The true art of heating
ASHOP that sells bespoke infrared panel heaters could be mistaken for an art gallery. Indeed, the question most people ask when they walk into the Sonnanz showroom, in the Chaffers Dock Apartment Building on Herd St, is: ‘‘Is this an art gallery?’’
‘‘The panels have only been for sale in New Zealand for a couple of weeks now and it takes some time for people to realise that they are actually heaters and not prints,’’ Sonnanz proprietor Arne Roebern says.
‘‘I have had a couple of panels printed with my own photos and I am having bespoke designs created by a young Auckland designer to suit the Kiwi design palette.’’
But it’s not just the unique appeal of these individually decorated portable heaters that distinguishes Sonnanz from other household heaters.
They also use a technology that Roebern claims is more energy efficient and versatile.
‘‘Infrared rays warm objects, like the sun does, and not the air,’’ he says.
‘‘The panel heaters do not create any noise, do not stir up dust as fan heaters do and therefore are much better for asthma sufferers.
‘‘They also enhance blood flow – in my youth, my soccer injuries were treated with infrared technology – do not create moisture and, if used correctly, prevent dampness building up.’’
Roebern was introduced to infrared technology by his uncle in Germany.
‘‘Before retirement, he made his living in the heating industry and he thought infrared technology was the next big thing.
‘‘I found the concept appealing, and upon my return to New Zealand I started to find out more information, and decided to import sample panels for trial by myself and some friends.’’
Convinced of the technology’s potential, he bulk ordered panels but had to obtain a special compliance certificate for the New Zealand market.
‘‘I also – unscientifically – checked in my home just how much power they used.
They were touted as using up to 70 per cent less electricity.
‘‘On my own domestic plan I figured that the panel I was testing cost about 10 cents an hour to run, which confirmed the savings as promised.’’
In Germany, 400-watt heaters are recommended to heat 12 square metres of room space.
‘‘In my experience here in New Zealand, a 400-watt heater will comfortably warm our living room, which is about 25 square metres, on a mild night, but on particularly cold nights we’ve had a 600-watt heater running.’’
Roebern says flexible mounting options makes the heaters ideal for apartments or flats where other heaters are often impractical or cannot be installed.
The heaters range in price from $350 for a 400w model to $750 for a 1200w model.
These models can be wall mounted or used with stand feet (which cost $20).
Models that can be ceiling mounted as well cost $20-$50 more.
Adding a thermostat costs another $60 and adorning the heaters with your own images costs $100 extra.
Roebern offers a one-year guarantee and estimates if the panels were used seven months a year for 10 hours a day, they would have a lifespan of about 50 years.
‘‘And they’re completely maintenance free.’’
His showroom opens from 10am4pm Tuesday to Friday, and from 10am-1pm Saturdays and Sundays.