Rinnai Gas Fire The biggest misconception about Rinnai gas fire is that people assume they come with high running costs. Gas, especially natural gas in New Zealand, is one of the cheapest forms of energy available. You’ll just need to find an energy efficient fireplace to complement it. Heat output of a gas fire is critical to the energy efficiency of the gas fire. The bigger the fireplace, the bigger the flame and, therefore, the higher the heat output. Heat output is measured in kilowatts (kW), the size of your room determines the heat output required to heat the room. The heat output is too low for the size of the room, the unit will not efficiently heat the room. If you want to get a fireplace with the right kW for the size of your room, the general rule of thumb is 1kW of heat per 10 square meters. That simple equation may work for a brand new, well-insulated home, but a one size fits all approach does not work in this instance. Your geographical area within New Zealand determines the climate. This in turn affects the ability of a fireplace to heat a room. For this reason, Rinnai has divided New Zealand into three climate zones. The cool zone includes most of the South Island and the central North Island, the medium zone includes the top of the North Island and the middle of the North Island, the warm zone is exclusive to the top of the North Island. In the warm zone, the Rinnai gas fireplaces cover an area between 77 and 125 square metres depending on the model. In the medium zone, Rinnai gas fireplace cover an area between 68 and 111 square metres, depending on the model. In the cool zone, Rinnai gas fireplace cover an area between 50 and 82 square metres. Heat loss factors also influences the efficiency as it can decrease the heating area of the fireplace. These factors include: no ceiling wall or insulation; no carpets on the floors; no curtains; window area >15 square metres; and ceiling height >2.4 square metres. These factors need to be considered and remedied prior to installing a gas fireplace to ensure the unit is operating at maximum efficiency. Here are some excellent examples of Rinnai gas fireplace we can supply and install: Rinnai Linear 800 with flame tech This fireplace from the Linear Range has a power flue, with a low heat output of 3.1kW and a maximum output of 6.6kW. This allows for a Zone Heat Area of 62 to 106 square metres, which results in a star rating of 3.2. Rinnai Linear 100 This fireplace from the Linear Range has a power flue, with a low heat output of 3.1kW and a maximum heat output of 7.5kW. This allows for a Zone Heat Area of 70 to 120 square metres, which results in a star rating of 3.2. Rinnai Linear 1500 This fireplace from the Linear Range has a power flue, with a low heat output of 3.1kW and a maximum heat output of 8.3kW. This allows for a Zone Heat Area of 77 to 133 square metres, which results in a star rating of 3.2. Rinnai Evolve 1252 This fireplace from the Landscape Range has a power flue, with a low heat output of 2.3kW and a maximum heat output of 8.4kW. This allows for a Zone Heat Area of 84 to 130square metres, which results in a star rating of 5.7. Rinnai Evolve 952 This fireplace from the Landscape Range has a power flue, with a low heat output of 2.3kW and a maximum heat output of 8.1kW. This allows for a Zone Heat Area of 82 to 125 square metres, which results in a star rating of 5.6. Rinnai Arriva 752 This fireplace from the Landscape Range has a power flue, with a low heat output of 1.8kW and a maximum heat output of 7.0kW. This allows for a Zone Heat Area of 70 to 108 square metres, which results in a star rating of 5.6. Rinnai Symmetry 3611 This fireplace from the Landscape Range has a direct vent, with a low heat output of 3.8kW and a maximum heat output of 7.5kW. This allows for a Zone Heat Area of 75 to 116 square metres, which results in a star rating of 4.2. Rinnai Ember 600 This fireplace from the Compact Range has a direct vent, with a low heat output of 2.5kW and a maximum heat output of 5kW. This allows for a Zone Heat Area of 55 to 85 square metres, which results in a star rating of 3.9. Rinnai Ember 700 This fireplace from the Compact Range has a direct vent, with a low heat output of 3kW and a maximum heat output of 6kW. This allows for a Zone Heat Area of 65 to 99 square metres, which results in a star rating of 4.2. It is evident that gas fireplaces can vary greatly when it comes to energy efficiency and there are no minimum energy performance requirements for gas heaters in New Zealand. The Australian Gas Association gas energy rating label provides a quick visual guide as to how efficient your unit will be. Direct vent gas fires are more efficient, as they use a fan to both expel exhaust outside and also bring air into the unit. The star ratings are used by consumers as an easy way of comparing the energy efficiency of different gas fires. The star rating is based on the net heater efficiency gas energy rating, this is calculated based on the combination of efficiency measures and takes into account all gas and electrical input. It compares gas heater efficiency by the amount of raw energy input consumed by the gas heater in comparison to the heat energy output provided. While it is important to know how the star ratings are determined, it’s also important to remember the efficiency is greatly affected by the size of the […]
Mar
Rinnai Gas Fires VS Others If it’s time to consider upgrading the heating in your home, you’ll know there are endless options to look at and consider carefully. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, and ultimately your decision is based on your heating needs and what you’re looking for when it comes to heating your home. Rinnai New Zealand provides an extensive range of high-efficiency rinnai gas fires. They provide constant and reliable heat while being more efficient than electric heating systems. It also eliminates the need for using sparks and firewood. Heat pumps are the current favourite for Kiwis all over New Zealand, they have low running costs (when used properly), produce instant heat and the convenience of having a thermostat at your fingertips. Other heating options for your home include wood burners, wood pellet burners, electric heaters and unflued gas heaters (LPG). There are several factors outlined below that need to be considered in order to reach a decision around which option is best for your home and heating needs. Design If design is important to you, a Rinnai Gas fire is far superior to the other options on the market. Heat pumps have a unit inside mounted on the wall and a unit outside and can be an eyesore in your living room. Rinnai currently has three collections of gas inset fires that are suited to different needs and design preferences. The Linear collection was inspired by Aotearoa’s unique landscapes. Using hand-selected driftwood washed up on the Wild West Coast Beaches and stones to match those shaped by our rivers and landscapes, they recreated perfectly lifelike ceramics with flames captured in frameless glass. Rinnai’s engineers have reinvented gas fires to produce a product with even more lifelike looking fires. The Landscape Series offers the latest designs with high energy efficiency and heat output. The Compact Series says it all in the name, this series is designed to fit into smaller spaces and can be retrofitted to existing fireplaces. All fireplaces supplied by Rinnai provide heat with ambience and enhance the mood of any room for every occasion. Features While gas fires and heat pumps switch on and off at the click of a button and can be controlled using WiFi and can heat the room almost instantly. Both also have a timer feature where you can set a time to turn the heater on remotely. Wood burners take some time to heat a room up and do not have a function to turn on remotely. Some gas fires in Rinnai’s collection also have a Symmetry Heat Transfer system, this allows you to heat two additional rooms using a heat transfer system via a floor vent or ceiling outlet. All gas fires in Rinnai’s range have an overheat safety feature to ensure your safety and comfort at all times. Energy efficiency The Rinnai gas fire range is efficient heaters with a star rating between 4.1 to 5.7, this is constant across all the gas fires and takes the guesswork out of choosing models that are more energy-efficient. The star rating is a quick visual reference that represents the annual energy consumption. The energy efficiency of heat pumps varies a lot more depending on the brand, model and size and can be anywhere between 1.5 and 6 stars. It is important to note the energy efficiency for heat pumps are dependent on the size of the unit and the heat output. Heat output Rinnai’s gas fire range has great designs without compromising on heat output. The range has a maximum heat output of 5kW to 8.1kW. Heat pump heat output varies a lot more and can range from 1.5kW to upwards of 10kW. When comparing heat output, it is also important to consider how energy efficient the unit is, as these two go hand in hand to determine the cost of running the heater. Gas, especially natural gas in New Zealand, is far superior when it comes to energy efficiency and heat output. Comfort Research from Newport Partners has proved that people feel more comfortable with gas fires when compared to heat pumps. This has a lot to do with how the unit heats the air. Gas fires produce heat by burning gas and can heat a cold home up a lot faster using a steady supply of warm air. Whereas heat pump research shows that heat pumps only make people feel comfortable 40% of the time. Outdoor Temperature The outdoor temperature has an impact on how heat pumps heat the air. Heat pumps draw heat from the air outside if temperatures fall there is less heat to transfer into the unit and the airflow temperature will drop. Some heat pumps will then turn to electric resistance heating to provide heat. This uses more power and is a more costly way of heating your home. Outside temperatures have no effect on the gas fires and their heat output, in this respect, the gas fires are more superior to heat pumps. Price Comparison Gas fireplace typically cost far less to maintain and also have a longer life span too. Heat pumps require regular maintenance to ensure they keep running efficiently. This includes having the heat pump serviced every year to two years, depending on the use. It is also recommended that the heat pump filters are cleaned and vacuumed in between services, and the area around the outdoor unit is kept clear of leaves and debris. Heat pumps also require periodic maintenance, including re-gassing the system. This can be costly and time-consuming. Rinnai New Zealand recommends their gas fires are maintained every 2 years. The service technician will inspect various parts to ensure they are working correctly, this ensures the gas fire continues to work efficiently. Deciding whether or not to buy a gas fire is a big decision, especially when considering all the options. However, gas fires are superior to the other options on the market. Rinnai New Zealand have fantastic design and engineering and not only do […]
