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Previous: Our advice
Previous: Our advice
Dear Consumer,
I would be interested in a consumer report on Micathermic heaters as another source of heating, comparing this to oil-column and convection type heating, and comparing different brands of Micathermic heaters. We have one in the bedroom which seems to do a good job. Hope you will look into this. Thanks.
You should consider infra red (long wave)panel heaters. These provide the same heating as the sun. Being long wave (avoid short wave) the heat goes to the core of the body so that if you go outside on a cold day you feel warmer for longer than you would with a heat pump or a standard convection heater. They are also more efficient as one of these at 550 Watts has the same effect as a standard 1kW heater. Use these in bathrooms and bedrooms with a log burner in the living area and controlled ventilation (HRV) for perfect comfort.
John Costello
We recently went looking for a panel heater to install in the hall outside our bedrooms.We have a reasonably well insulated house and live on the coast near Tauranga so were only looking for a low heat output. We first checked out the Econoheat styles , but were put off as they didnot have a thermostat and the surface temp was such that we could not put the palm of our hands on it . We ended up with a 400w Dimplex [with a thermostat] which has proved succesful . John and Beverley
hello
we currently have a wood fire in our lounge area as our main source of heating.
We also made the wise investment of a HRV system, which is not advertised as a heating system but ventilation. But this has dried out our home so naturally making it easier to heat and generally rising the overall temperature by 2-3 degrees.
However our 4 bedrooms are at the opposite end of the house from the fire which in a straight line is 20m.
These bedrooms do get cold in winter and so we asked HRV what they recommended to go with their system. They suggested Econopanel style heaters or micathermic heaters that use convection style natural air flow that HRV systems help create.
Our question to consumer or anyone else out there that can help - which option is the best.
The bedrooms are large (20m2). So do we go for a 400w Econopanel ($199) or 1800w microthermic ($69.00).
What is going to be the most efficient overall in the long run?
Hi, I live in Marlborough where we can get to minus four. I have a nightstore heater in the hallway and now that we have teenage kids all the bedroom doors stay closed pretty much 24/7, I was wondering about a heat transfer kit to warm these rooms via the nightstore. I have a four bedroom house with two lounges heated by an inbuilt log fire which only just keeps up in the depths of winter. Is this a worthwhile proposal?
Hi Grant
If you have a hallway that gets too hot due to the nightstore, and bedrooms that get too cold, a heat transfer kit will sort that out. They cost less than a light bulb to run and can be set up to work from a thermostat switch so they only run when there is useful heat available.
Regards
Hamish Wilson
Research and Testing Manager
Hi Grant
Don't know if you have invested in that heat transfer kit, but I have had one in my home for many years, and it hasn't worked for me, I feel that it has been a waste of money.
It is vented from above my multi-burner to all three bedrooms, and the bedrooms which are closed off are always freezing. I have a thermostat switch as suggested above, so it comes on when the room gets hot.
I have a nightstor in the passage, and the only way to heat the bedrooms is to open the doors.
We have used a portable LPG heater for heating in the morning for a number of years but now need to replace it and I wondered what was more cost effective, LPG or an electric fan heater.
We have liked the LPG as it heated our living area quickly for a couple of hours before we all head off to work etc. But is it really cheaper than electricity?
We have a deLongi 1800w column fan heater for heating other rooms as necessary and use a woodburner in the evenings & weekends.
Hi
Could you advise on the Ceramic Heaters manufactured by LUCHT LHZ?
Do you believe these to be 100% efficient - or more economical than that as they claim?
These are two statements taken from their website www.electric-heating.co.nz/english/method.html -
"combination radiators are designed to store the heat directly into the Magmatic ceramic tablets without any loss of energy" and
"should use an average of between 3-5 hours electricity in a 24 hour day"
I'd appreciate any advice that anybody has on this heater. Many thanks.
what about these new econo heaters that claim to only use 4KW but put out enough heat for a normal bedroom?