Warmth is one of human-kind's most fundamental requirements. Having said that, New Zealanders must be an especially robust breed if the average winter temperature inside our homes is anything to go by.
Despite all climatic evidence to the contrary, we persist in the belief that New Zealand is almost tropical and we have traditionally built our homes with scant regard to the reality of warming them efficiently through the winter months.
Since 1978 it has been mandatory to insulate walls, ceilings and under floors, which has resulted in a vast improvement on the drafty uninsulated wooden houses that many of us grew up in.
Over the past two decades, New Zealanders have become increasingly design-conscious and house-proud, yet all too often, heating has still been something of an after-thought and therefore has often been less efficient and more expensive than it need be.
Today, there is more emphasis on energy-conscious heating options, but for truly efficient heating systems, more thought needs to be given to heating systems at the earliest planning stages.
What are some of the issues that should be considered?
Energy consumption and efficiency
Research all the options. Small things can make a big difference to efficiency eg; fans on heaters and fires will assist heat distribution. More expensive heating options will take longer to pay for themselves, but will add to your home's re-sale value, especially with central heating or underfloor heating systems that can be very costly to install in existing homes.
Aesthetic appearance
Do you want your heating completely hidden, or do you want to make a feature of it? An open fire, though not very efficient, brings a warm ambiance and a compelling central focus to a room. On the other hand a central heating system can be almost invisible. With forethought and planning you should be able to avoid heaters that clutter or detract from your interior design.
Flexibility
You may not want to heat all your home all the time. Any heating plan should give you the option of choosing to heat only sections of it. Portable heaters allow flexibility. While an open-fire is attractive, you will probably also need another form of heating for times when you need heat fast and efficiently.
Health issues
It's just as important to consider adequate ventilation and air-flow, especially when using un-flued gas heaters. Also consider the effect of condensation and how you will ensure a healthy air flow.
Combating heat loss
It's one thing to heat your home, but preventing heat loss is equally important. The building code demands a certain level of insulation in floors, walls and ceilings, but there are other things you can do to maximize heat retention. For example, positioning the house to maximize natural heating by the sun, double glazing, lined thermal curtains, and draft control of doors and windows.
Ventilation
There is such a thing as over-insulating your home. If every crack is sealed and every draft stopped, you need to consider how you will ventilate you home in a more controlled way to prevent moisture build-up and to ensure a healthy air flow.
Heating Options:
Underfloor Heating
Underfloor heating is a very efficient form of heating, using electricity or heated water piped under the floor. This effectively turns your floor into a large low-energy radiator. Underfloor heating in new homes is usually laid in the concrete floor slab during construction and is most effective when used to heat concrete or tiled floors. A variety of fuels can be used to heat the water, including gas and diesel powered boilers. It is also possible to install underfloor heating beneath a wooden floor, which makes it possible to retrofit to an existing older house. The temperature can be adjusted from control panels inside the house.
Central Heating
Central heating systems either use a boiler to heat water which is then pumped around the house to radiators, or they use gas to heat air which is then circulated through grills throughout the house. Central heating makes it possible to efficiently heat the entire house, rather than the ‘spot heating' approach that is found in more New Zealand homes. To plan an efficient central heating system, the requirements need to be carefully calculated, taking into account the size of rooms, insulation and house design.
Gas Heating
There are a wide variety of gas heaters available, ranging from small portable gas heaters that either run off natural gas or LPG, to flued gas heaters that remove gas by-products and use fans to circulate hot air more efficiently. Unflued gas heating cannot be used in bedrooms.
Open Fires
An open fire, either wood-burning or using gas, adds a wonderful glow and ambiance to a room, however as a primary means of heating a home an open fire is relatively inefficient, with a large percentage of the heat going up the chimney! Open fires are best used as a secondary heating source, in combination with other more efficient forms of heating.
Outdoor Heating
Outdoor fires are increasingly popular as a means to heat outdoor living spaces and to provide a cosy ambiance and focus for outdoor eating areas. Planned at an early stage, it is possible to design an outdoor fireplace that uses the same chimney as your indoor fireplace.
