Anyone Used TurboHeat before?

[Deactivated] on 12/07/2021 - 13:41
Last edited 12/07/2021 - 13:44

Hello,

Building a home and looking at options for heating and cooling. We've insulated the walls, ceilings and sheets and are trying to find a low cost way to heat up and cool down the house in terms of installation and running cost. We won't be installing an reverse cycle AC at the moment as we want to see how hot or cold it will be with the insulation and monitor for around a year before we decide to proceed.

For cooling, we will be installing fans in every room and cooling isn't much of a problem for us compared to heating. Wanting to go with a wood fireplace and use an air transfer kit to transfer the air but I've read that its not as effective. Stumbled upon TurboHeat, which uses air inside the flute or something to transfer heat around the home and is more effective but its more expensive at around 10 grand in total for supply and installation for 10-12 vents.

Anyone have any experience with them or recommend which is better or other alternatives?

Thanks!

Home & Garden

Related Stores

turboheat.net.au
turboheat.net.au

Comments

  • ShortyX on 12/07/2021 - 14:04

    We won't be installing an reverse cycle AC at the moment as we want to see how hot or cold it will be with the insulation and monitor for around a year before we decide to proceed.

    I'd say just install ducted air con as it's much easier to install while the house is being built. It will help keep the whole house at a comfortable temp and add value to the house if you decide to sell.

    For cooling, we will be installing fans in every room and cooling isn't much of a problem for us compared to heating.

    Which location? Insulation will help but sometimes air con is needed to bring the temp down a bit more.

    • [Deactivated] on 12/07/2021 - 14:36

      Location = WA

      We're trying to keep the cost at a minimum which is why we're not installing it now. A year will give us some time to financially be able to install it.

  • enigma48 on 12/07/2021 - 14:54
    +1

    No TurboHeat experience here I'm afraid.

    As far as efficiency goes, split system/reverse cycle are the cheapest to run - which it sounds like you already know all about. I'm confused about the "not going to install it this year to save money for now" comment, but you're looking at $10k uncommon option? As a temporary fix or the long term heating option? Not criticising.

    Is it possible to pick a few rooms you use frequently, warm them using space heaters temporarily, then look at a less risky long term fix next winter? They aren't cheap but one expensively warmed winter costing hundreds is less risky than dropping $10k on a system with little evidence. (Asking around for experience is good but one or two good stories probably wouldn't be enough to convince me, personally

    I had a quick look around and most of what I found is the rare 5-star perfectly happy customers and people looking for information (with zero replies). Personally, I probably wouldn't risk it.

    • [Deactivated] on 12/07/2021 - 16:09

      Thanks for the comment. Our original plan was to go ahead with the split system ducted option but looking into it from online reviews and asking around at friends and family, they've said that its quite expensive to run even with zoning as though heat is only being sent to a single room, the compressor is still running at power. I've called up TurboHeat and though it would be a 10k investment, fire wood won't be a problem due to it being available for free on FB and Gumtree and TurboHeat's FB reviews look genuine. I even asked the guy I called up from TurboHeat if he had the same system installed in his house and he said yea (hopefully he wasn't lying) and it runs well.

      • mskeggs on 12/07/2021 - 19:35

        Why not install 2 or 3 cheap split systems? Run only the one(s) you need, and cheaper to install, and if one breaks you still have options for heating/cooling.

        How often do you need to heat or cool the entire house? You can’t use every room at once.

  • AuzzieGumtree on 12/07/2021 - 15:56
    +1

    I looked into it when i moved to the new house as i have a lot of 'free' firewood only costs sweat equity. For the cost of TurboHeat it actually worked out cheaper to fit hydronic heating. We have radiators in the majority of rooms and it is the best thing we ever did in regards home reno. all up it cost $11000 with an oversized Sime boiler and an Ex-POM who fitted and balanced the whole system. We are living in Victoria - the cold part of victoria… Still have the wood heater which runs really well but not as convenient.

    • [Deactivated] on 12/07/2021 - 16:11

      Thanks! I guess I will most likely install the system in my house and report back on here and to the other sites whether its good or not. I still have a few months to decide.

      • [Deactivated] on 12/07/2021 - 20:03

        the system as in the TurboHeat system

    • mskeggs on 12/07/2021 - 19:39

      Do you need to run the fire hotter to make the hydronic effective?
      We’ve had gas hydronic in a past house, and it is the best form of heating available and it would be good to run it on renewable wood.

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