Wood Heater's - New home

[ADZ]

Thought I'd chase peoples experiences/recommendations and perhaps there may even be someone on here that has a hookup?!

New home build is about to get underway. In being compliant with the 6 star energy rating we've opted to not have a gas bayonet installed in the living areas (the cost of double glazing and cavity insulation far exceeded our budget). Thus looking for options of heating without reliance on the aircon system.

Looking to opt for a wood heater (having had these at my folks place, I've always loved the type of 'heat' they generate.. and quite enjoy the look/sound of a flickering fire). Will also be building a wood fired pizza oven out the back and sourcing wood isn't an issue (family has access to farm etc etc) so running costs in this case is negated.

Heater will be located in the main living area, open plan lounge/dining/kitchen which when closed off is around ~150sqm, total house is ~300sqm. We haven't boxed an area off internally for a specific fireplace and I'm looking for options in something that will suit our clean/minimalist type look.

Originally was looking at freestanding units, having only seen these in my childhood homes. Something along the lines of: http://www.regency-fire.com.au/Products/Wood-Fires/Wood-Freestanding/Cardinia.aspx

However, doing further research we found this pretty neat wall mounted unit (http://www.pivotstove.com.au/catalogue/wood/inbuilt-zero-clearance-wood/morso-wall-mounted-wood-heater) which got the though process going. Do love that concept, although the unit itself is much too small for our needs.

Further looking at these I stumbled upon the Stovax Studio style inbuilt wood heaters (http://www.pivotstove.com.au/catalogue/wood/inbuilt-zero-clearance-wood/riva-studio-inbuilt-range). Spot on for the 'look' we're chasing. The dilemma being the unit would be mounted on an external wall (single brick) so I'm assuming this would have to be boxed out (internally). Imagining this would be a PITA once the house is completed (timber floors, walls painted and cornicing/skirting done).

This is where I'm at. Will speak to a few specialist shops over the coming weeks to get ideas/budgeting in place. Curious to see what others have opted for/would recommend.

[PHIL]

make sure you get a radiant heater and not a normal one. they cost a bit more and are heavy as fuck but worth it when it comes to heating. do not get one with a fan in it. also if you are planning on having or ar having a solaheart put up get a flu with the coil in it for heating your water in winter. then there is no need for the boosters.make sure a reputable company do the installation aswell. nothing worse than a cowboy cutting into your roof

[ADZ]

Ok good advice. Water heating is a large instantaneous unit. Roofing is colorbond.

What's the issues with fan ones? Radiant was what we were leaning to initially. Good to know we are on right track.

[MadDocker]

Wood isn't an issue? Doesn't seem like an issue for my wife either...

Woods expensive but I wouldn't trade the pot belly for another kind of heater after living with one. So good sitting near the fire on a cold day and stinking out the neighbours washing.

[PHIL]

the fans use alot of electricity. had one in a house we rented.was all good through summer then winter came and only change was wood fire with fan. power bills almost doubled

[magic1]

lie

put a gas bayonet in.

[S85FI]

Have had wood heaters in every home I have had. Current house has wood heating, gas, reverse cycle ducted.

Pros and cons

Gas is cheap - Turn it off house is cold in 5 minutes.

Aircon - $$$ to run but house is warm in about 15 minutes.

Wood -Pros Keeps house warm all day and night long. Use white gum at night (will burn for about 10 hours) and Jarrah to get it going and to build initial heat up. If the hot jarrah coals aren't present the white gum will smoulder out. Get fan forced. It will spread the heat. In fact it will get so hot you will turn the heat down. I control mine to keep the house around 23 degrees. If I have parties etc I'll have both the Slow combustion and the open fire place going and the house sits on around 30 degrees. I have solar hart and am in the process of making my own heat exchanger set up. Kit cost about $200 for a modern system. Running costs minimum. First thing to go will be the top baffle plate. Around $150 to replace. Will take around 10 years to fail and take about 10 minutes to change. Door seals last about 10 years and cost around $50. Takes about an hour to change.

I also have ducts in the ceiling to dump heat into other parts of the house. This years total heating costs is 5lt fuel and two stroke mix and $50 odd for chains saw sharpening. I also get mill ends fromt he local Salvage yard. In Summer they charge 65$ for around 1t and in winter around $125. I'm a tight ass and buy mine in Summer. Running 24/7 in the last 3 months.

Cons - I get my own wood. Have build my own hydraulic log splitter. Splits ute load of wood in around 30 minutes. Will split jarrah at 600mm wide and 500m long with no effort. White gum has to be smaller pieces. Its one hard wood. Feel free to check it out next time you detail the beast or swing past.
Takes about 30 minutes to get some heat. Only smoking if you light wet wood or try to start the fire with too big a pieces.
White gum gets a lot of ash, sometimes I uses white gum day and night and you will have to clean the box in around 4 - 5 days. Jarrah is pretty good and you don't have to do anything for weeks.

Go to Jarrahdale Heating in Kenwick. They make the product locally and have been for as long as I can remember. Same fitter (Sheldon) as long as I can remember too so no poor workmanship. Have a chat to them. Parts and service is awesome. They know their stuff. They do built in too.

I have this http://www.jhc.com.au/products/convection-wood-heaters/jumbo-innovator/ and my last house had this http://www.jhc.com.au/products/in-built-wood-heaters/inbuilt-heaters/

[PHIL]

hope you know what your doing with the heat exchanger. i used to fit them for sola hart and have seen many flooded roofs and exploded sola tanks from incorrect builds

[S85FI]

No Idea.... Just looking at the set ups at the moment and reading about the different valves I need etc.

[urabus]

lie

put a gas bayonet in.

^^ This. Mum and Dad have a massive living area and have a wood fired potbelly in it. Then they extended it and put a gas one in. I don't remember the last time the wood one got used. Don't get me wrong. It gives off a much nicer heat and I personally love the smell. If you do go for the wood fired one I would be reluctant to put it on an external wall. Ours is in the living room and on the other side of the wall was my sisters room. The wall used to get epically hot and heat her room aswell... Mine was the next room along and got nothing....

The gas is just so convenient. As above it goes cold about 5 minutes after your turn it off.

Also I'm guessing Mel is going to want kids in this house..... the gas one is hot to touch but not going to burn you. The timber one is going to f&(k you up. Last thing you want is for the kid to get burnt and the missus to loop out. And the guards for the timber ones look gayer than bangs new haircut.

Brendon

[Sensible]

Ducted gas heating
Unit in the roof, outlets in every room including toilet ( nobody likes a cold shitter in the morning ) Thermostat controlled, Whole house is warm with in minutes of it kicking in on the timer at 6.30am

[westy]

Also I'm guessing Mel is going to want kids in this house..... the gas one is hot to touch but not going to burn you. The timber one is going to f&(k you up. Last thing you want is for the kid to get burnt and the missus to loop out. And the guards for the timber ones look gayer than bangs new haircut.

Brendon

They will learn after the first time, I remember sleeping next to one when I was a kid, rolled over and my toes touched the glass. Always slept a bit further back after that. Also a dog we had once wanted a closer look, touched the glass with its nose and never did it again. Back in the days when kids weren't smothered with safety shit.

I will be looking at wood heaters once I move to acreage, even with 5 kids, it won't deter me.