Gas central Heating (+ infinity system) running costs

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davidcole

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#203182 20-Sep-2016 19:41

Anyone know their gas usage for natural gas based central heating? I'd prefer to compare radiator based, but I'll take what I'll get.

I think according to Genesis I'm in the excessive category. And I'm trying to figure out if the system isn't right based on the amount of usage it uses. It's pretty high.

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#1636799 20-Sep-2016 19:43

What are you spending? I know some people that flip out at the idea of spending $5 a day on keeping their house warm and think that is excessive, whereas I think its not a problem at all.

Richard rich.ms

davidcole

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#1636801 20-Sep-2016 19:45

richms:

What are you spending? I know some people that flip out at the idea of spending $5 a day on keeping their house warm and think that is excessive, whereas I think its not a problem at all.

I know that I use up to about 4500kwh (a month) during winter, or 350 - 400m³

mdf

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#1636802 20-Sep-2016 19:46

Our central heating has just gone in (gas ducted). Literally yesterday. Give it a week or so and I should be able to report back.

mdf

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#1636804 20-Sep-2016 19:48

And FWIW, the installer thinks that radiators are generally more expensive to run than gas ducted - he sells and installs both so didn't have a particular agenda to run. He suggested that most people leave radiators on all day, whereas the gas ducted heats the house quick enough that most people just turn it on when they get home.

davidcole

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#1636812 20-Sep-2016 20:06

mdf:

And FWIW, the installer thinks that radiators are generally more expensive to run than gas ducted - he sells and installs both so didn't have a particular agenda to run. He suggested that most people leave radiators on all day, whereas the gas ducted heats the house quick enough that most people just turn it on when they get home.

Hmm ours is only on 5 - 8am then in the evenings. I wouldn't have thought excessive.

And the way they work sounded ecomomical.....cold water in in the system, or enters it - and this is heated and fed round the system - but heated from say 10 deg to 70deg. But then it circles the system and reenters the boiler....now at say 50deg....meaning to go back around it only has to be changed by 20deg again....and so on. So only warm is expensive.

But after being here a year, I'm not sure it's that economical.

davidcole

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#1636813 20-Sep-2016 20:07

I've been using an app on my phone and reading the meter each morning, so it's taking the m³ on the meter

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bluedisk

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#1636820 20-Sep-2016 20:24

We used to have a ducted gas central heating system in our large old house, which was relatively poorly insulated and had high ceilings and single glazing. The house took no time to heat up, but as soon as we turned it down or off it was cold again. Our gas bill was around $900 per month on Genesis at the time which was crippling, but as we worked from home we wanted to be warm.

Now we live in a 60's house, north facing with double glazing but nearly twice the floor area. Our German plumber installed a gas fired Wolf radiator system which is very efficient and we use much less gas and we stay much warmer. Its a different house for sure, but I know which type of heating feels nicer to me. The radiators stay warm for longer and are a really nice background heat thats not going to dry out anyones contact lenses. Its easy to turn down any radiators that are not used, and the whole system is very programmable, its on for about six hours a day in winter.

We are also big users of gas but our Genesis monthly gas bill is capped at $129 month which is bliss.

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#1636829 20-Sep-2016 20:28

On a recent cold month we used around 3204 kwh, thats with someone home during the afternoon for a house about 110 square meters we have a braemar ducted central heating and a Rheem continuous hot water system 24 litres per minute. I am in upper hutt wellington gets pretty cold here in winter. Its awsum would never go back to a heat pump or a fireplace

davidcole

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#1636831 20-Sep-2016 20:29

bluedisk:
We used to have a ducted gas central heating system in our large old house, which was relatively poorly insulated and had high ceilings and single glazing. The house took no time to heat up, but as soon as we turned it down or off it was cold again. Our gas bill was around $900 per month on Genesis at the time which was crippling, but as we worked from home we wanted to be warm.

Now we live in a 60's house, north facing with double glazing but nearly twice the floor area. Our German plumber installed a gas fired Wolf radiator system which is very efficient and we use much less gas and we stay much warmer. Its a different house for sure, but I know which type of heating feels nicer to me. The radiators stay warm for longer and are a really nice background heat thats not going to dry out anyones contact lenses. Its easy to turn down any radiators that are not used, and the whole system is very programmable, its on for about six hours a day in winter.

We are also big users of gas but our Genesis monthly gas bill is capped at $129 month which is bliss.

Ahh well merry Christmas. You might get the same letter I just got. Plan changing to $249 and it capped at 34,000kwh a year. Last year I thought I did 42,000, they calculated it at 33,000. I worked out I should have spent $2000 for the year but with the $130 a month spent $1500 instead. His new plan if theirs will cos about $2700 for the 12 months.

Do you know what your kWh/m3 is?

Regs

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Snowflake

#1636933 20-Sep-2016 22:48

2 Adult 2 Children

Using Rinnai Infinity for hot water.

Gas hob for cooking.

Central Gas Ducted Air heating - Brivis. daytime = off; evening 4pm-11pm 21degC; night 11pm-8am 19degC;

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Snowflake

#1636934 20-Sep-2016 22:49

I have 3m high ceilings, wooden floors. I have excellent insulation underfloor, in ceiling, and in walls, since I renovated. House is ~150m2

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davidcole

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#1636994 21-Sep-2016 07:36

Regs:

I have 3m high ceilings, wooden floors. I have excellent insulation underfloor, in ceiling, and in walls, since I renovated. House is ~150m2

Seems your system is pretty efficient looking at your winter usage. My house is bigger and two stories, similar ceiling height.

antoniosk

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#1637057 21-Sep-2016 09:33

davidcole:

Anyone know their gas usage for natural gas based central heating? I'd prefer to compare radiator based, but I'll take what I'll get.

I think according to Genesis I'm in the excessive category. And I'm trying to figure out if the system isn't right based on the amount of usage it uses. It's pretty high.

We've had a Brivis ducted heating for quite a few years, but recently completed a reno and now nearly all the house is insulated. Some single pane windows need changing and the fenlights need correcting as that's where the heat is leaking out.

Previous years our Gas usage during winter (we also use it for hot water heating) was about $300/month with Genesis, this winter it's been $150 max.

Having carpets upstairs though has made a HUGE difference to comfort and warmth. HUGE. No heating system will cope with cold floors and drafty joinery.

________

Antoniosk

froob

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#1639950 24-Sep-2016 18:04

We have Brivis ducted central heating, Infinity hot water, and a gas hob. House is about 115 sqm with a 2.7m stud, averagely insulated, 2 adults. House is heated to 20 while we're at home, 17 or 18 during the night.

Just received my bill, which has 1858 kWh for the last month, and 14664 kWh for the last 365 days.

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nossi

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#1651626 15-Oct-2016 15:41

davidcole:

Ahh well merry Christmas. You might get the same letter I just got. Plan changing to $249 and it capped at 34,000kwh a year. Last year I thought I did 42,000, they calculated it at 33,000. I worked out I should have spent $2000 for the year but with the $130 a month spent $1500 instead. His new plan if theirs will cos about $2700 for the 12 months.

Do you know what your kWh/m3 is?

GAS

We use about the same as you, 31000kWh a year, Brivis ducted gas central heating, which has also been $129/month for Genesis Energy Gas Unlimited.

For the year ahead the Gas is Genesis Energy Lifestyle eSaver which is a few hundred cheaper than the $249/month Genesis Energy Gas Unlimited is now priced at.
- $2154/year (31000kWh 365days) - Genesis Energy Lifestyle eSaver
- $2330/year (31000kWh 365days $50 joining offer) - Nova Energy Home Advantage
- $2465/year ($249/month less 10% one month free) - Genesis Energy Gas Unlimited

If you think you are really using 42000kWh then you should probably stay on the higher priced gas unlimited.

ELECTRICITY

We are staying with Flick Electric.
- $1931/year (8000kWh 365days) - Flick Electric
- $2222/year (8000kWh 365days $100 joining offer) - Nova Energy Home Advantage
- $2293/year (8000kWh 365days) - Genesis Energy Household eSaver Anytime

The main reason Flick is cheaper is because they pass on the cheaper night wholesale rates to all customers (25% of our electricity is consumed at night) using a single smart electricity meter with the half hour readings they receive. Other power companies say I would need to pay hundreds of dollars to get two meters installed (one for day another for night) to pay the cheaper night rates with those companies.

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