22 May Winter Warming Tips
With winter fast approaching we asked the experts on their tips for keeping your home warm over winter.
Keith Foster, owner and managing director of Aquapro Plumbing shared his insight into home heating having provided heating solutions in the Canterbury regions for many years.
What are the main trends you are seeing in homes these days?
People are more aware of their eco footprints and are looking at more ways to make their home more efficient, self-sustaining and environmentally friendly. We get a lot of requests for solar panels and efficient central heating plans. A growing trend in new builds is the installation of home sprinkler systems. Typically something seen in a commercial property, home owners are now looking to go that one step further to protect their home and family from fire.
Christchurch does have some pretty cold winters, what would you recommend when it comes to choosing a heating system?
With new builds I would definitely recommend underfloor heating by using an air-to-water heatpump. It produces a radiant heat which is evenly distributed throughout the house and is great for buildings with high ceilings. The system can also be plumbed to heat your towel rails and radiators throughout the home, ideal for those who are also looking to renovate.
What if you still can’t give up your fire, is there anything you would recommend?
If you are able to have a fire, then look at getting it to heat your water and installing a radiator system throughout your house which will make your home more self-sufficient in winter. However, if you are over the mess with a fire, installing a gas fire with a heat ducting system will ensure you don’t lose the heat up the flu and will transfer the heat through vents into other parts of your home.
What are some other tips you would give?
- Make sure your house is insulated correctly to ensure you get the best out of your heating options.
- Consider changing to gas water heating which will save you money in the long run by only heating the water you use. If this isn’t an option make sure your hot water cylinders are insulation wrapped.
- And if you are looking at building make sure you have a qualified plumber to help with your hydronic central heating plan to get it right the first time as making changes into a build can be very costly.
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