After a number of calls from Villa owners asking why everyone is moving to radiators again I thought maybe I should attempt to answer the question for the benefit of all Villa and Bungalow owners. Radiators in Villas The majority of Villas and Bungalows are found in the older more established parts of Auckland, many close to 100 years old and more. I just bought one in Mt Eden last month and it is apparently built between 1920 and 1929. Old houses, often drafty, generally built the wrong way around for sun, high ceilings, everything you do not want, if what you want is a warm home. Have you ever been in a warm Villa, possibly not. There are a few and in most cases they have radiators for heating, or a duct ed warm air system, and most heated by gas. You will know some have fires, open fires, and multiple fires, but even they are pretty hopeless when it comes to heating, more just for ambiance and cooking toast. Modern Radiators and Why they suit Villas You will also notice all these old houses are on piles, up off the ground, no concrete floors. This makes fitting a new radiator heating system great. You can fit radiators in the rooms you wish, drop connections under house, loop a circuit of flow and return pipes around back to a gas boiler, connect up the gas and a thermostat, and bobs your uncle, you’ll never be cold again in your chilly old Villa. It is probably a bit harder and more time consuming to fit than the paragraph above, but none the less, easily completed in a few days, not super costly, and adds luxury to your home. This will not replace the spark and crackle of a fire, but it will safely and effectively heat your home. Radiators are Safe The fantastic thing about radiators is they are a safe form of heating. No one will get burnt, the house wont catch on fire, no naked flames. Yes there is still a heating component to the system with gas and energy, but much safer than a fire. Heating with Radiators – Radiant Heat Radiators are simply amazing in respect to how they heat the room. There is nothing worse than standing in front of a little heater from the super store, or a heat pump, that blows on you, making you feel warm, and the moment you walk out of the heat you freeze again. Install a radiator and you will have a warm room, even temperature through out. No hot air blowing, then cold 2 meters away. Even controlled heat. It makes total sense that the growing trend is for radiators again. Think of the Radiators at School Radiators were what we grew up with. Think back to the frosty mornings at school. What did you do, go and sit on the radiator. Of course hottest by the radiator, but even the whole class room was toasty warm. There is always new stuff coming out. But really, some times you just cant beat a good old heating system that works. Of course technology has advanced, the actually heating part of the system, or the gas boiler unit, has advanced, the systems are much more efficient than days gone by, but fundamentally, its just a modern version of what you had at school. Join the growing trend. Get radiators fitted in your home today. I’ll be Fitting Radiators in my Villa When I renovate the little Villa I just bought in Mt Eden I will be adding radiators without a doubt. It is a cold little place, right by mountain, sun is limited, drafty, has insulation, but still will be freezing, the tenant told me. But guaranteed… add a radiator or two, fit a gas boiler up to it, and she’ll be the warmest house in the street – more than likely. Join me and many others… Never be cold again. Get radiators installed in your place now. You will not be disappointed. CLICK HERE For great deals on radiators – or to find out more…. Or if you want to speak to one of the heating technicians just call 0800 PLUMBER | 0800 758 623
Jan
RINNAI GAS HEATER A great way to heat your home is with the Rinnai gas heater. The gas heater is well worth considering when you need effective and efficient heating. In many cases there is no better way to provide real warmth to your home than with a Rinnai gas heater. With an extensive range of flued and portable gas heaters to choose from, you are pretty sure to be able to find a gas heater model that is just right for you. WARM YOUR HOME FASTER THAN A HEAT PUMP WITH A RINNAI GAS HEATER A gas fired Rinnai Energysaver gas heater heats your home faster than a heat pump of the same output. You’ll be amazed how quickly it warms your home, making it comfortable and a great place to live. You can connect them to either natural gas or LPG. They are also approved by the Sensitive Choice programme of the Asthma Foundation. These gas heaters draw in external air to maintain the quality of air in your home. The gas heater is backed with a 2 year warranty. FEATURES OF A RINNAI GAS HEATER These are easy to operate Cost effective heating They have power output up to 6.9 kW Available features include thermostats, programmable timers, remote controls, multi-speed fans and electronic ignition Safety features may include tilt switches, oxygen depletion sensors, flame failure safety system, dress guards and child locks You can be sure you will find a gas heater that is just right for you. They also operate on both LPG and natural gas. RINNAI GAS HEATER – EASY TO CONTROL With a simple and modern control panel, heating your home has never been easier. The gas heater is easy to programme and operate in a way that suits your lifestyle. Have it come on and off when you need it most. This all helps to have a cozy home, yet still be economical to run. RINNAI GAS HEATER – PORTABLE OPTIONS AVAILABLE Is some homes you will already have a gas bayonet on the wall from a previous heater. This makes it quick and easy for you to connect your new Rinnai portable gas heater. Just purchase the LPG or natural gas model you require, take it home and you’re ready to roll. Just be sure to check the output and required air space to operate the heater are within the required limits and specifications. If you need help with this be sure to call an Rinnai installation expert. So, if you find yourself with a house that is rather chilly and needs a warm up. Grab yourself a gas heater. Even if you don’t have gas in your street, you can run it on LPG bottles. They just make sense in so many cases. They are also really efficient and push the heat out at low level. And where do you go when you need one… Regency Plumbing. We have a team of licensed gasfitters who would be most happy to fit one for you. Don’t spend another winter freezing when Rinnai have a whole warehouse full of these heaters do nothing in a box. CALL OUR FRIENDLY TEAM ON 0800 PLUMBER | 0800 758 623WE WOULD LOVE TO HELP YOU!
Feb
Are you tired of being cold and want to find out more about underfloor heating? UNDERFLOOR HEATING Is underfloor heating expensive? Is underfloor heating economical to run? There are many different underfloor heating systems… which is best for me? We will try and help you with a few questions on underfloor heating in this blog. WHAT IS UNDERFLOOR HEATING? These systems are hydronic radiant floor heating systems. They use a gas boiler or heat pump to produce a warm supply of water. This is then circulated via a small pump through plastic pipes installed within the concrete slab. The pipe in the floor carries heated water that conducts warmth to the surface of the floor where it then pushes heat energy to the room above. It is a very clever system which gives you even heat/warmth across the entire house. This has got to be one of the ultimate luxuries for your new home. ARE THESE SYSTEMS EXPENSIVE? It all depends on how you see it. Everyone forms their own opinion of what value for money is. Most people have different priorities in life. Everyone makes their own choice as to what they will spend their money on, whether or not, investing in underfloor heating systems is important to them. When you consider the complexity, the amount of work in setting up underfloor heating, the cost is well and truly justified. But, yes for most the cost / investment upfront is significant. After you experience the long term benefit of underfloor heating, your first warm winter. The bitter pill you had to swallow (the cost) doesn’t seem much more than a panadol tablet. The kiwi way has always been to just pull on another jumper or jersey. These days, people are starting to expect more. Heating for the home is a key part of the design. Even down to the basic insulation, every home must have it. At some point no doubt, every home will have to have a heating system. New Zealand gets cold. The environment we live in is often damp, especially in winter. For a dryer, healthy, warm home of luxury, look into underfloor heating systems. The long term benefits of underfloor heating, for your health and the homes health will be significant. So is underfloor heating expensive, yes, but it all depends on what is a priority for you. Some people will buy a car knowing they will lose $20,000 the moment they drive out of the dealership. You could spend $20,000 on an underfloor heating system and it will go up in value with the home. So it is an investment for sure, and well worth considering. THE COST OF UNDERFLOOR HEATING SYSTEMS Why does the cost vary so much? This is an interesting question. Can I quickly say, the difference is justified. The installers are not all scammers. There are 2 real considerations in my view. Maybe 3, but we’ll start with 2. What energy source do you have available. What underfloor heating systems are going to be available to you. Sometimes you will have to run with a gas boiler. Or sometimes you will have to run with a heat pump. Possibly you may be able to use diesel, or waste oil. There are many options. Obviously if you are on a small section in the city though, you are not going to want a big diesel tank. Or if you don’t have access to natural gas, you could use LPG, however most systems are not as cost efficient on LPG. So maybe not always a good choice. Some areas may not allow certain energy sources. So number one, what system you can have will have a large bearing on cost, as every system is very different in upfront cost. The more you pay up front, the cheaper it will be to run long term. Not 100% accurate, but as a rule, spend more money up front for an efficient system, and you can run is efficiently for ever. Buy the cheapest possible system you can get up front, and you will pay for it as you go. Even worse, if you are on LPG bottles you are really aware of the cost as you have to keep replacing them. The cost does not change, but as the bottle truck turns up every week, you are very aware of gas consumption and the cost. Based on my experience now, I feel LPG for heating is the last resort. It works fine, but customers are left really aware of the cost and inconvenience to run. TIP – You may not be getting ripped off. You may not need to go and get a 5th quote after-all. just to find it is different again. What you may need to do is ask more questions. Understand why the underfloor heating systems vary so much in price. Then be sure to understand the long term running cost differences. They are extreme differences that you need to be aware of before finalizing your decision. Sometimes a split system can be ideal. WHAT IS A SPLIT SYSTEM? When I refer to a split system, I refer to a system with say a mix of underfloor heating and radiators. Having a mix can be very effective, and also economical to run. Getting good advice from a reputable installer like Regency Plumbing right at the beginning, is a good idea. You may just find the perfect solution for your new home is not as costly as you first thought. Also you may find you can get a system that saves you money long term in operating costs. Radiators are also now very sleek, stylish, and well worth considering – to find out more [CLICK HERE] I hope you have found this blog useful, helpful, and interesting. If you need any more help, information, or a quote, we would be more than happy to help you. For underfloor heating systems, Regency Plumbing have an expert design and installation team. CALL […]
