Many Otago homeowners understand the best way to reduce heating costs is through efficient insulation.
Once that is sorted, their thoughts can turn towards exploring efficient heating-appliance options.
Recently introduced to New Zealand, the convection panel heater range from French manufacturer Noirot is a cost-effective and energy efficient heating alternative worthy of consideration, says Central Betta Electrical co-owner John Feron.
The heater is ideally suited to smaller rooms such as hallways, bedrooms or in a bathroom because of its double insulation design. Mr Feron is impressed that the Noirot heater offers "twice the wattage" of some energy efficient heating competitors. Wall installation is easy or optional easy-glide castors mean you can simply slide the Noirot heater from room to room and take the warmth with you wherever you go.
Noirot sits at the forefront of heater innovation and technology. A revolutionary Monobloc aluminium electric element and thermostat combines optimum heating comfort economically, and furthermore, in total silence.
The one-piece patented Monobloc non-expanding front panel element design eliminates creaks and rattles and carries a lifetime warranty to not make a noise.
The Noirot range takes advantage of the natural process of convection. Air is heated as it rises over the Monobloc element and is continually replaced as cooler air is drawn up inside the heater by the warmer air rising.
As the air cools it then falls towards the floor and is again drawn into the bottom of the unit. The thermostat ensures that your room always maintains the desired temperature within 0.1degC and prevents overheating and energy wastage.
"The unique element design is heating the air substantially better than any other convection heater that I've seen," Mr Feron points out.
"The real secret comes from the thermostat, which will read the room temperature every 30 seconds once the desired temperature is reached, maintaining the comfort level selected instead of allowing the temperature to drop by as much as 4degC with a conventional mechanical thermostat," explains Mr Feron.
"Economy is therefore achieved by not having to waste energy to raise the temperature 4degC or so back to that desired comfort level," he adds.
With no fan to move air around, the Noirot range is also ideal for those suffering from allergies or asthma.
Lockable, childproof settings are integrated into the electronic thermostat, giving peace of mind as well as peace and quiet, and the unique lifetime full-replacement warranty makes Noirot the No.1 choice in heating comfort, for life.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How does a heater without a fan successfully heat a room?
A. Fan heaters rely on the force of the fan to distribute hot air into the room. This is noisy and uncomfortable plus it forces the lighter hot air up to the ceiling. The Noirot heating system uses natural convection to ease the hot air into the room. Natural convection means the heavier cold air is attracted to the electric element, heated inside the heater and then becomes lighter hot air which is pushed out the top of the heater by more cold air from the bottom, therefore creating a clean, silent, allergy-friendly cycle into the room.
Q. Why is natural convection more allergy-friendly than
"fan driven"?
A. Because the majority of fans are located at the bottom of the heater, the force of the air stirs and spreads dust particles at floor level, so as to cause irritation and discomfort to sufferers of asthma and other allergies.
Q. How do I work out which size heater is suitable for my requirement?
A. The recommended rule of thumb is 100 watts per square metre. This is provided that:
a. Height of the ceiling is up to 2.7m (9ft).
b. Walls and ceilings are insulated.
c. There are floor and window coverings.
d. Draughts should be kept to a minimum. Example: Room size of 5 metres in length x 4 metres in width = 20 square metres. 20 square metres x 100 watts = 2000 watts.
