Heat Sources

The heat source is the heart of the warm water central heating system. It heats the water which is then pumped through a network of underfloor pipes, radiators or fancoils. Central Heating New Zealand now offers a number of heat source options. These can be split into 2 distinct types, combusting boilers or heat pumps.

Combusting Boilers

High efficiency combusting boilers burn a fuel to transfer energy into water. Boiler systems use diesel, gas and wood pellets mostly although solid fuel boilers are also available. Gas fired central heating systems and diesel fired central heating systems have traditionally been the most common choice for domestic central heating. The availability of wood pellets and the improving technology in wood pellet boilers has made these systems very popular too.

Most boilers are flued to the outside using a coaxial flue that also draws air for combustion from the outside. This means no oxygen is depleted from inside the house. All can be flued vertically or horizontally. The boilers can be positioned unobtrusively almost anywhere in the house. Usually they are located in the laundry, garage or underneath the stairs, but ideally they should be located in a custom-designed equipment room along with other modern house essentials such as the central vacuum, networking and alarm system controls. Outdoor models are also available.

Diesel Boilers

Wood Pellet Boilers

Solid Fuel Boilers

Most models are capable of heating the domestic hot water supply as well. Note that some boiler models supply the water directly, while others use energy from the water used for central heating to heat the domestic supply indirectly. See Domestic Hot Water heating.

Heat Pumps

Heat pumps are electric appliances that use the refrigeration cycle to transfer energy into a heating system. Because Central Heating New Zealand specializes in heating the entire house with warm water central heating, air heat pumps that circulate hot and/or cool air through a single room are not available. Instead, hot water heat pumps (air to water units) and geothermal heat pumps (ground to water) are offered. Imported direct from Delonghi in Italy, these systems use the latest technology and are very efficient.

Water, air & land are immense reserves of thermal energy which are immediately available for providing comfort. Heat pumps can transfer the heat from a colder object to a warmer one, thus allowing the direct use of natural thermal energy to heat or cool, absolutely free, without the cost of waste emissions. Fuelled by electricity, heat pumps exploit natural thermal energy, guaranteeing yields with economic advantages which would be unthinkable for traditional systems.

Geothermal Heat Pumps

Hot Water Heat Pumps