Correct heater selection

• What do I need to know before installing a wood fire?
  The Pre-Selection and Install Guide link below explains what needs to be done courtesy of the Ministry of Environment.

   

  • Ministry of Environment Pre-Selection and Install Guide
• Are Kent products approved under the EECA Energy Wise Fund scheme and Clean Heat project?
  Many Kent wood fires and gas fires are approved for use.
  
  The Ministry for the Environment has published a list of approved wood fires. Kent Clean Air wood fires are included in this list and, as such, are approved for use in these EECA initiatives.
  
  The Australian Gas Association has published a list of approved gas fires. Models made by Sampford IXL and branded as Kent are included and, as such, are approved for use in these EECA initiatives. The Kent Sienna decorative fire is not approved.
  
  We are in the process of applying for approval for Kent Heat Pumps.
  
  For any clarification, please call Kent Customer Services on 0800 161 161.

   

  • GANZ Gas Fire Listings
  • Min for Env Wood Burner Listings
• What is the difference between a convection heater and a radiant heater?
  Generally speaking, a convector heater generates and circulates warm air currents without any obvious sign of heat glowing red from the heater. They are ideal for heating “air spaces” and the things in the room.
  
  A radiant heater generates heat-waves from a heated surface (often glowing red) and this heat-wave heats objects in its path. Waves can be short, medium or long. Short are more intense but lose their strength over shorter distances, long are less intense (gentler) and maintain their strength over longer distances. They are ideal for heating “objects” within the heat wave.
  
  In a convection heater, heated air convects around a room and provides warm air currents. The colder air near the floor is drawn through the heater. This heated air will circulate up and then down and around a room. Walls, carpets and furniture, as well as humans, will eventually feel warm due the convected warm air current transferring its heat. It is absolutely vital that the convecting warm air is allowed circulate at a temperature that is high enough to overcome heat loss. This is determined by the size, shape and insulation qualities of a room, the number of air changes taking place, the size/setting of the heater, and location of the heater.
  
  In a radiant heater, heat-waves are emitted directly from the heater and these waves heat all objects in their path. This is similar to light waves, think of a torch light and anything inside the light waves receives light, anything outside remains dark. Radiant heaters can be ‘aimed’ directly at the object to be heated. This is a more efficient way of heating people directly in large open spaces with lots of air changes but has the disadvantage that some objects (for example, those made of metal) reflect rather than absorb the radiation and that irregularly shaped objects will be heated unevenly.
• How do I work out the right size heater for my rooms?
  The size of your heater is determined by the amount of heat lost in the room and the temperature you want in the room. A well insulated room, that also has excessive air gaps sealed, helps reduce your heat loss (check your floor, ceiling, door frames and windows). The amount of free heat from the sun also comes into play, but generally speaking we need heating at night and all the sun’s heat has been and gone.
  
  A typical NZ home has a wooden frame, a tin roof, a raised floor, wooden windows and modest insulation. This home will likely lose 80 Watts of heat per sqm in order to keep the room warm at 21 degrees Celsius. So a room that is 18sqm in size will need a heater that can provide at least 1440 Watts of heat (18x80W)... so you would choose a 1.5kW heater.
  
  In a better insulated house, the heat loss can be down to just 50 Watts per sqm, and in this case a 18 sqm room size will only need 900 Watts of heat.
  
  If you want to be warmer than 21 degrees Celsius then the heater needs to be larger, typically an extra 10% of heat output is needed for every extra degree of warmth needed. So setting your thermostat too high means more heat is needed and your costs will be higher. So wearing extra clothing is not a bad idea!

   

  • Heater sizing chart