Central Heating - is it needed?
 

Heading off to Perth and thinking about building our home. Will we need central heating for the winter? Somebody mentioned it the other day on another thread. Is it expensive? They also mentioned double glazing. Really sorry but I can't remember what they were saying about that either. :rolleyes:
Any thoughts anyone? :)
Tracey

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

Think the reverse cycle a/c will work as heater too.
That and most places have a wood burner fire.

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

Hi Perthforme,
Do you know if the reverse cycle a/c is noisy? Every time I think of air con I just imagine a load of noise like when you have it on in the car. Also is it expensive to run?
Thanks
Tracey :)

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

Think its quieter than the older type and the one in gyms here are quiet.
Maybe some one with one in there place can tell us?

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

Once you've had it - you'll want it - uncomfortable to retrain your body and habits to adjust with out it. People got by largely OK with out it but it is now more or less standard. Typically costs $6k for gas. Reverse cycle may need 3 phase electric power - cost depends.

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

Think it was Hevs but she is in Melbourne in an older style house and it gets cold there in winter :scared:

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

Perth has hot summers, mild winters, not as cold as Sydney or Melbourne.
You would be better off spending your money on a good airconditioning system for summer, perhaps reverse cycle for heating if you get cold in winter.

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

Hi Put in A/C with reverse cycle, get system with inverter bit more exspensive to install but runing costs are CHEAPER.We had it fitted and used the heating mode the next day!! its not noisey at all.We live in NSW and it gets cold where we are in the winter i.e.now.Good luck to you all.Colin Retired in Oz from UK

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

It probably was me:) but we are in Melbourne. The nights last year got as low as 4 and believe me with no heating its freezing. The daily average was between 12 and 16 depending which way the wind was blowing:)

We are having "hydronic heating" Rads to us poms put in. For 9 rads and 2 massive heated towel rails its around $7k

We are also having 3 large patio doors four smaller windows and one large window replaced with double glazing and thats around $6 and 1/2k :scared:

We are also insulating like mad cos houses built before 2004 (HERE IN VIC) didn't have to be rated. We have tin foil insulation and thats it :scared:

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

The cheaper units that go in holes in the wall, or in the window, are noisy as you are very close to the motor unit. We had one in our bedroom in Sydney, but removed it and filled the hole in the wall. Too noisy.

The Split System ones have the motor unit outside, connected to the indoor section by copper pipes, and can be very quiet. We have them in bedrooms here, and no noise problems.


I think that WA have an evaporative system rather than the refridgerated system that is more common on the east coast, and that may be cheaper to run ?

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

Once you're adjusted to the climate, anything under 20C will have you saying "it's bloody cold" - we just spent 2 winters in an unheated/uncooled unit... Pass the hot choc and the blanket. Mind you, I'm a lizard, anything under 30C is cold for me. Bring on xmas day and 40C...

Evap is for cooling, you usually pay extra to get a gas heater/blower with it for heating. And evap is pretty crap. But it is cheap to install. Of course you need mains gas...And in cooling mode, they dont dehumidify (quite the opposite), and you need to keep the windows open for it to work, thus letting all that nice cold air out...

Of course, you can get rev-cycle in Perth. Our system's costing us $14,000 from http://www.needhamair.com.au/ for a six duct, cant-remember-how-many-zones, 3HP invertor thingy. The fans end up in the roof with the compressor/heat exchanger bit outside (the noisey bit) and ducted outlets in various parts of the house (I'll post a diagram if you're that interested!)

Mind you, at the moment, we'd need serious heating..

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

We made do with fan heaters last year and have to admit I complained constantly about my cold nose. Managed to keep every other bit warm! (Ugh boots - great invention) We've moived now to a place with heating but have not needed it yet this year.

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

We had a fan heater under a blanket on the sofa. "Smell something burning??"
Sitting around in my drysuit undergarment made things toasty :)

Still no heating but we have a gas point here now so give it a few more weeks and we might have to make a trip to Hardly Normal and buy a heater. Which will be no use next winter since our new place isnt on gas :(

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

So have we, it's called Queensland :D

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

I'm glad I highlighted the word "I think" :) As I wrote it, I thought something wasn't quite right, and now I know what it was - cooling not heating :D

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

Don't knock it, they used it on the Apollo mission spacecraft. :D

We've haven't had the need for AC yet, but we will need to light the fire eventually. We're not too far away now.

I had a quick sneaky beak in the loft the other day, we have insulation all over the ceiling, it's compacted down to about 3 inches in places.

Badge

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

In the UK 20C saw me donning shorts and suntop and holding an icecream, after being hear in Brisbane 4 months and its now 18C my baby son is back in a wooly hat in the evening and I am back in bed socks, yesterday I was eyeing up a hotwaterbottle and had a hot chocolate to go to bed :beer:
Doesnt take long to feel the cold, and I thought I wouldnt so got rid of all my winter stuff back in the UK. Morale of the story, bring all your woolys with you

V



[QUOTE=Anon E Mouse]Once you're adjusted to the climate, anything under 20C will have you saying "it's bloody cold" - we just spent 2 winters in an unheated/uncooled unit... Pass the hot choc and the blanket. Mind you, I'm a lizard, anything under 30C is cold for me. Bring on xmas day and 40C...

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

Thanks to everyone for all their advice. I really appeciate it. :) :)
Tracey.

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

Hi,
Could you tell me if I leave the Central heating on 24 hrs at say 20C, for 6 mths in a year, what would my power bills be?
I have a feeling I have to worry more about my power bills than say my grocery/rental/fuel bills. LOL.

IG

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

You will need to be a millionaire. During Winter it can get down to around 2 degrees during the night & around 12 to 15 degrees at night .
I work nights beside an Indian guy & he sets the department temperature around 25 degrees ( Indian Temp) When I come in I set it back to around 19 ( Scottish Temp )
Probably not a good idea having people from these two climates working together. :D

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

Or start using all my furniture for fire wood.....no seriously, how much do you reckon the bill would be?

BTW .........20C is not much higher than 19C :D.

IG

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

Ok I'll hazard a guess of around $250 per quarter.

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

You can save by not using heating at night. I think we paid out 200 bucks in a quarter for a leccy fire on almost all night or something - the Chief of Staff uses it - but I don't need it. You'll be under a doona. Make sure you get a decent one though. I get out of bed, jump in the shower, get dressed quick by then I'm over the worst. Think positive :D The colder you are when you get out of the shower, the warmer you'll feel when you are in your togs.

Get a fire to heat your main living area to take the bite out of it whilst at home.

Don't forget, jumpers don't cost much.

Evening time, just keep the fire on. I love real fires. I like to have them on just to look at. I'm quite looking forward to lighting ours :D

Badge

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

Thanks Badge.....but with kids in the house, am a bit worried on the safety issue. I was therefore looking at ducted heating.

You're right, I could set the temp lower at night (from 20C to 18C :D ).

Hey Bordy, 250 a qtr sounds too good to be true!

IG

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

All systems come with timers. Comes on at time set for morning waking, off at leaving time, on for evening returning time, off for evening sleep time.

Generally don't need heat after bed time or during day. Small oil filled electric heaters (low surface temp) in bed rooms on a low setting keep bedrooms comfortable at lower cost overnight

Gas for typical 4 bed house ~$400 + electricity ~$300 / winter quarter. Reverse cycle + all other electricity cost ~$800 / winter quarter.

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

Thanks ! But I presume the costs indicated by you in your post, would be in cases where the ducted heating is not kept running 24 hrs, right?

IG

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

Yeah +/-. Generally not a lot of energy used during day in proportion due to sunny winter days.

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

Why would you want to keep it on all night :confused: Even here in the middle of winter, the heating goes off at 9:30 and then on again at 6am and I am a lizard.

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

Ducted, reverse cycle, split system Airconditioning with a 24 hr timer is the go just about any where in Australia except in the coldest parts where the BTU of the system can sometimes be insufficient.
For Perth i would not even begin to look at anything else. you can also install wall mounted split systems quite cheaply as well.
There is nothing better on a hot work day than setting your system to come on half an hour b4 you get home from work. The walk through the front door to a cool house is just bliss.

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

Yes definitely!! everyone in Australia needs central heating - twice!!! and gasfitters should definitely be put on the MODL!!! not that im biased. Nooooo, never.

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

Although I'm sure double glazing pays for itself eventually and keeps some of the heat in, most heat goes firstly through the roof and then through the walls. For that reason I think loft insulation should be considered first and foremost, followed by cavity wall insulation (assuming you have cavities). :)

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

We llve in souther highlands and therefore during the winter eget the winds from the snowy mountains and therefore frost and under 1 degree at some times (but only for about 6 weeks) HOWEVER during that time from about 10.30 to 2.30 during the day you are in shorts or light trousewrs and tee shirts and we eat in the garden as it is so sunny and quite warm.
It just gets very cold from 2.30 and the houses are not built for it as we are used to.
We had ducted air con put in $7k for 4 bed house in 3 zones and we have used it for heating - it was excellent and did not need to be on all the time. It gets the temp up very quickly so in the morning you would only need half an hour before you get up. Our bills are not heavy at all as you only use what you need. Don't panic. I found the best way to keep warm as well was to wear a long skirt in the evenings while sitting still and this keeps you all warm - joggers for you men and ug boots. :beer: :)

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

If you live in Perth or Brisbane your much better off spending your money on airconditioning for summer rather then heating for winter, you could get through winter without heating but would probably be desperate for airconditioning on one of those 42c summer days or heat waves. Spend the big bucks on airconditioning and just buy one or two of those little $30 fan heaters for winter they heat up the room well.

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

In my opinion, get reverse cycle Air Con, so it can be used as a heater in the winter also.
I was about to give a cost comparison, for buying the units, but the lastest adverts only have the reverse cycle ones (Heat & Cool). I don't think the price difference is that great though.

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

There is no way you would have your heating on 24 hours a day, it would bankrupt you lol :D

Ducted heating is cheap to install but expensive to run as the gas runs consistantly whilst the hot air is blowing. Central heating is more to install but around 20% cheaper to run. Also for any one with chest complaints, allergies, ashma etc ducted is a nightmare due to dust. Yes before anyone jumps up and down, i know taht you can get the ducts cleaned, but lets face it whos ever prpared for hat first cold snap :eek:

Tony, our windows have 3 mill glass (yes! really!!) in them at the moment and are rotten. We figure while we are replacing them we may as well do it properly.

We are insulating like mad and we have to do ceilings and floors as they (in OUR house) are both wood and let heat in and out at an alarming rate. We are using something called iso board and the difference is incredable.

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

I cannot believe people comming from the Uk to Brisbane would even consider central heating it's just not required. After being here for 5 years my one and only heater is still in it's packing case.

Maybe if you require a/c in the uk you will want both out here but it's overkill.
You hear people quote low temp of 4-6 C but that is in the middle of the night for (maybe a few weeks) when you should be tucked up in bed with a nice Doona.

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

When we lived in Sydney we ran our R/C air con 24 hours a day, as I used to work from home, and the bills weren't too bad. I can't recall exactly, but I think I mentioned the figures on here a year or so ago. I doubt if it was more than $400 per quarter for the total electric bill though.

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

But your comparing a/c on electric to heating on gas :confused:

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

Yep, and i'd advise people to go with R/C Air con heating using Electric, rather than gas, as it must be cheaper. We had the heating part on 24 hours a day during the winter in Sydney. :)

Re: Central Heating - is it needed?
 

So much depends on location. In many parts of SE Asia and northern Australia only a thin radiation barrier is required over ceilings because doors and windows are opened to allow maximum ventilation as the outside air temperature is tolerable to those used to it.