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

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

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
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...

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

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

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.

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 .

IG

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

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 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

Badge

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 ).

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

IG

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.

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

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

Why would you want to keep it on all night 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.

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.

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