heat pumps (bergvärme, maalämpö) use a borehole or a ground loop. They are expensive to install but efficient and stable in cold climates, and they add value to a house.

Ask how old the heat pump is and whether it has been serviced.

Direct electric heating

Many houses from the 1960s and 1970s were built with electric radiators. Simple and cheap to install, but expensive when electricity prices are high. If a house only has direct electric heating, budget for higher bills or for adding a heat pump or a wood stove.

Oil

Oil boilers are being phased out in many places and are increasingly rare. A house with an old oil boiler may need a new heating system, which should be reflected in the price.

How to estimate the heating cost

• Ask for actual consumption: the seller's electricity bills (kWh per year) and how much wood they burn.
• Read the energy certificate: in Sweden the energy declaration (energideklaration), in Norway the energy label, in Finland the energy certificate. Denmark and France have their own versions.
• Consider how you will use the house: a holiday home heated only to keep frost away costs much less than a year-round home, but pipes, wells and pumps must be protected against frost.
• Electricity prices vary by region and season in the Nordics. Check the price zone and the network charges for the address.

Insulation and windows

Older timber houses can be draughty. Additional insulation in the attic and new windows often make the biggest difference. Ask what has been done and when.

Browse cheap houses in Sweden, Norway and Finland, and read the viewing checklist before your trip.