Freezing at home? The heating that keeps you warm and adds value to your property

If you're one of those people shivering through another winter and vowing to invest in new heating in time for the next one, your head is likely spinning from all the choices.

In a country where climate extremes are becoming the new normal, and energy efficiency is more important than ever, Australian homeowners are faced with an increasing number of heating options from affordable choices such as split systems and wood burners to smarter, more sustainable options.

But when it comes to heating that will not only keep you warm, but add value to your home, most experts say there are a couple of heating choices you can't go past.

Topping the list is electric hydronic heating which is quickly emerging as the gold standard when it comes to heating your home in Australia, particularly in cooler climates, such as Victoria, Tasmania and Canberra and regional NSW.

Simon Clark, president of the Sustainable Builders Alliance and the founder and director of Sustainable Homes Melbourne says hydronic heating is the "bees' knees" when it comes to heating your home, particular for those with older, "leaky" homes.

By leaky, he means drafty homes with poorly sealed windows and doors, gaps in flooring, and inadequate insulation, which are more common in older homes.

"Hydronic heating is a lovely ambient heat that just stays in the home and doesn't blow through and out of the home like a lot of the breezier alternatives," Mr Clark says.

While you can get both gas and electric hydronic heating, Mr Clark says an increasing number of home buyers are now specifically looking for no-gas homes.

Goodbye to gas

He says renovating or building a home with electric heating, especially if it can be powered by solar panels can add enormous value to a home.

"One of the biggest objectives for most of our clients we work with now, whether it's a renovation of an old home or a new home, is to have no gas," Mr Clark says.

The latest electric hydronic heating can be effectively run using solar power, offering a sustainable and efficient way to heat homes.

By pairing solar panels with a heat pump or electric boiler, the system can utilise solar energy to heat water, which is then circulated through pipes for heating the space, either through underfloor heating or radiator panels.

Mr Clarke says while electric hydronic heating is 60 to 80 per cent more costly to install than gas, if it is powered by solar panels, it ends up being far cheaper, and more sustainable in the long run.

Peter Stephens from real estate agent Nelson Alexander in Carlton North says installing a good hydronic heating system will add value to any home located in a cooler climate.

"Home buyers, particularly down here in Melbourne, love hydronic heating, and we are finding more and more buyers carefully considering the energy efficiency of a home when they are buying," he says.

"So, they are not just looking at the energy efficiency of the heating but the passive orientation of the entire home, including things like double-glazed windows and the thermal quality of the home," he says.

Hot property: heating and selling price

Mario Sanfrancesco from Blackshaw Manuka says in Canberra where it is mandatory to have an energy rating on every property that goes to market, choosing the right heating can have a significant impact on the selling price.

"In Canberra, heating is a very important consideration for home buyers, given how grey and cold it can be."

"Not only that, a good energy rating can really add to the value of your home, so it really is important to think through your heating options, in terms of costs, efficiency and sustainability," Mr Sanfrancesco says.

He says the heating choices that add the most value to homes in Canberra include ducted heating systems and hydronic heating.

"Ducted heating definitely adds value to a home compared to say a split system, while some of the higher-end builds now have hydronic in-floor slab heating which really boosts the price of a home," he says.

Mr Sanfrancesco says while good ducted and hydronic heating will add value to a home in a cold-climate environment, it is just as important to ensure the home includes other energy efficiencies such as good insulation and double or triple glazing on the windows.

"You can have the best form of heating but if you're losing that heat through inefficiencies like lots of windows and hard surfaces than it can be counterproductive," he says.

Wood fires add ambience

While split systems are one of the most common and affordable heating options for Australian homes, they don't necessarily add great dollar value to a property, particularly for bigger homes or those located in cooler areas of Australia.

Meanwhile, experts agree open fireplaces and wood heaters do add value, mainly for the ambience and charm they add to a home.

And for those appealing to high-end home buyers, underfloor heating in bathrooms and ensuites can definitely boost the price of a home.

Mr Collins says electric hydronic heating is by far the best option for older homes dealing with drafts and poor insulation.

"You always want to try and make a home as airtight as possible but if you're dealing with a leaky home the ambient heat from a hydronic system is your best bet," he says.