Interview with PIOTR MURAWSKI, president of and TOMASZEM FIEREK, Qborg board member – Your Installer in Kurów, Kołbaskowo commune
There is no need to convince anyone of how important heating is in our climate zone. We all know that the prices of solid fuels are still rising and will most likely continue to rise. But is there a cheaper and more ecological alternative to traditional heating? Of course! The Qborg company from Kurów near Szczecin offers everything you need in its wide range to replace an old heating system with a modern one. A relatively young company with a wealth of experience is a bull’s eye for all those who have long been bothered by the high heating bills and the time-consuming service of old furnaces.
What does Qborg do?
Piotr
Murawski: Our company deals with broadly understood heating technology, heating and sanitary installation devices, installation of heat pumps, gas boilers, as well as recuperation installations. We also deal with earthworks, connections. Qborg is also service of all devices installed by us.
The servicing of heating devices was only a natural consequence of their installation.
For several years now, the market has been showing a clear demand for heat pumps, which is also visible in your offer. Do you particularly recommend such a heating system?
P.M.: The fashion for heat pumps resulted from the problems of solid fuel boilers, which were practically pushed out of the market by them. Such heat pumps increased the thermal comfort of users who did not have a gas connection.
How to understand the concept of solid fuel boilers?
P.M.: A solid fuel boiler is nothing more than a furnace fired with coal or wood. These boilers are the least ecological solution and the most absorbent when it comes to their use. It was precisely such boilers that were thrown out of the limelight when heat pumps appeared on the market.
How does a heat pump work?
P.M.: Heat pumps can be divided into air and ground heat pumps. This means that they recover heat either from the air or from the ground. Energy is transferred via gas, which is compressed by a compressor to water in the heating system.
How popular are heat pumps in relation to other products you offer?
P.M.: Currently, heat pump sales account for 70 to even 80 percent of our total sales. Our company offers comprehensive installations in single-family homes, where one of the components is the heat pump. However, we offer more than just these pumps, because we cannot forget about gas boilers, for which the market is still in demand, and this is not only an ecological solution, but also an economic one. We therefore try not to forget about this heat source, even though heat pumps have dominated our sales for the past few years.
What is the history of the company?
P.M.:The company was established in 2013, in response to the demand for installation services. I do not hide the fact that I was driven by the desire to open my own company, so as not to be subordinate to other structures above me. This is how the company was established, which at first installed heating systems in single-family houses, we installed gas boilers. Then, keeping up with market needs, we retrained to heat pump and heat recovery installation solutions. The consequences of this retraining were the expansion of the business to include earthworks, so as to be self-sufficient.
However, it is precisely for heat pumps that customers can receive targeted funding. What level of funding and how can you apply for it?
Tomasz Fierek: Our customers can receive funding from the “Clean Air” program financed by the Ministry of Climate and Environment in cooperation with the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, as well as from the “Moje głowy” program, which is implemented from the resources of the Modernization Fund. Both of these programs are aimed at two types of users. If we are applying for funding for a new, recently completed house or a modernized house in which we are changing the heat source, we can use the “Clean Air” Program. The total amount that an investor can receive from this program is PLN 135,000 in funding, assuming that the heat source is replaced with a heat pump. On the other hand, the “Moje głowy” program offers lower funding amounts, depending on whether the heat pump is connected to a photovoltaic installation. If we use such a combination, we can receive funding of PLN 19,400. From September 29, 2023, the “Warm Apartment” Program has also been launched again, dedicated to individuals who would like to apply for a –e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( –e-global-typography-text-font-size ); font-weight: var( –e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); background-color: var( –e-global-color-00ab427 ); letter-spacing: var( –e-global-typography-dfb553a-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( –e-global-typography-dfb553a-word-spacing );”> support financial for the replacement of inefficient heat sources, the so-called “smokestacks” with a renewable heat source for an apartment in a multi-family building. Here, as in the case of the “Clean Air” Program, there are also 3 subsidy thresholds, and the highest is up to 90% of eligible costs. Owners or managers of multi-family buildings can apply for a RES grant for the purchase, installation, building a new installationrenewable energy source or modernization renewable energy source installation
energy in the amount of up to 50% of the net costs of the project. For people living in rural areas, we suggest using the “Energy for the Countryside” Program, which offers co-financing of up to 50% of the costs.
P.M.: But let’s not forget about the personal income tax relief, commonly known as PIT, where our client can take advantage of the thermal modernization relief. Such relief applies for five consecutive years. As you can see, we are able to help anyone who meets the basic conditions for receiving the subsidy to receive it.
We mentioned the “Clean Air” program and the high subsidy for beneficiaries. Can everyone count on such a large subsidy for a heat pump?
T.F.: Unfortunately not, because we have three subsidy thresholds in this program. This third threshold is the possibility of obtaining 100% subsidy of the net amount, which means that the user who will use this device in a modernized house will
only had to cover the cost of VAT. Such support can be obtained by people with the lowest annual income. The second subsidy threshold is 70% and the third, which I think everyone can count on, is 40%. These are really large amounts. Our clients can count on our help when applying for such a subsidy. It should be remembered that there are several conditions that the home user must meet to receive such financial support.
What are these conditions?
T.F.: First of all, the house must have a land and mortgage register, and the house itself must be used as a residential building. There are a few other conditions that we verify, and then we help fill out the documentation and supervise the entire process of obtaining the subsidy.
Is such advisory assistance and assistance in filling out the application paid for?
T.F.: No, we do all this as part of the purchase. An investor who contacts us and decides to buy the installation from us is comprehensively supported by us. Filling out such documentation is not a problem for us, because we have been doing it for years and we have experience in this field.
P.M.: A person who fills out such documents for the first time may get lost in the regulations. The conditions for granting subsidies change from time to time, some of our clients received subsidies on completely old terms, some on completely new ones.
What brands of devices can be purchased at Qborg?
P.M.: These are devices from well-known manufacturers – NIBE, Buderus, Panasonic and Daikin. These companies are highly specialized in the production of high-class heating devices. All the companies I mentioned are our
partners, and we are their representative in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. We purchase these devices from companies, install them and start them up at the investor’s.
How many pumps do you sell and install per year?
P.M.: The annual sales of heat pumps alone are around 120. In relation to our voivodeship, which is quite sparsely populated, this is a large number. However, in the south of Poland, this result would not be as impressive. However, based on our West Pomeranian market, we can boast that we are one of the largest companies specializing in this type of service. The wide range of our offer – from selecting a device, through selecting subsidies, installing this device to servicing it – is undoubtedly our great advantage.
What does servicing of devices installed by Qborg look like?
P.M.: We have a complete service van, which means that we are as mobile as possible and come to the customer. We have placed a special service form on our website to make it as easy as possible for the customer to access our services. After filling out such a form, our employee arranges with the customer to service the device. During the service visit, the correct operation of the device is checked,
its settings. The device itself has a built-in annual memory of its operating cycle, which definitely makes it easier to determine the cause of the fault. It should be remembered that such a service should take place once a year. During such a service, we correct the settings, check the tightness of the connection, whether there are no leaks in the hydraulic systems, in the cooling systems, we check whether there are no short circuits in the electrical system. After performing such a service, the customer receives a report of the activities performed, so he knows exactly what was done.
Are such service activities paid for?
P.M.:We have a so-called operational service, which consists in the fact that from the moment of installation of the device for the next five years, each repair of the equipment is performed free of charge. However, the condition for such free repairs is to perform annual service inspections, which I have already mentioned, and which are necessary for the proper functioning of the device. These annual service inspections are performed for a fee.
And has Qborg – Your Installer been recognized in any way for its activities?
P.M.: Of course, we have several awards under our belt. In 2020, we received first place, and in 2022, we received a distinction from NIBE in the competition for the best installation projects for single-family homes.
This is an even more valuable distinction for us because we received it from our partner, whose devices we install. This year we received a nomination and distinction in the Corporate Social Responsibility category in the competition “Entrepreneur of the Year of Western Pomerania 2023” organized by the Northern Chamber of Commerce in Szczecin. We have a few more smaller successes and awards under our belt, but we will share these.
And who is your client most often?
P.M.: Our clients are people who are aware of the benefits that result from installing modern heat sources. These are people who want to change something in their lives, who want to give up burning coal or wood in furnaces, who want to give up outdated technologies. Our clients want to significantly improve the comfort of their lives, mainly in single-family homes. Our offer is mainly aimed at people building their dream houses, because we perform all installations comprehensively – from all connections to the house, through the installation of water, sewage, central heating, mechanical ventilation system, i.e. recuperation, to the installation of a heat pump or gas boiler. However, our clients also include entrepreneurs who want to optimize the costs of their heating in industrial buildings. As a result of the increase in energy costs, the installation of modern heating systems pays off very quickly. We also do not forget about farmers, who are also our clients when they need heat energy for larger areas and for their homes.
What are the plans for the future of the Qborg company?
P.M.: Our plans for the future are extremely ambitious, because we are a young team. We are currently at the stage of finishing the headquarters in Kurów, near Szczecin, where the so-called showroom will be located. It is a large office and warehouse facility.
Thank you for the conversation.
P.M.: We thank you too.
Write or call us and tell us how we can help you. We will get back to you with ready-made solutions. We will make sure to efficiently respond to your needs and match the best possible solutions for you.
We are committed to providing you with a sense of peace and security, both at the stage of direct cooperation and throughout the entire period of use of the installation. We perform our work comprehensively
Adress
Kurów 13
72-001 Kołbaskowo
woj. zachodniopomorskie