I agree with the comments from janeyray and kath and kim, its the fact that the houses are poorly insulated against the cold that causes the drama.

Its also worth noting that the top temps of 16 etc are only reached for a couple of hours during the day, here in Melbourne at least, so the house never really has the chance to warm up properly before it starts getting cooler again!

We have spent all summer insulating the walls and ceilings and have yet to do under the floors.

Today the heating pipes have been installed hopefully up and running tomorrow. Megs for some people it has to be saved for, unfortunately i didn't have a spare $7 k sat in the bank and it all takes time

Good luck to my fellow cold feelers and roll on the summer

Doh! Money in the bank - can I join in that moan, please?

Still, these days, a 1 kW (electrical power) reverse cycle system will set you back less than $1k and keep a couple of rooms warm, delivering ~3 kW of heat. Think systems specifically targeted at renters are also available.

Certainly, 2 kW oil column electrical heaters are readily available for under $50 each and one on its own will keep all but the biggest rooms warm even on a frost night - with the thermostat turned down if in a medium sided bedroom.

Admittedly, an electric heater costs approx 3 times as much to run as a heat pump in terms of the heat delivered but surely $50 is within the budget of Immos?

Thank goodness some people are making others more aware of the dangers of sunscreen as well as the advantages. I have been aware of these reports for some time.
Sunscreens will often give people a false sense of security and so when you try to explain to people that it really is better to actually stay out of the sun, rather than just "Slip, Slop, Slap", you are percieved as being some sort of killjoy!
The truth is that very often the "Slop" part is more harmful than just sitting in the shade or only exposing yourself to the sun very gradually and for very short periods of time.
Our bodies will naturally develop our own protection to moderate sun exposure, to expose ourselves to more than this level is stupidity, to expose our children to more than this level is abuse.
Sunscreen creams do not have to undergo the same rigorous testing as "drugs", and yet it is absorbed into our bodies through our skin (the body's largest organ) often containing many harmful chemicals. When it is used on a daily basis, these chemicals are often accumulative.
The long term effects of this are still largely unknown.......

For a start i wasn't moaning

And yes $50 is ok but if i were to buy one for each room it works out at much more that $50. Its throwing money away cos i don't want poxy plug ins all over the house as i have no where to store them in the summer. As it was we saved and spent the money on something IMO very important INSULATION. Very very lacking in our 30 year old home

You have made those decisions for your own good reasons.

But more generally, the electric column heaters take up less space than the hot water column central heating systems common in Aus offices (and some houses) 30+ years ago and still used in Britain today I believe.

If people have or plan on having a ducted system, the electric column heaters are still useful for overnight use in bedrooms as they are easier to adjust individually both for temperature and zoning and do not need the return air flow required by ducted systems. They are much quieter than even the best split reverse cycle systems.

I think you might be refering to night storage radiators??? They are very chunky, however modern hydronics are only a couple of inches thick and these are what you would typically find in Britain today, and hopefully more so now in Aus as word is getting round

Yes, I know both. The thin ones are widely used in hospitals and more in Melbourne households than elsewhere. In Canberra households, colder than Melb, they are rare, ducted or split systems with full length curtains is most common. Don't recall seeing any in Sydney households.

I just don't get the hot air blowing around thing, I just don't understand why people have it installed when theres an alternative thats far more efficient, healthier AND 20% cheaper to run, i guess its just not for me and everyone is different

Sorry to totally hi jack this thread, good luck to the OP

eh - never seen these before....?

as a stopgap, we are considering slimline radiant heat panel heaters for the bedroom - they need only be small - we only need a 500w fire which draws that max at start up - less on cycling.

The ones from goodguys are 1000/2000w.

Badge

I've always thought that R/C air con was cheaper to run than the other alternatives. ?

I am talking about gas heating not electric ABC (I have a pet hate re hot blowy air, i just hate it and it does my asthma no good at all!)

I think it comes down to the local marketing success of firms and the establishment of a "critical mass" of customers. Ducted systems can be used for central heating and cooling, split sytems can be installed in individual rooms.

Perhaps more asthma / hayfever sufferers should take note of the possible (probable?) effects of "moving air" systems?

I know, but I still thought it was cheaper than Gas Central Heating Any idea what the running costs are for it ?

In cold areas, especially where ice can form, heat pumps become less efficient but still more efficient than gas in terms of the input energy. However, gas is often a cheaper form of input energy so it often balances out.

Have pm'ed you dur to the terrible hi jacking of this thread