Choosing a heater
There are various heating options available for your home. Knowing what you need will help you make better choices when you buy - which means you get the comfort you want for the best price.
Insulate first
Before looking at your heating, get your insulation sorted - you'll be able to use a smaller heating system and your home will be cheaper to heat.
Find out more information on insulating your home.
What size heater do you need?
It's important to match the size of the system to the space you want to heat. The size of heater that you need is determined by a number of factors. Use the heater sizing calculator to get an idea what size heater a room needs to keep it at a healthy temperature. EECA also recommends seeking professional advice about heater sizing from your heating supplier.
Running costs of heating options
Click on the graph below to see a larger version showing indicative running costs for different types of heating systems[1]. Note that actual running costs can vary a lot depending on your actual fuel price and how well you use and maintain your heating appliance.
Environmental impacts of heating options
If you want to minimise the environmental impacts of your heater, there are several things you can do.
- Choose a heating option that uses renewable energy and produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions
- Whatever heating option you prefer, choose the most efficient model for the job
- Use and maintain your heater properly - there's more information on the pages relating to each heating option.
What type of heater suits you best?
How you use the rooms that you want to heat often determines the types of heater that you should be considering.
Rooms you use regularly
For rooms that you regularly use it is well worth investing a little bit more upfront in suitable, fixed heaters which enable you to heat them effectively and cheaply. Clean, effective forms of heating include modern wood and wood-pellet burners, ENERGY STAR qualified heat pumps and high star-rated, flued gas heaters.
Rooms you use occasionally
For rooms that only get used occasionally, for short periods of time, electric heaters which are cheap to buy but slightly more expensive to run can often be sufficient. There are different types to suit different needs.
Comparing the options
This is a brief overview of the most common types of heating options. There is more infomation on each type - simply follow the links.
Heat pumps
Good for:
- low running costs when used properly
- producing instant heat
- convenience - you can control the temperature and timing with the thermostat and timer controls.
Be aware that:
- they must be sized correctly - for the space and the climate - to work well (if you live in a colder area, ask the supplier to size the heat pump based on its "H2" performance)
- some are a lot more efficient than others - look for the ENERGY STAR® mark to show you the most efficient model
- they won't work during a power cut.
Modern woodburners
Good for:
- low running costs, especially if you have access to free or cheap firewood
- the environment - they produces very little pollution and uses renewable wood energy as a fuel
- heating large spaces
- heating hot water in winter through a wetback system.
Be aware that:
- firewood must be dry to burn most efficiently so you need to plan ahead and store it undercover, ideally for at least 12 months
- building consent approval for installation is needed and, unless your property is larger than two hectares, you need to use a woodburner on the Ministry for the Environment's list of approved wood burners.
>> Read more about wood burners
Wood pellet burners
Good for:
- the environment - the pellets are made from waste products and burn very cleanly
- heat control (better than a wood burner)
- heating large spaces
- heating hot water in winter through a wetback system.
Be aware that:
- they won't work if your electricity isn't working (they use a small amount of electricity)
- building consent is needed for installation
- in areas with air quality issues only authorised burners can be installed - see the Ministry for the Environment's list of approved wood pellet burners.
>> Read more about wood pellet burners
Flued gas (natural or LPG) heaters
Good for:
- convenience - you can control the temperature and timing with the thermostat and timer controls
- heating larger areas for longer periods.
Be aware that:
- you may have to pay a fixed charge for reticulated gas supply
- it's important to choose one that complies with AS 4553 (AG 103) Gas Space Heating Appliances, and which is currently listed in the Australian Gas Association Product Certification Scheme - ask your supplier or go to www.aga.asn.au to check
- some are more efficient than others - look for one with a minimum 4-star rating from the Australian Gas Association. The Australian Gas Association (AGA) maintain a list of these products
- gas heaters must always be installed by a registered gas fitter.
>> Read more about flued gas heaters
Electric heaters
Good for:
- heating a small room infrequently and for short periods only
- very cheap to buy.
Be aware that:
- they are more expensive to run than most other heating options
- there are different types but they all have the same efficiency (i.e. the same amount of heat output per unit of electricity used)
- there are different types (e.g. radiant, convection, fan) that deliver heat in different ways
- many have built-in thermostats, but some aren't very accurate.
>> Read more about electric heaters
Central heating
Good for:
- providing whole-of-house heating
- convenience - you can control the temperature and timing with the thermostat and timer controls
- zoning - many are zone-controlled so you can control the temperature in different parts of the home.
Be aware that:
- heat can be supplied by a gas or wood pellet heating system, or a heat pump - see information on these different forms of heating above
- it is worth choosing a system that has an individual thermostat for each room
- can be very expensive to run if you house isn't insulated well, or is draughty.
Unflued gas (natural or LPG)
Good for:
- back-up heating during power cuts, if your normal heating relies on electricity to operate.
Be aware that:
- unflued LPG heaters are the most expensive form of heating (except for some open fires)
- there are health risks - it will pollute air with toxic gases and large amounts of water vapour, so you must keep at least one window open when it is in use and never use it in bedrooms
- it can make your home damp
- portable LPG heaters can be a fire risk, as anything too close can catch fire quickly.
>> Read more about unflued gas heaters
[1] Based on typical highest and lowest heater efficiencies. Does not include purchase/installation and maintenance costs.
Fuel cost assumptions: Electricity 25c/kWh; Wood pellets 60c/kg; Firewood $77/m3; Natural gas 12c/kWh; LPG (45kg bottle) $2.27/kg plus $119 annual rental charge (18c/kWh including bottle rental assuming a total annual gas consumption of 7000 kWh); LPG (9kg bottle) $31.50 per refill. For unflued gas heaters 30% of the heat produced is assumed to be lost due to the need to leave a window open. Note that fuel costs can vary greatly depending on location, retailer and plan.
*Natural gas price includes a portion of fixed charges assuming a total annual gas consumption of 7000 kWh. Actual cost depends on your tariff and actual total gas consumption.
