Convection heaters

Convection heaters such as the radiators, the air-to-air heat pump and the wood or pellet and stoves work by tapping into a natural phenomenon known as ‘convection’. Air inside the heater is heated, making it less dense than the surrounding cool air, which enables it to rise due to buoyancy. As the heated air rises, the cooler air on the floor is drawn into the convector, creating a constant flow.

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Wood stoves 

Unlike open fires in traditional fireplaces where much of the heat produced is lost up the chimney, wood burning stoves provide more heat to your room by burning the wood more efficiently. The main issue with traditional fireplaces is that the amount of air getting to the fire can’t be managed, which means that the fire can’t be controlled effectively. Wood burning stoves help to solve this problem of inefficient heating by allowing you to control both the amount of wood and the supply of air to the fire. The stove also works by burning off excess gases from the fire to produce even more heat. The stove comes equipped with ventilation holes and an air control valve. Opening the vent(s) increases the flow of air to the fire, causing the fire to burn through the wood more quickly because it has a greater supply of oxygen. More heat is produced as a result. Closing down the air vent(s) reduces the oxygen supply to the fire, causing it to burn through the wood more slowly, which in turn produces less heat. Completely closing the vents prevents any air from getting to the fire and causing it to eventually go out.
 
Pros: 

Wood burning stoves provide unrivalled authenticity of a wood-burning smell and look that elicits the warm, magical feel of old-fashioned days past. Low maintenance - other than chimney sweeping and the occasional glass clean, wood burning fireplaces require very little maintenance because they have no mechanical components to maintain. High environmental efficiency - when it's sustainably harvested, wood is a renewable, carbon neutral fuel source. New technology has revolutionised the environmental efficiency of wood stoves. You can always depend on heat from wood-burning stoves because you do not have to rely on electricity to have a fire.

Cons: 
High effort - wood needs to be purchased (or sourced), stored, split, and then the fire needs to be built and maintained by hand. Wood burn time is relative to the type and moisture content of the wood you use and the quality of your fireplace; different types of wood and moisture contents will produce a variety of burn times. A wood stove isn’t the most efficient option to heat your home as some of the heat it produces still travels back up the chimney.

Pellet stoves 
Pellet stoves efficiently, conveniently and cheaply convert biomass in the form of wood pellet fuel to heat while giving off almost no wood smoke, helping to protect the environment. Wood pellets are renewable, clean-burning biomass products made from renewable substances, such as recycled waste wood or short rotation coppice wood. Pellets are considered carbon-neutral because the CO2 level exhausted by the stove is similar to the carbon released when wood decomposes naturally on the forest floor. A pellet stove has a combustion blower that pulls outside air into the stove through a fresh-air vent and then blows out smoke and fumes through a stainless-steel exhaust vent. There's also a convection blower that draws room air into the stove and blows heated air into the room through a series of heat-exchange tubes. The stove will automatically deliver heat, based on the thermostat setting. All you need to do is keep the hopper filled with pellets. Directions for use: You pour pellets into the storage hopper located at the top. An electric auger delivers the pellets from the hopper to the burn chamber. Sensors within the stove monitor the fuel supply and tell the auger when to drop a new pellet. It will put in just enough pellets to keep the fire burning small but extremely hot. There are never more than a small handful of pellets in the burn chamber at any one time. 

Pros:

Similar to wood, pellets are a renewable, carbon neutral alternative to fossil fuel. Made from compressed wood or bark, pellets are not a new fireplace fuel, but they are becoming more popular. Low effort - Aside from having to load the hopper (the feeder that adds pellets to the fire as needed) and regular maintenance, pellet stoves require minimal effort to operate. The pellets can be turned on/off and adjusted with electronics with the push of a button either on a remote or control panel. How often you load the hopper will depend on what temperature setting you select. 

Cons:

High maintenance - On a weekly basis you’ll need to clean the burn pot (the place where pellets are burned) and sweep ash off internal components to prevent air flow blockages that can decrease the efficiency of the unit or stop it from operating. Similar to a wood stove, you will also need to clean the glass on your pellet stove if you want to maintain a clear fire view. Because pellet stoves have several mechanical components, they require more maintenance. To minimise maintenance costs, maintain your pellet fireplace regularly as outlined in your owner’s manual.Since pellet stoves rely on electricity to operate, you will be without heat if your power goes out, or if any of the components malfunction. 

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Compare wood and pellet stoves: 
Choose a wood stove if you are looking for an authentic crackling fire that can use carbon neutral fuel and will provide heat without access to electricity. Choose a pellet stove if you are looking for an easy to operate stove that uses carbon neutral fuel and can be set to a weekly chronothermostat. 
 
To consider: Our houses need to be kept at a minimum temperature of 5 degrees all year around for our warranty to be valid. We have this requirement in order not to risk any frozen pipes and subsequent damage to the house. Furthermore, the overall construction of a house will last longer and stay healthy if you have a more consistent room temperature and moisture content in your house. The fire in a wood stove needs to be tended to frequently, and as soon as it goes out, the house will cool down. If you choose a wood or pellet stove, we therefore recommend that you supplement it with a secondary heating system that can keep the house at a low constant temperature even when you are out of the house. 
 
Suitable secondary heating systems: radiators, air-to-air heat pump or infrared underfloor heating. 

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Radiation heaters
Amongst the radiation heaters we offer are the infrared underfloor heating and the infrared mirror panels. But what is infrared heating? Infrared light is the light that makes us feel warm when the sun shines on us during the winter months. Even when the temperatures reach below freezing, the infrared waves of the sun warm any object that it hits including us. Infrared is electromagnetic radiation that is not visible to the naked eye. Radiation is often mistaken for being harmful, but not all radiation is dangerous. Infrared radiation is entirely safe, and has many health benefits.
 
The technology of infrared heaters is relatively modern, but has gained massive popularity in a short period of time. When the infrared heater is switched on, the infrared rays are emitted from the heater and then travel through the air until they hit any object within their trajectory. The radiation is then absorbed by the object and causes its molecules to vibrate and produce heat from within. When the waves come in contact with a person, they travel inside the body and bring a feeling of warmth. Even objects around the body will absorb these infrared rays and then emit them towards any nearby person or object.
 
Benefits:
Warms Rooms Quickly – Infrared heaters produce heat quickly and warm the room almost as soon as you switch them on. Thus, there is no need to wait for the room to get warm. This results in savings on your energy bills. Budget Friendly – The cost of running infrared panels is much less than the conventional heating equipment. The infrared panels use less energy than traditional alternatives to produce the same amount of heat. For example, a 1500w convection heater and a 600w infrared panel produce the same amount of heat. It means that infrared heating is much cheaper to use in the long run. Consistent Temperatures – One issue with convection heating is that they warm the air near the ceiling much faster than the air near the floor. With infrared heating panels, the air across the room heats consistently and offers greater comfort to people without them having to avoid any cold areas in the room. Reduces mould – Infrared heating means that objects in the room are heated in addition to the air around them, effectively stopping the formation of mould by keeping walls, floors, ceilings and furniture dry and free from damp. Stabilises humidity levels - Infrared heaters are incredibly efficient at keeping relative humidity levels consistent in homes. This promotes health and a healthy indoor climate, and reduces your need for a humidifier during the winter. Maximised Living Area – The installation of radiators and stoves will take up precious space in your tiny house. Infrared heaters can be installed on the walls or beneath the floor, freeing up space to decorate your home with the items that you need and love. Prevents the Spread of Allergens – With the use of infrared heaters, dust and allergens in the air are more contained. This is due to the fact that the heaters do not use air to transport heat. If you or a family member is allergic, it is best to opt for infrared heaters rather than radiators to heat your home. Health Benefits – When the body absorbs infrared heat, it increases blood circulation, enhances the immune system, and reduces joint pain and inflammation. All in all it is an energy-efficient, economical and healthy way to heat your house.