Southland Girls High School Heating Upgrade

Warm NZ Central Heating is proud to have been a part of the transformative Southland Girls High School Heating Upgrade project, in collaboration with Heat Wise NZ. This innovative project, completed in 2024, saw the replacement of two coal-fired boiler systems with a cutting-edge 1500KW Herz wood fired boiler – the largest of its kind in New Zealand. Our team was instrumental in supplying and installing 350m of 125mm Rauvitherm pre-insulated mains, connecting the two existing plant rooms seamlessly.

This project not only marks a significant step towards sustainability for Southland Girls High School, but it also sets a new standard in the industry. By utilising renewable energy solutions and state-of-the-art technology, we have helped the school reduce its carbon footprint while ensuring optimal heating efficiency. This successful collaboration showcases Warm NZ Central Heating’s commitment to excellence and innovation in the field of heating systems, making it a landmark project in the Schools category

BoilerMag Installed at Historical QBE Centre 125 Queen St

Warm NZ have installed BoilerMag’s magnetic technology filters at the iconic QBE Centre in  Auckland.

Built upon the historical 125 Queen Street, the QBE Centre is a recognisable and historic landmark within Auckland and was home to the original head office of the Bank of New Zealand. With an eye-catching Category 1 Heritage Listed façade dating back to the 1840s, the centre has recently undergone a state-of-the-art refit making it one of the most sought-after workspaces in the area.

With a wealth of experience under its belt and a portfolio boasting big-name projects, such as Auckland Zoo, Warm NZ was tasked to ensure the heating and cooling systems within the centre were up to standard and as efficient as possible as part of the major refurbishments.

As with many other projects that the company undertake, Warm NZ installed a BoilerMag XT and ChillerMag to improve the efficiency and longevity of the heating and cooling system.

See article in BoilerMag main website:

https://www.boilermag.com/boilermag-installed-at-historical-125-queen-street-building-in-major-new-zealand-city/

GJ Gardner Show Home in Pokeno

Experience ultimate comfort and control with Warm NZ Central Heating’s bespoke under floor heating (UFH) system. We are proud to supply and install a state-of-the-art system featuring German Rehau Rau Pink underfloor pipes, heated by the reliable Ideal Logic Natural gas boiler. With Heatmiser neo stats and Neo hub integration, you can now have complete control of your heating system right from your smartphone. 

Original Devonport Villa

Tokyo Foods Freezer

In 2024, Warm NZ Central Heating successfully completed the Tokyo Foods Freezer project for Tokyo Foods. Working in collaboration with Envirochill, our team meticulously designed and constructed the frost heave protection for this freezer. Leveraging the expertise of Rehaus engineering team, we finalised the detailed design for the 20m Rautherm S pipe in the slab, along with the Rauvitherm Pre insulated mains running from the buffer tank to the Manifolds. For the intricate plant design and calculations, we engaged Energy Conscious design to handle pumps, buffer tank sizing, and pipe work to heat exchangers. Our sister company, Plumbcraft, was responsible for the seamless installation of all pipe work and commissioning of the glycol system.

Warm NZ Central Heating takes pride in delivering high-quality projects with precision and efficiency. Our ability to collaborate with industry experts and utilise cutting-edge technology ensures that each project is completed to the highest standards. The Tokyo Foods Freezer project stands as a testament to our dedication to excellence in the field of manufacturing and supplying solutions for Factories and Warehouses.

Hawkes Bay Rural Home

A stunning early rural colonial homestead in the Hawkes Bay was given the perfect integrated central heating system, thanks to Warm NZ Central Heating. 

We worked closely with the Architects Christian Anderson, and homeowners to supply and install a central heating system, including a boiler that supplied heat to the underfloor heating, hot water heating, heated pool, and radiators. 

Our team were able to give the property the perfect balance of functional warmth and comfort, adding character to the interior, and allowing the family to make lasting memories in their dream home. 

At Warm NZ Central Heating, we understand the importance of creating a functional and comfortable home. With years of experience and extensive product knowledge, we can provide you with quality heating systems that will last.

Learn how WarmNZ create tailor-made solutions for you

An interview by ArchiPro with Sean Stephens WarmNZ Managing Director

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.

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.

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.

Deep dive into the benefits of bespoke hydronic heating

With over 25 years of experience installing hydronic heating solutions in New Zealand, Sean Stephens, founder of Warm NZ, has been there since the beginning and shares his in-depth understanding of hydronic heating, its benefits and where it’s going.

Fundamentals of hydronic heating

For those who are new to hydronic heating, it is essentially a heating solution that involves circulating heated water through pipes, typically under floors, providing consistent warmth throughout the home. However, as Sean explains, the consistent warmth is just the starting point of the benefits you can reap.

“One of the main advantages is that you don’t get forced air like you do from a heat pump, so you haven’t got dust rolling around the house. It’s a passive form of heating, not a forced form of heating so you don’t feel the heat being blown through the air. Most people don’t even know you’ve got the heating on. They don’t realise there’s a whole central heating system in the floor doing the job. They just enter the house and it’s warm.”

It’s a passive form of heating, not a forced form of heating so you don’t feel the heat being blown through the air.

The passive presence of hydronic heating isn’t limited to the comfort it brings either, but extends into styling and the sound environment too.

“Another thing a lot of people like about hydronic heating is that you can’t see it. It’s under the carpet, under the concrete — you just don’t know it’s there and it doesn’t affect furniture or art placement, design or colour schemes etc. You also don’t get the whir of fans — it’s completely silent which falls back into its passiveness.”

Misconceptions of the past

While these traits are appealing, there are misconceptions about hydronic heating that have deterred people from investing. Sean suggests these are mostly historical now, and largely the result of poor design and installation, substandard products and dated technology.

“A lot of people think it’s going to cost a fortune to run from people in the past who put electric underfloor heating in, turned it on and had thousands in power bills after that. We use things like air-to-water heat pumps and gas boilers, which are a lot more efficient. If your hydronic heating system is designed, insulated and installed properly, it’s a very cost-effective way of heating your house.”

Some misconceptions also relate to its applicability for different finishes, particularly timber flooring, a popular choice in many New Zealand homes, past and present.

“A lot of people don’t think they can put timber floors over it because of the wood shrinking and cupping. That does happen but that is down to the fact that they haven’t been designed and set properly. We’ve often gone in to remedy these situations and found the installer had 70°C water running through them. Our systems are designed to have 35 – 55°C water going into them and for timber floors, we’d set it to around 40°C.”

A lot of people don’t think they can put timber floors over it… but that is down to the fact that they haven’t been designed and set properly.

Benefits of bespoke design and customisation

Having a bespoke, customised solution can take a hydronic heating system to the next level of efficiency, comfort and convenience. This has been helped through technological advances but is also down to assured design, expertise and a process that ensures a client gets a solution, tailored to their wants and needs.

Stephen’s team at Warm NZ works very closely with design experts at REHAU, the German suppliers of the pipes and manifolds used in the systems, to ensure everything is precisely designed and optimised for the application at hand.

“What we normally do is we’ll get a call with the client and ask what they want to achieve. We’ll load that information into our portal and send it off to the experts at REHAU and get a draft design that we can discuss with the client. If they’re happy with that, we move it to the detail design, the next step which has all the calculations, and the floor layouts. That’s probably a two-week process from start to finish and then the client will have what they need for their building permit.”

That’s probably a two-week process from start to finish and then the client will have what they need for their building permit.

This detailed design process is key to making hydronic heating even more comfortable and cost-effective than it naturally is. Clients are also well-advised on how to use and manage their systems, aided by the market-leading products from Heatmiser that utilise smart technology with apps that give you direct access and control from your phone.

“It’s so easy, but it’s got so much information. You can look at each room and it’ll show you a heat curve with what it’s done during the day and where your energy costs are. You can then dial those room temperatures down if it’s too warm to save energy costs. You can also turn your heating on and off on your phone instantly wherever you are in the world. It’s come on leaps and bounds and become so cost-effective.”

A partnership with Hunt Heating that adds even more value

On top of their knowledge (which includes the experts at REHAU), Warm NZ is partnering with Hunt Heating, Australasia’s largest heating supplier, in an arrangement that will add even more expertise, product choices and project possibilities. Sean explains it’s a partnership that stems from a 10-year working relationship, enabling a seamless transition and immediate benefits for all involved.

“We started our relationship getting gas boilers through Hunt but they had such a wide range of products and design, service and technical knowledge that it naturally grew from that. We’ve always had that design expertise in the floor with REHAU and now we’ve got a design team in the plant room as well with Hunt Heating. They also own Hydro Heat which is the commercial division, offering solutions for commercial applications that our customers will be able to take advantage of.”

The significance of Hunt Heating’s industry experience cannot be overstated and is a quality that will permeate through all stages of future projects including the unexpected challenges that often arise.

“We can go to a job and we might come across a problem we’ve never had before. We’ll ring the guys there and talk to them, bounce ideas around and we can find solutions a lot quicker. Again, it’s pulling their expertise and sharing knowledge to give better outcomes that will improve systems, make them more energy efficient and benefit the end user.”

It’s pulling their expertise and sharing knowledge to give better outcomes that will improve systems, make them more energy efficient and benefit the end user.

As mentioned already, this new partnership also promises to give more and greater access to new, exciting and innovative products that will transform heating solutions in ways that you might not ordinarily expect.

“They have an extensive range of brands and stock giving us a much broader offering to our customers. I think the option of being able to now attach on cooling with the Baxi Fan Coil Range, which can fit inside cupboards, is going to make a big difference. Instead of having to have forced hot air, you can have your underfloor heating in the winter, which is passive, and then you can have it chilling the room in summer where it just takes the edge off it.”

Learn more about WarmNZ underfloor heating here: https://warmnz.co.nz/product-underfloor-heating/