MrsFychan

http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/ho...ant-of-fitness

bourbon-biscuit

I read that and thought some very dark dark thoughts about the RBNZ's recent 'market cooling' policy of targeting first home buyers and leaving the rental market untouched ... Then I trotted off to squeegee the windows and to open the window in the room with the unflued gas heater so that I could put the heating on .... Only in NZ*!


*not strictly true - I remember a house we lived in as kids in the early 80s that was like this.

LauraNotts

Hehe my current flat doesn't have any form of heating really, we have so far survived just fine but the colder months are going to be fun. Got a bit of an issue with damp too but what can you do?

The problem in Christchurch is that there's such a pressure on accommodation that people (I include myself in this) don't have a lot of choice. I'd love to live in an insulated house with a wood burner (non of that namby pamby heatpump stuff for me) but I can't afford the crazy crazy cost. I'm rather worried that this WOF will just mean higher rents across the board as landlords will need to pass the cost on.

Still, I think legislation to force landlords to provide decent living standards is an excellent idea even if it does cause me short term pain.

MrsFychan

If we decide to get heating in our new house I think we would go with heat pumps as had them in the previous house and although took a while to get used to but the fact that they then are air cons during the warmer months, 2 for the price of one

LauraNotts

Good point Mrs F. Everyone says heatpumps are better and I should probably listen. I just had some bad experiences not knowing how to work mine properly back in Timaru and freezing slowly with no one to ask and an absent flatmate who'd arranged $150 a fortnight electricity bill for us regardless of use due to her high previous bills.

BEVS

You are in Christchurch. You won't and don't need air con.
What you need is a good wood burner. Cheaper than a heat pump and better overall warmth through opening and shutting doors.

bourbon-biscuit

I couldn't agree more (with BEVS). And the trouble with heat pumps is that once you have them it is tempting to use them for cooling in summer and then your winter fuel bills becomes summer fuel bills ...

Woodlea

Highest temp ever recorded in NZ in Rangiora - 43°C - we love our A/C in summer!

bourbon-biscuit

Sure, but the average high temp in summer must surely be mid-20s and your humidity level down there is relatively low, no? 43 is an extreme rarity.

Or is Rangiora a total climate oddity?

Blade Down Under

I wonder how many homes would fail the WOF as well?

BEVS

1973

We have aircon for summer too. It is the same as for winter. We open and close our doors and windows.

Woodlea

How old fashioned

Pom_Chch

I must admit I'm a heat pump kinda girl. The newer models are pretty efficient. We ran our heat pump quite a lot last year in an un-insulated shed of a rental and our highest bill was $150/month. I have found the trouble with wood burners is temperature control. It's either friggin' freezing waiting for it to heat up and then far too hot later on. Especially in the morning before work when you want instant heat but can't light the fire because you'll be leaving the house soon. Then there's the added kerfuffle of having to buy wood.... or I could just walk in the door and press a button for (almost) instant heat. That's just the lazy bugger in me though

bourbon-biscuit

No, I totally get that. I think modern woodburners are very different to old style Kent fires that are in most rentals - and it also make a huge difference where the fire is located, whether it's inset or not, etc. But I totally get that a fire is more hassle and mess ... but it's more warmth and more 'cosy' too, so I guess it comes down to personal preference.