ECan Heating Madness!

While installing a heat pump this week on a new-home build in Christchurch, the builders on-site told us a story that would be funny if it wasn’t so sad.

These guys are building another new home that their clients wanted to look like an old Canterbury villa, with a fireplace and mantelpiece being the main feature of the lounge.

The Christchurch City Council wouldn’t approve the resource consent, saying the homeowners needed approval from the Canterbury Regional Council before they could install a fireplace in their new home.

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A Bureaucratic Nightmare

To the client’s surprise, ECan approved the resource consent and the construction of a fireplace in their new Christchurch home. But, the council told the family that due to home heating rules and air pollution, they would not be allowed to light their fire during winter!

What's the point of having a fireplace in your lounge if you aren't allowed to light it?

​To add insult to injury, the Canterbury District Council also said that if our streak of very dry summers continue, solid fuel fire bans would also prevent the family from using their fireplace for the other six months of the year. 

What a Waste!

Sadly, this family will end up with a costly feature in the middle of their brand new Christchurch home that is utterly useless. They've got a hole in the middle of their living room that can’t provide any warmth, or temperature regulation at any time of the year. What a waste!

Should Have Bought A Heat Pump.

Heat pumps aren't made to be centerpieces in the middle of a room. Rather they are quiet, unobtrusive, and get the job done without drawing any attention. Heat pumps are the perfect way to get around restrictions in Christchurch around solid fuel fires. They're much cheaper to run, and you don't have to worry about buying, and stacking wood all year.

One argument in favour of a solid fuel fire is that it will burn when it is very cold outside, while a heat pump may struggle to keep you warm. You can see why some heat pumps struggle in cold conditions here, with our guide on how heat pumps work.

We don't have many nights in Christchurch that get below, or even close to -15 degrees. The Mitsubishi Hypercore heat pump is specifically designed for those cold nights in Canterbury, and it will hold its performance all the way down to -15 degrees Celcius. Find more information on Mitsubishi Hypercore heat pumps here.

If you’d like an expensive character feature that you're not allowed to use your new home, that’s up to you. However, if you would like a sleek, smart, energy efficient heating solution that keeps you warm in winter and cools you down in summer, Heat Pumps NOW can help.

For a free, no obligations quote, contact Heat Pumps NOW today on 377 7393.

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