Practical advice on heating and cooling your Perth home
Straight answers from the engineers who design and install the systems. Floor heating, radiators, heat pumps, geothermal and heat recovery.
Radiators or split systems: which is better for heating an older home?
A split system is the cheap way to warm one room. Why older homes with high ceilings lose blown warm air, and when radiators are worth it.
What’s inside a hydronic heating system? The parts, in plain words
A heat source, a pump, a manifold and some pipe, plus a few small parts that keep it safe. What each one does, in plain words.
How long does hydronic heating last?
The pipes in the floor outlast most houses; the heat pump is the part that wears. What lasts, what doesn't, and the signs.
Can I add radiator central heating to an older Perth home?
Yes, with nothing dug up and about a day per radiator. Where the pipes go, and the cheap fix to do before any heating.
Gas or electric central heating: should I replace my gas heater with a heat pump?
Central heating runs on gas or electricity. What to do when the old gas heater gets dear, and which swap suits your house.
What maintenance does hydronic heating need?
The pipes in the floor need nothing. The heat pump or boiler needs a check about every two years. Here's what a service covers.
Can I keep a wood fire or gas fireplace with floor heating?
Yes. The floor does the everyday warmth and the fire does the evenings. What to plan so the two get along.
Can floor heating pipes leak, and what happens if they do?
They don't burst or wear out. They leak only if something cuts them, and a hit during the build is found the same day.
How long does floor heating take to warm up – and should I leave it on?
A thin screed starts warming the room in 15 to 30 minutes, a slab in about 45. Why that matters in Perth, and why it runs on a timer.
Will a heat pump last near the coast?
Salt air shortens an outdoor unit's life. How to choose, place and look after a heat pump in a beach suburb.
Is floor heating with a heat pump environmentally friendly?
On today's WA grid a heat pump is level with gas or a bit better, and getting better. The house and the floor decide the rest.
How do I control hydronic heating – thermostats, apps and smart home?
A few thermostats, a timer, and then you leave it alone. Where the thermostat goes, and whether the app is worth having.