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A kilowatt (kW) is a measurement of electrical power. One kilowatt equals 1000 watts. Rates and charges quoted, valid until 31 December 2004. *On Aurora Heating Discount (HydroHeat) Call in the number crunchersAll you need to do is calculate the output of the heater that would be required to adequately heat the area under consideration. That might sound complicated but, in fact, the only number-crunching required is pressing the correct digits on your phone to call Aurora Preferred Suppliers. Aurora Preferred Suppliers will come to your home and do a heat-loss calculation which in turn will allow them to calculate the ideal kilowatt output of your prospective heater. This is the vitally important first step in choosing the right heating system. Obviously, if you have an underpowered heater it will mean that you will never be quite warm enough on the colder winter days. Conversely, if you have a heater that is too powerful for the space it would be like buying an expensive V8 car to do the shopping. You will be paying extra money to purchase a more powerful unit but you’ll never use the extra capacity. To arrive at the correct figure the Preferred Supplier measures up your house and takes into account how well your home is insulated. That means factoring in everything from the R-rating of your ceiling insulation and the types of materials used in construction, through to the types of window furnishings and floor coverings used to decorate your home. Installation and running costs
For example, a Heat Pump is at the upper end of installation costs but extremely efficient when it is up and running, while a fixed fan heater has lower installation costs but higher running costs than a Heat Pump. Are you a homebody?How much time do you spend at home? If you and your family average only a few hours a day indoors, then running costs are not going to be all that crucial. But if you spend a lot of time inside, running costs will be a major consideration. Your routine
A matter of tasteBeyond the economics of running your heating system there is also a question of taste. For example, some people like a little ambient glow to add cosiness to their room and may opt for a radiant/fan heater. Others prefer their heating to be neither seen nor heard and could choose either ceiling or floor heating. Radiant or convection?And then there is the other big decision: radiant or convection? Very broadly speaking, regardless of the energy source, there are two methods of heating your home: convection heating and radiant heating. Convection is the heating up of the temperature of the air. Radiant heating directly heats up surfaces.
Of course, these two heating principles do not live in isolation from each other. Radiant heat helps to increase air temperature and higher air temperatures will increase the temperature of surfaces. Convection heaters can also come with internal fans to quickly distribute warm air more evenly. You will find people who will swear by each heating method. Some people just love the toasty quality of radiant heat, while others find that it feels too intense. Others like the evenness of fan forced convection heating, while others claim that the fan makes it draughty. Talk to the expertsAs you can see, there are a lot of choices that you make when arriving at the right heating solution. But because you will probably have to live with that choice for many years to come it is certainly worth spending the time to get it right. When you talk with an Aurora Preferred Supplier, they will not only give you all the information you need on the heating output required for your home, but they will also act as a sounding board to help you figure out the best option to suit your lifestyle. Your nearest Aurora Preferred Suppliers. Aurora Heating DiscountAll the heaters featured here are designed to be hard-wired into your home by a licensed electrician. This means that you can take advantage of the Aurora Heating Discount* (commonly known as HydroHeat). Your heater’s power consumption will be billed at a cheaper rate than either the general light and power tariff or the hot water tariff. * Conditions apply. Time switches and thermostatsTime switches, which can be built in or plugged in, control your heating to provide an early morning pre-heat before you get up, warm your living area before you get home, or turn heaters off at night so you don’t forget – whatever you tell them to do. They are convenient, flexible and a must for anyone who wants to keep control of their heating costs.
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Now you know the amount of output required from your heating system, you have to consider installation and running costs.
Another consideration is the regularity of the hours you keep at home. If your life is unpredictable and you are never quite sure when you will be arriving home you will probably need a form of instant or “on demand” heating, rather than one which takes time to warm up. On the other hand, if your family usually follows a routine then you can consider just about any system as long as it can work with a timer.
If you stand out in direct sunshine you are (mainly) experiencing radiant heat. If, on the other hand, you were to stand in the shade on a hot day, the warmth you would be experiencing is through convection.