From heritage homes to commercial freezers: the heating specialists who do it all

3 May 2023

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Warm NZ has been designing and installing custom heating systems for the last 20 years, ensuring Kiwi homes are the perfect temperature year-round. We spoke to Managing Director Sean Stephens to learn more about the tailor-made process.

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Building & Renovating Materials & Craft Energy efficiency Heating Underfloor heating Maintenance Warm NZ Heating Solutions

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Warm NZ Heating Solutions

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Amber Suckling

For the last 20 years, Warm NZ Central Heating has been sourcing and installing premium heating systems across New Zealand. Understanding that every home and business has different heating requirements, the Warm NZ team became experts in custom solutions — designing systems to the unique specifications of every client.

We caught up with Sean Stephens, Managing Director of Warm NZ, to learn more about custom heating solutions, and hear his advice on specifying a heating system for your home.

Available from Warm NZ, the LHZ Combination Electric Radiators are the perfect heating solution for rooms where central heating pipework or ducting cannot be installed.

ArchiPro: Can you tell me about the tailor-made heating solutions that Warm NZ offers?

Sean Stephens: We offer bespoke design and installation services to fit the client's needs. This includes everything from underfloor heating, radiators, freezers, and pool heating, to heat pumps, gas-condensing boilers, diesel-condensing boilers and wood fires.

AP: Why do freezers need a heating system?

SS: We actually get asked this question a lot. Freezers need a heated slab below the freezer floor to prevent groundwater from freezing and pushing the freezer floors up.

AP: What is the process for specifying a custom heating solution from Warm NZ?

SS: Usually, we have a phone conversation to determine the client's requirements and expectations. If it's a new home, we will get the plans and do a draft design, then run it by the client and make any changes they may want. Once that happens, we'll produce a quote and draw up a detailed plan. If it's an existing home, we will follow a similar process, but this time include a site visit to measure everything up.

Underfloor Heating is ideal for new homes. Using Rehau’s diffusion plate system, it can be installed either in a concrete slab or under a wooden floor between the joists.

Instead of using radiators to heat a room, Underfloor Heating uses hot water pipes that warm the slab or floor, heating the room from the ground up.

AP: What factors should you consider when choosing a heating solution for your home?

SS: I'd recommend starting with the kind of heat you want to feel. For example, hydronic central heating doesn't blow air around, so it won't dry out your eyes and throat like air-conditioning. I'd also think about the kind of control you need to suit your lifestyle; do you want to control the temperature of each room in the house from one device, or are you looking for something more manual?

AP: How does the size of the home impact the heating solution you choose?

SS: All the systems we offer can be designed to fit any home size. The main factor to consider size-wise is that larger homes will need a higher heat load to bring the house to temp. This is where good controls are essential to manage your energy costs.

AP: How does a heating solution for a modern home compare to a heritage home?

SS: Most of the new concrete floor homes suit underfloor heating. In contrast, wooden floors work better with modern steel radiators. The only difference with heritage homes is that we use our range of Paladin Heritage radiators. Otherwise, the heat source and the piping systems are identical.

Ideal for heritage homes, Paladin cast iron radiators are carefully hand built and finished to your requirements. Available exclusively from Warm NZ.

Available from Warm NZ, Grant Vortex Eco External diesel boilers are highly efficient and recognised as some of the best central heating boilers in the world.

AP: What is involved in the installation and maintenance of the heaters?

SS: The system installation is done by our plumbers, with top-quality Rehau piping systems made in Germany. Servicing is done on an annual basis as per the manufacturer's recommendations.

AP: In your opinion, what is the key to a good home heating system?

SS: The key to a great system is top-quality parts and well thought out design. It may take more work and cost a little more initially, but the savings over time will well outweigh this.

Learn more about Warm NZ.