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  • Turn up the heat

Turn up the heat



Staying warm during winter doesn't have to cost the earth

WORDS –JULIA RICHARDSON

Every living room can have a real flame fireplace. For less than a dollar a day you can stay toasty from the moment you rise to the minute you slip back under the covers. Just dropping the set temperature on the thermostat by a single degree (say from 22°C to 21°C) can reduce running costs by as much as 10 per cent, while still giving optimum warmth and comfort. Zoning the house will reduce costs further. Use these strategies, along with a heating system to suit your household, to help you enjoy a cosy winter without dreading the arrival of the next fuel bill.
WOOD-BURNING OPEN FIREPLACE
The flames, embers and hot surfaces of an open fireplace produce radiant heat to warm objects in the room, including people. Many modern fireplaces incorporate inserts that also heat the air.

COST TO BUY Between $1500 and $3000 installed in an existing fireplace. From $5500 installed new.
INSTALLATION Must be installed by a licensed tradesperson. Most suppliers include installation in their package.
DIY INSTALLATION DIY installation is permissible in some areas, but not in others. Contact your local authority for information. Must be installed to meet Australian Standards.
NEED TO BE FLUED? Yes
COST TO RUN From $200 to more than $1000 a year.
FUEL Wood bought from a Firewood Association member comes from sustainably managed sources.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY Between five and 10 per cent. Metal fireplace inserts boost efficiency to between 25 and 35 per cent.
PROS Produce an intense, radiant heat in a relatively short time. Particularly effective in draughty rooms with high ceilings.
CONS Produce localised heat that is hot when standing close to the flames and mild to chilly at the edges of the room. Fires also require constant attention to maintain heat.
 
SLOW-COMBUSTION STOVE
This is a wood-burning fire contained within an airtight box. Air inlet controls manage heat output by altering the amount of air entering the box.

COST TO BUY Between $2500 and $4500 in an existing fireplace. From $6500 installed new.
INSTALLATION Slow combustion stoves must be installed by a licensed tradesperson. Most suppliers include installation in their package.
DIY INSTALLATION DIY installation is permissible in some areas, but not in others. Contact your local authority for information. Installation must meet the relevant Australian Standards.
NEED TO BE FLUED? Yes.
COST TO RUN Up to $500 a year.
FUEL Firewood Association members sell wood from sustainably managed sources.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY Between 55 and 70 per cent.
PROS These are the most efficient of the wood-burning heaters. Slow combustion stoves can produce managed heat for long periods of time.
CONS Don’t produce instant heat.

GAS LOG FIREPLACE
Gas combustion produces a flame inside an imitation log setting. Visually, the effect is similar to a wood-burning fireplace, but heat levels are managed with the flick of a switch. Some include thermostats.

COST TO BUY Between $2500 and $3500 in an existing fireplace. From $5500 installed new.
INSTALLATION All gas heaters must be installed by a gas plumber in accordance with the relevant standards. You can employ your own gas plumber to do the job, but installation is commonly included in the supplier’s package.
DIY INSTALLATION No
NEED TO BE FLUED? Yes
COST TO RUN Up to $250 a year.
FUEL Natural gas or LPG. Note that LPG is a lot more expensive.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY Some heat is lost up the flue, so these tend to run at about 75 per cent efficiency.
PROS Easy operation and quick, controllable heat.
CONS The look of the imitation logs and the controlled gas flame may irk wood-burning purists

NOTE Running costs for these fireplaces are based on a fairly well-insulated 60m2 room.

ETHANOL FIRE
Denatured ethanol is stored in a stainless steel chassis. Controls allow the flame to be turned on and off, and increase or decrease intensity.

COST TO BUY From $2200 to $7500.
INSTALLATION Free-standing models can literally be put into position, filled with fuel and turned on.
DIY INSTALLATION Yes. Free-standing models can be secured, filled with fuel and turned on. Models designed as built-in units possibly require installation by a builder or cabinetmaker.
NEED TO BE FLUED? No
COST TO RUN Five litres of denatured ethanol (around $12.50) will last seven hours on the maximum setting, and up to 20 hours on the minimum setting.
FUEL Denatured ethanol is available at supermarkets, hardware stores and petrol stations.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY More than 90 per cent.
PROS Can be used in apartments and detached studios where installation of traditional fireplaces is problematic. The flame doesn’t produce sparks, smoke, soot or potentially harmful gasses.
CONS The fuel is relatively expensive, has to be contained in jerry cans and stored with care.

ELECTRIC LOG FIREPLACE
A decorative take on the conventional electric fan heater. Imitation logs don’t produce radiant heat.

COST TO BUY From a few hundred dollars to $2000.
INSTALLATION Simply plug in and turn on.
DIY INSTALLATION Yes
NEED TO BE FLUED? No
COST TO RUN From $550 to $650 a year.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY Close to 100 per cent, but some energy is lost during production and transportation.
PROS Easy operation and quick, controllable heat. Generally cheap to buy and simple to install.
CONS The imitation logs appear to glow, but electric log fireplaces do not produce a flame. Some people may find the effect too far removed from the real thing.

PEBBLE FIREPLACE
Gas-flamed fireplaces traditionally used imitation logs as a setting for the fire. Now, decorative trays featuring stylish ceramic fibre pebbles are available.

COST TO BUY About $4500 plus $1000 for installation.
INSTALLATION Must be installed by a gas plumber. Installation is usually included in the supplier’s package.
DIY INSTALLATION No
NEED TO BE FLUED? Yes
COST TO RUN Up to $250 a year.
FUEL Natural gas or LPG.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY About 75 per cent.
PROS Models tend to be very modern in design and are well suited to contemporary interiors.
CONS When purchasing a high-fashion item, there is always a danger that the look will date.