Member Comments

I must also say that I am disappointed that hot water radiators are not included in this review. We have solar for our hot water and hot water towel rails on this loop. We have a solid fuel cooker for the hot water boost and the radiators. The radiators are second hand cast iron and the whole system works fantastically. Our power consumption runs at around $80 a month.

As one of the many Christchurch families who are rebuilding following our EQ's I am very interested in this type of heating and particularly some idea of which are the better operators in this field. It seems to be like pulling hen's teeth to try and get the same detailed information from supplier in order to make a comparison. Consumer can you help please?

I would just like to add my voice to the request for Consumer to consider doing a report on heating options for the whole house. We would like to hear more about gas or heat pump ducted central heating, and also radiator systems. Hopefully there is enough interest to spark this report sometime soon... Thanks

(1)This years chart shows that suddenly LPG prices are competitive with other energy sources. I hav heard of no sudden price drop here in CHCH.
(2)Why the disparity between LPG cabinet heaters and LPG flued heated and LPG central heating. I can see that the LPG price for 9kg Bottles is inflated by road tax on service station LPG. But the 40kg bottle delivered LPG price in the south Island is still horrendous and should be the same for stand alone heating or Central heating.
Is this a north island price rating for reticulated LPG?
Can you differentiate the price of North Island LPG which has competiotion and South Island LPG prices?

If you live in Wellington, Taranaki, Manawatu or Hawke's Bay then on the Powerco natural gas netowrk there is often no connection cost. They offer a 40m free connection to the network if you install gas hot water or central heating, so not only is it free to connect, you get the benefits of lower running costs.

I'd be really interested in seeing some work done on life expectancies of heating devices. I know that wood burners last a long time, but query whether heat pumps really have it in them. Certainly in corrosive environments (coastal areas, Rotorua) they have rather a short life expectancy - why shell out a few thousand for a device that might only last 10 years if you're lucky?. The warrenties are usually only for half that - and flued gas heaters have only a 2 or 3 year warrenty - what's their life expectancy? And what about pellet burners - they have fans in them, what's the warrenty period and maintenance requirements?

we have an old villa. have used flued gas for many years. 2 years ogo installed 2 heat pumps...wish we had done so years ago. Cheaper to run and quicker to heat. Would never use gas again by choice. One room still has a flued gas heater.

How is it that an unflued LPG is more expensive that a flued? If you put your hand over the outlet of a flue, you will feel heat excapeing into the atmosphere, not into the home. I accept that unflued has lots of disadvantages including condensation, but purely on $ per KW of heating I don't think you are correct, and it concerns me about how valid your tests are?