We have a ASHP which runs for 1hr in the AM and 3hrs in the PM in winter set to 19 degrees. Solar water pretty much deals with all our water needs except in middle of winter when there is a rippled controller that has an immerser. Generally the house stays warm enough (with a jumper on) through winter but we do leave the HP on sometimes at night or light the (open) fire !
Saying that, everyone that comes in says how warm it is which pretty much tells you everything you need to know about NZ house insulation - there is none. A house like ours with properly insulated walls, double glazing, solar and heat pump is quiet rare. If we get really cold we put more clothes on.
The only exception to this rule is the spa which sits at 40 degrees all year. Sorry about that.
Yep, I'd aim for 18-19 deg (e.g in the nursery) and see how it goes. To me, that's baking. To the missus, that's cold (usually). To monkey junior, probably about right.
I could be wrong, but IMO getting them accustomed to being outside, i.e all that fresh air regardless of temp (within reason), is a good way to hardy them up.
I agree with the numbers on the thermostat dial being arbortory, we have ours set to 21 but that only reaches 19 deg C on our weather station/thermometer thingy before clicking off.
With the overnight temperatures dropping to about 5 deg C the temp in the living room goes down to about 15 deg C from the 19 deg C it was when we went to bed and it takes a while to warm up again (i.e. only reaching about 17 deg C before we leave for work).
Think i'll set the heating to come on a little earlier this year and drop the temp of the hot water as mentioned above as that gets very hot (I've already reduced the amount of time the hot water is on).
