How is your winter heating going to be like?

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SumnerBoy

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#1046035 16-May-2014 08:19

Underfloor hydronic heating system - air-to-water heat pump circulates warm (35 degrees) water through pipes in my concrete slab. Heat pump only runs from 9pm - 7am (thermostatically controlled) to take advantage of the cheap night rates from Genesis (11c/kWh). Currently the heat pump shuts off about 1-2am as it has warmed the slab up enough by then. The slab then radiates heat all day keeping the house at about 22-23 degrees in the living room, 18-19 degrees at the cool end of the house.

Also have a floor mounted heat pump in the living room in case there is a sharp drop in temp and the missus gets a bit chilly.

Went overboard with insulation when I built the house, thermally broken windows, 140mm framing so I could fit 90+50mm ultra batts (i.e. two layers). Worth every penny, the house is lovely and warm all winter and my power bills are never more than $200.

alasta

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#1046050 16-May-2014 08:53

I just use a plug-in oil column heater and dehumidifier. My power bill is around $75 a month in mid summer and no more than $120 a month in mid winter.

I've been told that these appliances are inefficient, but the reality is that my heating is only costing me around $200 a year whereas a home with heat pumps, better insulation, etc. would cost me at least $2000 a year more in rent so I can't see any real potential for cost savings in my particular situation.

MikeB4

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#1046053 16-May-2014 08:59

alasta: I just use a plug-in oil column heater and dehumidifier. My power bill is around $75 a month in mid summer and no more than $120 a month in mid winter.

I've been told that these appliances are inefficient, but the reality is that my heating is only costing me around $200 a year whereas a home with heat pumps, better insulation, etc. would cost me at least $2000 a year more in rent so I can't see any real potential for cost savings in my particular situation.

How are you doing this? you must have a very small place or keeping the temp well below the WHO recommendations for a healthy temperature

Normal ain't coming back, the crazy stays.

Stan

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#1046056 16-May-2014 09:04

I am in a modern 120m2 house.

Double glazing, insulation at modern code with one heat pump that seems to be able to warm the whole house.

Power bill in winter goes up by $20-$30 per month so total is around $140.

When I have some spare $ will look at a heat recovery system of some sort.

SumnerBoy

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#1046057 16-May-2014 09:05

Should have probably mentioned, my place is a 260m2 two-story house, in ChCh.

rayonline

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#1046098 16-May-2014 09:46

We have one HP in the lounge a more expensive one cos it is a wall/floor standing one for our high ceiling lounge. You have the positive benefits. Just on the financials, does heat pumps work out. I mean the total cost to buy and install might be $4k each depend on size. But to save back $4k over the 4-6 months, we here don't need the cold temperature over summer here in Wellington there has really only been maybe a week or two max when we needed it but we just used it maybe 1 or 2 days not last summer but maybe the previous one with the so called Indian Summer. Ok maybe with the more efficient HP you might save $100-150 a month. That's $600-900 a year. So you break even in 5-7yrs and not calculating the forgone interests in the bank. Provided that the HP does last 5-7yrs and you haven't accounted maintenance cost for the HP. Unless you have a large room or a high ceiling that you need a HP.

On the other hand school kids still wear shorts all year round right .... maybe a scarf and a wee school uniform jersey and a raincoat.

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Peamsable

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#1046135 16-May-2014 10:49

Stan: I am in a modern 120m2 house. Double glazing, insulation at modern code with one heat pump that seems to be able to warm the whole house.

Power bill in winter goes up by $20-$30 per month so total is around $140.

When I have some spare $ will look at a heat recovery system of some sort.

Our place is similar to this. A smallish modern build, insulated concrete block + double glazing on all windows. We have a single heat pump/ac downstairs and nothing upstairs. Heat tends to rise from below to warm the upstairs rooms with no issue, though upstairs gets a little warm on those muggy Akl summer nights.

With two adults and who small kids the power bill is about $80 in summer and $120-130 in winter.

alasta

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#1046201 16-May-2014 11:59

KiwiNZ:
alasta: I just use a plug-in oil column heater and dehumidifier. My power bill is around $75 a month in mid summer and no more than $120 a month in mid winter.

I've been told that these appliances are inefficient, but the reality is that my heating is only costing me around $200 a year whereas a home with heat pumps, better insulation, etc. would cost me at least $2000 a year more in rent so I can't see any real potential for cost savings in my particular situation.

How are you doing this? you must have a very small place or keeping the temp well below the WHO recommendations for a healthy temperature

I only need to heat one room, and the oil heater is a 1.5kw unit, run for about 4 hours during each evening with the thermostat engaged probably about 75% of the time. That's about 135kwh per month, and conservatively speaking it would still only be around 200kwh if you factor in a bit extra for rare occassions when I'm home during the day.

It's often cold when I first get home, but once the heater is warmed up I feel like the temperature is perfectly comfortable. I turn the heater off about half an hour before going to bed.

I can understand that those who need to heat multiple rooms and those with people home during the day would incur a lot more cost than this. It must be hard for elderly people.

rayonline

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#1046209 16-May-2014 12:10

Normally someone is home here. Usually the main room and kitchen are unheated during the day and they snuggle back to a small bedroom and turn on the heater. Lunch time etc .. it like eating and watching TV with a jacket the sun it out might not be warm but it gives the illusion and if one moves around it is like in the city or shopping malls they are just jumping around .... or like a camping trip. A warm lunch and hot drinks rather than a cold sandwich / salad. Like now it is rather nice for one side of the house with the warm sun so people spend time there but when it approaches 3pm it starts to cool down.

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