Six Home Heating Myths Busted

​With winter fast approaching Christchurch, it’s time to set the record straight and bust some home heating myths 

​Electric Heaters are Super Expensive

​So many people claim that small electric heaters are anything but cheap. But, they can be in some cases! For small rooms, and for short times during the day, electric heaters are the most cost-effective option for heating. Their running costs are relatively small if the space you want to heat is minimal. Having a larger source of heating will only cost you more.

Take a good look at energy stars to compare efficiency with similar products. The energy website provides tables to show the cost of running electric heater according to wattage.

​Bigger Heat Pump Means Better Heat

​Nope. Not true at all. The size of your heat pump must be proportional to the size of the place you want to heat. A small heat pump will of course struggle to heat a large room. However, a big heat pump for a small room will waste so much energy! Also, it’ll be noisier and less discreet.

​Set It High And It Will Heat Up Faster

​Myth busted. Heat pumps aren’t like traditional heaters. They’ll pump heat at the same rate even if the temperature is set high. It will work its way to your set temperature and stop heating once its reached it.

​Running Your Heat Pump Low All The Time Is Cheaper

​This can be true at times. It sometimes takes more energy to warm a freezing cold home, instead of maintaining a constant temperature. It all depends on your home and your insulation. Of course, if you’re losing a lot of heat then you really need to increase the temperature to get it to the desired warmth, while a well-insulated room will keep the heat in. 

​Closing Off Vents Will Lower Your Heating Costs

​This is for people with ducted systems. The idea of the ducts is to provide an even temperature through your entire home. Some believe closing off a vent into an unused room, makes the ducted system more energy efficient. False. Your ducted system is calibrated to your home, and draws the same amount of power whether a duct is closed off or not. 

Closing off multiple ducts can throw your heat pump out of balance, as the machine is no longer ‘breathing’ or moving the air around your home as it was designed to.

​It’s Cheaper To Dry Washing On A Clothes Horse Inside

​Straight up, damp homes are harder to heat than dry ones. Wet washing inside makes the air inside your home moist. Your heat pump has to work harder to heat your room and remove the moisture from the air. 

However, if you were running your heat pump anyway and you were using the clothes horse instead of running your dryer, there may be a small benefit. Otherwise, work out when power is the cheapest and use the dryer on off-peak hours. Even if it’s not a sunny day, you can still leave your washing outside. 

Stop believing those myths and find the right heating solution for your home. For a free quote and consultation, contact Heat Pumps NOW on 03 974 0839. 

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