Feeling the chill, but scared of the bill

Winter has hit us like a tonne of bricks straight out of the freezer.

With temperatures expected to drop to around 9 degrees tonight many of us will be looking for ways to keep our homes warm. If blankets and jumpers just aren’t cutting it anymore, here are your options for heating your home.

The main types of heaters are electric heaters, gas heaters and reverse-cycle air conditioners. The best option for you is dependent on a few factors. Here’s an overview of each type;

Electric heaters

These are usually portable, cheap to buy but expensive to run. They may be a reasonable option if you're not using them in large spaces or for long periods of time.

Gas heaters

If gas is available in your area, this may be a suitable option for you. However, a recent study by the Melbourne University (Switching Off Gas: an Examination of Declining Gas Demand in Eastern Australia) found that with the rising price of gas in Australia, this is no longer the cheapest option. Other cons of gas heating are that they only heat, there is no cooling option come summer and gas heating produces small amounts of waste products: gases including carbon monoxide which are dangerous, and water vapour, which can lead to condensation and mould problems.

Reverse-cycle air conditioners

These are very effective in terms of the power they use compared to the heat they generate. The report done by Tim Forcey at the Melbourne University discovered that by replacing his ducted gas heating with several reverse cycle air conditioners he reduced his heating costs by 70%

Unlike gas heaters, reverse cycle air conditioners can also cool your home in summer.

Gibbons Electrical are offering a special reverse cycle installation price of $550* until the end of August 2017, making heating your home this winter more cost effective than ever.

*Price is based on a back-to-back lowset home in the Brisbane area. Split system unit sold separately.