Heating Options?

[Mcblurter]

Hi all
Looking at putting in new heating and hot water service in our house and was wondering if anyone has worked through figures of costs for installing and running of various heating systems.
Heating looking at either ducted gas or hydronic. Hydronic expensive to install but probably less to run, also a better heat, less cleaning etc. What do others think, any other options?
For hot water service have come across this;
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=10262&search=environmental&images=&c=1&s=
Does use electricity to run a fan, but should be cheap to run, again set up costs expensive. Not sure of comparisons to solar boosted gas (again set up costs), instant gas, or traditional gas hot water service.
Would be of great benefit to hear from anyone with any experience in these or someone who has checked out more info. Any links I could check out would be great to.
Cheers
Mcblurter

Why don't they make the whole plane out of that black box stuff.
-- Steven Wright (http://www.amusingquotes.com/h/w/Steven_Wright_1.htm)

[Gumby]

I've had quite a bit to do with hydronic heating and slab heating. Compared to ducted gas, you are correct in saying it's a better heat. But I think in Melbourne, it's not worthwhile. Once it's on, it's on and once you decide to shut it down for the summer, it's off. It can't be quickly fired up again if you get a sudden cold snap. And you know what happens here, 30 degrees one day, 15 the next, just like it was cold last night and it's very warm today. Your hydronic heating will be on all day.

The beauty about ducted gas is that it can quickly be adjusted, heats the house in about 30 minutes and can be regulated with a timer control panel to stay off all day and come on 30 minutes before you get home.

It's not the best or cleanest method but it's by far the most effective. Resale on your house will also be better using ducted gas. It's what most people expect and most people want.

[b1ueshift]

I think solar boosted gas is good for people who live in remote areas (and use bottled LPG) or people who want to help the environment.
The additional installation cost (about $3k) with a savings of around $250 per year means it's not the best option financially.

[Mcblurter]

Dear Gumby and B1ueshift
Thanks for the feedback.
Hadn't thought about the hydronic heating like that. We have a solar heater which heats house up during day, good on cold, sunny days, but in summer can reverse it so takes hot air out. Was bloody cold last night, with two kids we had the heater on. Supposed to be over 30 for the next two days so probably would have turned a hydronic heater off for the summer. We have a concrete house, which takes a bit to heat up in winter and is good in summer unless we have a few hot days in a row, like you said in Melbourne who knows when we will get what!
Solar boost is a bit expensive, but then so is the Turbo Compact Eyre (TCE). Trying to find out cost equivalent of this to gas hot water running expenses.
Anyway that's given me more to think about, cheers.
Does anyone else know anything about the TCE??
Cheers
Mcblurter

If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit. There's no use being a damn fool about it.
-- W.C. Fields (http://www.amusingquotes.com/h/f/W.C._Fields_1.htm)