Fireplace or Gas Heater?

[nutty]

I'm considering removing my Rinnai Timberflame IB35R fake log gas heater and restoring the original fireplace.

Does anyone have any similar experiences they would like to share or warn me about before I embark? Some of the questions I have are: -

What tradespeople will I need to employ to do the job? (I assume gas fitter, electrician and chimney sweep)

Does anyone know of any one company/person that can do all work?

Will adding the fireplace add or decrease value to my property?

Are there any Auckland City Council by-laws I need to be aware of e.g. pollution laws, building regs, etc?

Does anyone know of person/company in Auckland that would buy the existing heater?

[AustinWong]

Electritian to disconnect power.
Plumber/Gasfitter (they are often dual trained ask around) to pull apart and install.


Doubt it will make a difference to value..apart from saleability. If the Gas works I reckon leave it.. People tend to steer away from wood burners because of effort. Find the wood, buy the wood, start the fire, clean the fire, sweep the chimney.

If it is your IP you increase the risk of fires.

Consider Heat pumps, quick heating, efficient power consumption with an output energy 3 times the input.

Cools in summer heats in winter. Also works like a dehumidifier.. great for the health and protecting the house from damp.

As for the council regulations...why not try asking the council? They will know best.

Flick the heater on TradeME.. I doubt you will get much or even be able to sell it as there are issues with compliance which your old heater may no longer meet. Talk to your plumber.....

L

[Gibbonz]

We have just installed a 5.6KW heat pump in a minor unit and the tenant loves it. Not only is it the most efficient heat (1/3 the cost of gas or electric) but it is instant. It dehumidifies and as someone earlier said.... It cools in the summer. No compliance cost and no insurance issues.

You can spend $3500 for a big name brand where the importer, the distributer, the agent and the installer all clip the ticket OR get one direct imported from China for $1300 and install it yourself. (You will need a power plug near the inside area where it is to go).

Check out

https://www.dragonshold.co.nz

Cheers

[drelly]

Exactly what is a heat pump? And where are they on that website?

[Chemill]

Heat pump is as it sounds - it pumps heat from outside to the inside (or visa-versa). Your fridge is a heat pump - that is why it is cold inside and gives off heat.

Not sure of the exact mechanics of it, but anything above absolute zero has heat.

chemill

[graemeh]

Exactly what is a heat pump? And where are they on that website?

They are listed under air conditioners. I think a heat pump is an air conditioner but there may be some technical differences.

[freeloader]

In lament terms Heat pump and a/c are the same thing.

However most people in the a/c business refer to heat pump as only doing heating only. And a reverse cycle heat pump is your standard air conditioning ie. Heating and cooling capacity. So if you were to go straight to a distributer make sure it can do both because they don't cost much more to do both.

[muppet]

Hi Guys

The Comsumer Institute had an article on heat pumps/AC last year.

Told you what to look for when considering what to buy.

Regards

[toby]

An Aircon is the way to go.
More exspensive now, cheaper overtime and better for your home.
Make sure you do your research, as what they do varies a lot.
Ensure you get a big enough one to.
My two cents...

[wildwest]

I was told recently that some councils are planning to ban fireplaces from the end of this year, similar to recent laws in Christchurch.

Might pay to check with the council, as the change may not be able to be permitted.

My home is in Waitakere, and we were told if we were going to install another woodburner, then we better get it done el pronto, because we wont be able to in 2006