The Best Winter Heating Tip…Insulation

As the cold season sets in, electricity bills spike. This is a dreaded time for many homeowners, not just because of the numbing cold but also because of the added energy expenses. But you can reduce your energy usage during winter by focusing more on insulation. Below are some essential insulation tips that will save you a bundle.

1. Cover up drafty windows

If your windows are letting in some cold, no matter how little, they could be adding to your air conditioner’s work. A simple low cost way of dealing with problematic windows is covering them up with thick plastic film. Seal the plastic tightly around the frames to make sure no cold comes in and no heat escapes.

On top of the plastic film, consider adding thick drapings on the windows to help trap the heat inside the house.

2. Double-glazed windows

If you do not already have them, install double-glazed windows. Double glazing is one of the best forms of insulation, playing a big role in keeping your home warm and cozy. Some double-glazed windows come with added insulation between the two panels, usually air. This boosts their insulation capabilities.

If you have the money, consider going for triple-glazed or panelled windows.

3. Wall insulation

Most of the heat in your home will escape through walls, followed by the windows then the floor and roof. When it comes to insulation, they say you can never have too much. So check whether your walls are well insulated and consider adding another layer of insulation.

If you are looking for the best wall insulation options, spray foam is considered one of the best and most effective forms of insulation.

4. Your roof and loft

The roof is another major heat loss point. There are two main ways you can prevent heat loss through the roof. One is where you insulate just below the roof but above the loft. This keeps the loft (or attic) warm as well as the entire house. The other is where you insulate above the ceiling, keeping the home warm but leaving your attic not insulated.

For the best results, go with the first option. The insulation is more effective and you can use your attic for storage or even as an extra room. But with the first option, be prepared to spend more than if you insulated above the ceiling only.

5. Find and seal air leaks

Hire a technician to help you find air leaks in your home. Places like under the door, around the window trim and near plumbing tend to leak heat outside. A professional technician will help you find all of them.

You can then use various methods such as caulking to seal those leaks and keep the heat inside.

Heat Pump Specialists New Zealand

Heat Pump Guys Ltd is the top heat pump and air conditioning dealer in New Zealand. We help homeowners with installations, maintenance and advice on lowering heat pump running costs in New Zealand. We deal in all major brands including Panasonic, Toshiba and Fujitsu heat pumps in Auckland.

Visit our website at www.heatpumpguys.co.nz to find the best heat pump in New Zealand for your home.

The Differences Between Home Heating Methods in New Zealand

 

It can be overwhelming trying to decide how to heat your home in New Zealand. You have to consider the purchase and running costs of the many different types of heating available. You should also take into consideration the size of the area to be heated and the frequency of use.

Questions you may be asking include:

• Is a heat pump more efficient than a wood burner?
• What are the benefits of a heat pump compared with a pellet burner or gas heating?
• Which form of heating has the cheapest running costs?

Options for home heating include:

• Heat pumps
• Wood fires
• Wood burners
• Pellet fires
• Flued gas heaters
• Portable gas heaters
• Electric heaters (panel, fan, night storage, convection or radiant)

Which heating types are recommended for where?

• Lounge or family rooms – heat pumps
• Bedrooms – panel or oil-filled column heaters

Heat pumps provide background warmth, which is great for large rooms that are used often such as the lounge or family rooms (although panel and convection heaters may also be suitable depending on the room size). Panel and oil-filled heaters are great at keeping the chill off and usually have a thermostat and timer for ease of use.

A night storage heater in a hallway is also an option, especially if all the bedrooms are located off that hallway. Spot heating in a kitchen or work area is best provided by portable fan or radiant heaters for short periods of usage as they are more expensive to run than other forms of heating.

Heat pumps are highly recommended by the New Zealand Government and encouraged by other agencies throughout New Zealand because they provide the most efficient form of heating available. Heat pumps are energy efficient (providing 3 to 4 kw of heat energy for each kw used), they are the cheapest to run and offer temperature control.

Heat pumps are convenient and easy to use and have the added benefit of being able to cool your home in summer. No other form of heating also cleans the air it uses, thus improving the air quality for allergy and asthma sufferers. Heat pumps can reduce humidity too. Heat pumps can be wall-mounted up high so they are out of the way, don’t take up floor space, and are not hot to touch or a fire risk like some other forms of heating such as gas heaters and wood burners.

Two disadvantages of heat pumps are the initial purchase cost, with units costing thousands of dollars, and the fact that they won’t work during a power cut. For these reasons consumers may choose to have a back-up source of heating that does not require electricity such as gas or wood. The long-term power savings of a heat pump need to be weighed up against the initial cost. Although convection, fan and panel heaters are cheaper to purchase, their running costs are higher and they don’t all heat a whole area effectively.

Top tip

Remember that insulating your home will reduce the amount of heating you need to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

Heat Pump Guys are qualified suppliers and installers of heat pumps and can offer advice on heat pump running costs in New Zealand. Visit www.heatpumpguys.co.nz for heat pump comparisons of available New Zealand models. As suppliers of a variety of units from different manufacturers they can offer advice using local heat pump reviews. They also provide a free assessment of your heat pump requirements.

How Does a Heat Pump Work?

Despite the name, a heat pump does not actually generate heat. A heat pump uses the heat energy in the air outside and moves it inside to warm your home. Heat pumps do not actually use electricity to generate heat so they are considered more energy efficient than other forms of heating.

Technically, a heat pump is a form of cycle refrigeration that uses a mechanical compression system. Heat pumps can either heat or cool a room. When installed heat pumps consist of two units: one unit is installed indoors and the other outdoors. Refrigerant circulated by the compressor absorbs and releases heat as it travels through the system between the outdoor and indoor units. Heat will naturally transfer from a warmer area to a cooler area but a heat pump takes the heat energy from outdoor air (even if it’s cold) to warm the air inside.

One major advantage of heat pumps over other forms of heating is that they can also be used for cooling and air conditioning. Most modern heat pumps are able to function as low as -15 C and still heat your home. Some heat pumps operate a defrost cycle that enables them to operate at temperatures below zero. Even when the air is cold outside there is still heat energy present that your heat pump can use to heat your home or business.

Heat pumps work best in moderate climates and in extreme cold an alternative source of heat may be needed for maximum comfort. To cool a room, the heat pump will transfer heat from the inside air to the outside unit and the external air. Air conditioning is provided through the filters that remove allergens such as pollen.

Although you can buy heat pump units at DIY stores in New Zealand it is worth calling in professional installers. When installing heat pumps there are a number of factors to consider, such as the size of the room and the volume of air to be heated or cooled. Too large a heat pump and energy will be wasted, too small a heat pump and it will use excessive energy trying to heat or cool the space. There are wall units, floor units, ceiling units and ducted systems to choose from. The level of insulation of the space to be warmed or cooled can affect the size of the unit to be utilised.

When you compare heat pumps in New Zealand to purchase you should look at the heat pump rating to see if it will be suitable for your home. A registered installer can assist you with selecting the correct unit for your needs. There are a number of heat pump manufacturers claiming that their latest model is the most efficient and the quietest. The early model heat pumps were very noisy, large units that used a lot of energy. The latest models are much quieter and smaller whilst using less electricity to generate the same temperature differences.

Heat Pump Guys website offers heat pump comparisons for local conditions and gives a heat pump rating for New Zealand. Heat Pump Guys offer a free consultation to quote on your heat pump needs and are registered suppliers for a number of manufacturers.

How to Find the Best Heat Pump for Your Home

To find the best heat pump for your home, you would need to do a comparison as not all heat pumps are optimally designed for New Zealand conditions. There are many different manufacturers of heat pumps in numerous styles. Some are floor-standing whilst others are designed to be wall-mounted or fixed in ceilings. Designs are constantly being updated and improved with new technology, so keeping up to date with new information can be difficult.

Heat pumps are a popular form of cheap and clean heat. Heat pumps are a significant investment and a permanent, fixed feature in your home. You should seek advice before committing to an installation so that you choose the most efficient and cost-effective heat pump solution for your needs.

Why choose a heat pump?

Heat pumps provide cheap, clean heat and are much more convenient than a log burner as you just need to press a button. Heat pumps not only heat your home or business in winter but they also cool it in summer. Heat pumps are also air conditioners and through a system of pumps and filters they can clean, dry, circulate and purify the air. A heat pump can alleviate cold and damp, and improve air circulation in your home.

A cold, damp and poorly ventilated home will contribute to condensation, mildew and mould, and the build-up of mites and airborne spores. In an unhealthy environment the symptoms of many conditions can be aggravated, such as asthma, allergies, arthritis, rheumatism, respiratory issues and various skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis. Installing heat pumps in your home can improve your health and quality of life, in addition to keeping you warm!

Choosing the right heat pump

All companies claim to have the quietest and most efficient heat pumps so it can be hard to choose the right kind for your needs. They come in different sizes and models: floor consoles, high-wall, ceiling, concealed, etc. with different power ratings and airflow. Heat pumps have different capacities as well. If it is too small for your room it will use much more energy trying to heat or cool the space. If it is too large, the efficiency of the heat pump will be compromised.

An assessment by an experienced supplier and installer will take into account the following factors when suggesting the best combination of heat pump units for your situation: aspect of your home to the sun, room sizes, ceiling heights, ambient air temperature, humidity, window sizes, insulation, and more.

Which heat pump works best in New Zealand?

Choosing a trusted national installer and supplier such as Heat Pump Guys can take a lot of the hassle out of selecting the best heat pump for your home or business. Visit their website www.heatpumpguys.co.nz for a New Zealand heat pump comparison and to contact their team of qualified installers for up-to-date information on which heat pump is best. You will also find useful information on heat pump running costs as well as facts about noise levels, installation and unit costs, different brands, and how they actually work.

Heat Pump Guys – Your Heat Pump Specialists

Heat Pump Guys are the leading specialists for air conditioning, heat pump and ventilation services. With experience and skill on our side, our business is one of the best companies in New Zealand when it comes to the installation of heat pumps. We also offer heat pump maintenance for any make or model. Our residential and business customers appreciate the value of the work we do because we get the job done right the first time! At Heat Pump Guys, we value customer service and our goal is to always put the customer first.

Heat pump supply and installation

Do you need a heat pump for your home or business? Then Heat Pump Guys can help! Heat pumps are a great way to provide clean, affordable heat at the touch of a button. A heat pump is a smart energy efficient investment and provides great heat for your business building or house. Heat Pump Guys will advise on how to find the right heat pump for your space.

Each property needs a certain type of pump based on where they are in New Zealand, what kind of house or office it is, and how many people use the space. We can supply all major brands of heat pump, help you select the right one, and then install it so you can immediately start reaping the benefits of clean heat. Get the best heat pump in New Zealand fromHeat Pump Guys!

Save on heating

Heating your home or business is incredibly expensive, especially in winter. It can be a lot of work keeping up with those expensive heating and energy bills so you’ve probably been looking for ways to cut back on costs. Why not take the leap and go with green technology? Heat pumps are environmentally friendly and perform very well as long as they are properly installed.

Heat Pump Guys will take the hard work out of installation for you. Try a test of heat pump comparisons and you’ll quickly see how affordable the purchase, installation, and use of these devices are. You’re helping the environment and cutting back on your heating bill so it’s a win-win situation that will save you money.

Tips for going green and saving heat

• Tape up your windows with special sheeting to keep the heat in.
• Open your oven door after cooking to let the heat out.
• Dress in layers before turning up the heat.
• Take a hot shower before going to bed – you’ll feel warmer and sleep better.

Get the best heat pumps in New Zealand by going through Heat Pump Guys. With professional service and great products, we cannot be beaten. Visit our website at www.heatpumpguys.co.nz to see how we can help you save big time!