Three developments are shaping the heat pump market in 2026: natural refrigerants such as propane are gaining ground and allow for higher flow temperatures – good news for older buildings. The devices are becoming quieter, which relaxes location planning. And the control system is merging with the solar system and electricity tariff. Little of this is revolutionary for the purchase decision: the right sizing and setting beat any trend. (As of: July 2026)
Key points in brief
- Natural refrigerants (above all propane/R290) are becoming the new standard for air-to-water devices.
- They allow for higher flow temperatures – the heat pump thus fits into more older buildings without major renovations.
- The devices are becoming quieter: good for dense neighbourhoods and sound planning.
- On the control side, the heat pump, PV and electricity tariff are merging – controllability is becoming a checkpoint.
- No trend replaces the basics: sizing, flow temperature and proper setting remain decisive.
What is happening with refrigerants and technology?
The most important technical shift is taking place inside: with the refrigerants. Synthetic refrigerants with a high global warming potential are gradually being replaced by natural ones – above all propane (R290) in air-to-water heat pumps. What this means for properties, installation and service is explained in detail in the article on refrigerants; for the trend classification, the consequence counts: the transition is underway, and anyone buying today is increasingly buying a device with a natural refrigerant.
The most exciting side effect for homeowners: propane devices achieve higher flow temperatures than many older models. This is exactly the variable that determines suitability for older buildings – the article Heat pump in an older building explains why the flow temperature is more important than the year of construction. Houses with radiators, which were considered borderline cases a few years ago, are thus moving into the feasible range – not by magic, but because the technology delivers the necessary temperatures more efficiently.
Added to this is a quieter performance: the sound levels of new devices are dropping from generation to generation. This does not change the regulations and careful location choice – but it makes planning in dense neighbourhoods noticeably easier.
How is the control system changing?
The heat pump is ceasing to be a loner. Three connections are merging in 2026:
With the solar system. Solar-led operation – the heat pump preferably runs when the roof is delivering – is shifting from a special setup to an expected function. The basics can be found in the article SG-Ready & energy management: the label is the prerequisite, the configured control system is the benefit.
With the electricity tariff. Dynamic tariffs and the new flexibility rules turn the heating time into a manageable variable – the heat pump is the biggest lever in the house for this, because it requires a lot of electricity and can store heat.
With the grid. The utilities are increasingly interested in controllable heat pumps – from classic blocking periods to new flexibility models; the framework is described in the article on HP electricity tariffs.
For the purchase, this means the same as with batteries: controllability and interfaces have gone from nice-to-have to a checkpoint. A heat pump that cannot be controlled gives away the synergy with your own solar system – and this will become more valuable rather than less important over the lifespan of the device.
What of this is decisive for the purchase – and what is marketing?
The sober breakdown:
| Trend | As of 2026 | Purchase relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Natural refrigerants (R290) | gaining ground | choose the standard for a new purchase |
| Higher flow temperatures | available | opens up older building options — have suitability checked |
| Quieter devices | continuous improvement | makes location choice easier, does not replace planning |
| PV/tariff control | functions there, offers growing | demand controllability as a checkpoint |
| «Efficiency records» in the brochure | Constant topic | Setting beats brand — practical values count |
Classification, As of: July 2026 – trend article, is revised annually.
The last line is deliberately pointed, because it is the most important one: no trend replaces the basics. An incorrectly sized heat pump with a top refrigerant cycles itself to death; a poorly adjusted one loses more efficiency than any model generation makes up for – the seasonal performance factor reacts more strongly to the flow temperature than to the brand, as the SPF article shows. Anyone planning a heat pump in 2026 is best off buying calmly: a proven device with a natural refrigerant, properly sized, controllable, carefully set. This is less glamorous than any trend – and has a longer-lasting effect.
We encounter trend questions in two sorts: «Should I wait for the next generation of devices?» and «Is it true that the new ones also work for older buildings?». We answer the first one just as we do for batteries – the technology is continuously getting better, it does not leap; anyone who has an oil or gas heating system due for replacement gains nothing by waiting. The second question is more justified than many think: the higher flow temperatures of the propane devices have realistically made projects possible in the Zurich region that we would have postponed a few years ago. But even then our approach remains the same – first the practical test on the house (lower the flow, observe), then the device decision. The trend opens doors; the planning still has to go through cleanly.
Frequently asked questions
Should I wait for new technology to replace my heating system?
No – anyone who has an old fossil heating system continuously loses money by waiting and risks an unplanned emergency replacement. The device generations improve continuously, not in leaps and bounds. The planned replacement at a time of your own choosing beats any trend speculation.
Are heat pumps with propane safe?
Propane is flammable, and that is exactly what the devices are designed and tested for – with corresponding requirements for location and installation, which the specialist company knows. With professional planning, this is mastered technology; the details are covered in the refrigerant article.
Do the new devices make the renovation of an older building redundant?
They shift the limit, but do not abolish it. Higher flow temperatures mean that more houses work without major measures – the suitability check on the specific house still remains the first step. Targeted improvements such as individual larger radiators often remain the most economical addition.
What does the smart control system actually bring me?
More of your own solar electricity in the heat pump instead of in the grid – and prospectively advantages with dynamic tariffs. The prerequisite is that the device and control system match and someone sets up the function. A label alone does not heat smarter.
How often does the trend situation change?
The market is moving swiftly – the transition of refrigerants, control systems and the tariff environment are developing continuously. This article is revised annually; for a specific purchase decision, the consultation at your own house counts anyway, not the general trend.
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Sources: Market observation for heat pumps (refrigerant transition, device generations), FWS/EnergieSchweiz publications, empirical values from the planning practice of ecoEn GmbH, Zurich region.
Last updated: 9 July 2026 · Author: ecoEn editorial team
