So these are basically reverse cycle ac/hot air jobbies.....in other words a new installation (and of course efficient) of the classic split system. We have a basic 3kW reverse cycle (with invertor) split system in one room. The sort of thing you see everywhere.

Those split systems you can buy at Good Guys - with a white box in a room inside with a big box outside. Are these basically heat pumps or same principle - but perhaps not quite at the higher end of the market.Perhaps the more expensive ones are just more efficient.

(Apologies for the inane question).

Yes and they are becoming more efficient all the time. There are double heat pumps in the pipe line which will make a currently rated 6kwh 40 pct mtore effecient. I think people get confused over inverter ratings as its there output that's rated not there usage. They generally run in Melbourne at 33pct of the output raiting so a 6kwh system generally uses less than 2kwh...mostly less because of thermostats etc.



The heat pump combined with the capacity to produce electrcity at home signalled the end of gas as a means for heating in most of Australia because of our average outside tempreatues, making heatpumps so efficient Iin our overall climate...bonus up north as well as the dehumidify as well

Ok - thanks Aussie - ours is 5 years old so perhaps the invertor technology is not so good as newer ones.

To be honest, I actually quite like finding the way local things work in the local market as Expats tend to assume that their way is best. Sometimes you have to at least listen to what the locals have to say - and not just assume it is wrong. For example I added loads of insulation to my office - (the British way) and it is now way too hot in summer...there is perhaps a reason why locals prefer to get through a hot summer with less insulation and then lose out on the shorter winter.

I still like a real fire though!

Grrr... I wouldnt have spelt there wrong if I'd be using a computer instead of a phone, where you cant read what your writing.

One other factor with the Hydronics and heat pumps, is there are only a very few Heat Pumps that will run the panels at the 70c degrees required. If it's slab hydronic then most of the heat pumps will.

The nail in the coffin for hydronic for me, was the fact that I would have still needed to use air con in the summer. I would have liked to have given it a go though.

Many places don't need AC in the UK (I do remember the occasional muggy day in London) so this need to run cooling AC and heat in Australia in the south is surely one of the reasons why reverse cycle is so popular.

Yes, but along the way the invertor systems have gotten so efficient they became cheaper to run than all other forms of heating..... apart from free wood that is.

I mentioned the wood, because there are Hydronic systems out there fueled by wood heating.

I like my air conditioner that the MS society installed in my bedroom- it cools the room in summer so I can sleep, and heats it in winter. It also helps dry out the air, which is so humid that we get a lot of mould.

I still use my gas fire and gas heater for instant warmth in the living areas, and would love to install underfloor heating when we do our bathroom in a few year's time. Hate getting out of the bath onto a cold floor.

Thanks GarryP for the simplest and best explanation of how a heat pump works

our slab heating is mostly great, but it does seem that one valve (to our bedroom) is the wrong way round, so is not working. But the rest of the house is toasty warm and the occasional warm spot is bliss.

When our valve is replaced and the bedroom is not icy, I will be thrilled. I love being warm in winter.