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| Thread ID: 113460 | 2010-10-20 21:41:00 | heat pumps vs log burners | globe (11482) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1146644 | 2010-10-21 08:42:00 | The heat pump must have a lower Kw rating than what is needed, or perhaps it was not installed properly. I had three companies give quotes and I spoke with each, asking them various questions. Only one guy came across as knowledgeable and he was the only one who advised a floor mounted heat pump rather than wall mounted. We have no bothersome drafts and even if we set it on the lowest and most economical setting it heats up our living space within several minutes; we have an old home with only ceiling insulation. BTW, the company we chose have certified air conditioning / refrigeration specialists; in other words they know what they are doing whereas others (even those connected to large nation wide stores) can often get the installation wrong. A friend of mine is in the Aircon game and he always runs a vacuum pump on the pipe work for several hours before gassing them and I have worked on sites where they haven't even bothered. He also puts a filter on them as well as a gauge so you can tell if there is any moisture in the system. The position of the outdoor unit can make a big difference to. |
mikebartnz (21) | ||
| 1146645 | 2010-10-21 20:37:00 | The DSIR woodburner was made in Wainui by Bruger Industries, for some unfathomable reason it was called "The Ugly Duckling" Yes! that's the one. We had it for 17 years until we shifted house. Regarding heatpumps, we got a floor-mounted one for heating efficiency and to avoid drafts. Hot air rises so a unit mounted high up has to blast the air to get it down to floor level. It's important to get a reputable supplier/installer. For instance, after testing our unit the guy waited for the temperature of the gas to drop a bit before he disconnected the pressure gauge. This was to avoid too much gas escape. I thought it showed professionalism. You need professionalism because it can be difficult to know if a heatpump is working properly |
BBCmicro (15761) | ||
| 1146646 | 2010-10-21 21:02:00 | I just thought of a reason floor mounted heat pumps are not installed as much as wall mounted - the installer has to go under the (dirty cramped) house for a floor mounted unit. It is easier, cleaner, and healthier for an installer to do a wall mounting - but it may not be the best for the house. | Strommer (42) | ||
| 1146647 | 2010-10-22 04:38:00 | I just thought of a reason floor mounted heat pumps are not installed as much as wall mounted - the installer has to go under the (dirty cramped) house for a floor mounted unit. It is easier, cleaner, and healthier for an installer to do a wall mounting - but it may not be the best for the house. That might be one reason, but it's mainly because heatpumps came out of the tropics where the idea is to cool the air not heat it. Cold air falls, high wall mounting is good. Also, air movement is desirable - it evaporates sweat and makes you feel cooler Our heatpump had several indications that it was designed for cooling not heating: - replace the batteries in the remote and it defaults to 26°! - the lowest temp you can set is 16° (hard to achieve in the tropics!) - the remote's up and down temperature buttons favour down - the overall design is not optimum for heating. The outdoor unit freezes too readily because it is surrounded by cold air. In my opinion it should have electric heating to unfreeze it. In the tropics the freezing takes place in the indoor unit where the warm air of the room assists unfreezing |
BBCmicro (15761) | ||
| 1146648 | 2010-10-22 04:58:00 | Just wondering if anyone who has gone from wood burner to heat pump has any comments or feedback . I know all the stuff about cost of wood, instant heat and all those comparisons, just wondered if there were any regrets or best move ever made kind of statements . We have never had a log burner ourselves but the in-laws have one so I know what they are like . Log burners emit radiant heat so they warm objects in the room which then give off heat and make you feel warmer . Because of this people going from a log burner to a heat pump often complain that the heat pumps are not as warm . Personally I don't like log burners as they are too hot, unless you turn them right down which is not good for them, and you get used to that heat . They also take a while to heat up a room and if you go out you either load the thing up to keep it going so as not to have to relight it when you get back or let it go out . To me it is totally daft to pay for all that wood burning when there is no one in the house to benefit from it . With a heat pump you turn it on and the room is nice and warm within 5 to 10 minutes and you turn it off when you go out and therefore not pay for heat you are not using . Mrs Hitcher cranks that damn pump up to 28 degrees, rain or shine, day or night and me being a bloke, I have to put up with it or bugger off outside . Good grief . Ours is usually left on 18 degrees except for very cold nights when it might get cranked up to 20 or 21 degrees . I just thought of a reason floor mounted heat pumps are not installed as much as wall mounted - the installer has to go under the (dirty cramped) house for a floor mounted unit . No, not necessarily . It is possible for the pipes to go down through the internal walls in most cases . One of the disadvantages of floor mounted units is that there isn't always space to mount them, or you can lose some space making way for it, which is what occurred in our case . It was worth the sacrifice, however, as the floor mounted unit is much more efficient and warmer than the wall mounted unit was . There is less draft as well . |
FoxyMX (5) | ||
| 1146649 | 2010-10-23 08:17:00 | We have a log fire and plenty of shelter belts that need topping. In addition we installed a ceiling duct which fans air down to the other end of the house. this makes the whole house cosy and we are totally satisfied with this system. In addition it helps keep me fit with the chainsawing and splitting in summer. Incidentally I'm 70 today and still in fulltime employment. In addition I grow some crops for farmers markets. | PPp (9511) | ||
| 1146650 | 2010-10-23 08:25:00 | We have a log fire and plenty of shelter belts that need topping. In addition we installed a ceiling duct which fans air down to the other end of the house. this makes the whole house cosy and we are totally satisfied with this system. In addition it helps keep me fit with the chainsawing and splitting in summer. Incidentally I'm 70 today and still in fulltime employment. In addition I grow some crops for farmers markets. Plwease find a medal in mail. |
Cicero (40) | ||
| 1146651 | 2010-10-23 08:56:00 | The DSIR woodburner was made in Wainui by Bruger Industries, for some unfathomable reason it was called "The Ugly Duckling". Despite its name it was very efficient, and being lined with ceramic could be run at high temperature. I'm not sure whether they continued using ceramic or whether it was discarded to reduce costs, can't remember. Later it was made in Upper Hutt by a couple of ex-DSIR men and called the PyroClassic and was definitely lined with ceramic. I believe it was better than the Bruger made burner, according to accounts. Here it is www.pyroclassic.co.nz |
martynz (5445) | ||
| 1146652 | 2010-10-25 09:25:00 | Here it is . pyroclassic . co . nz/specifications . html" target="_blank">www . pyroclassic . co . nz Yes that looks likes the Ugly Duckling, now with a see-through door . It took long logs, I think over 500mm . It was lined with fire bricks and these were still good after 15 years . But an internal metal baffle was badly warped |
BBCmicro (15761) | ||
| 1146653 | 2010-10-25 21:16:00 | <<<PPp Re: heat pumps vs log burners We have a log fire and plenty of shelter belts that need topping. In addition we installed a ceiling duct which fans air down to the other end of the house. this makes the whole house cosy and we are totally satisfied with this system. In addition it helps keep me fit with the chainsawing and splitting in summer. Incidentally I'm 70 today and still in fulltime employment. In addition I grow some crops for farmers markets.>>> Plwease find a medal in mail. Cicero, one day perhaps you too will be 70 and able to feel a little ashamed of this facetiousness. I agree with you PPp. You are right that cost and convenience are not the only considerations when making the choice between heat pumps and wood burners. It's more than just the cost of heating that keeps me using wood. I am also in my 70s and still enjoy the whole thing of cutting trees and drying and splitting wood. There is no greater satisfaction than having a shed full of dry well seasoned firewood. The regular exercise is welcomed too - although unlike you, I prefer to do the splitting in the winter when it forces me outside away from the internet. Even though I have to buy a lot of the wood these days my total fuel bill for a years warmth is less than $300. My electric heating bill is $0 and has been for over 40 years since we left the city. I haven't experienced heat pumps but I remember how, when we had all electric heating radiators they create an unpleasant stuffy atmosphere that is completely absent in a room with a wood burner. |
brig (1359) | ||
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