Snow or Sun it's business for Mike

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 31, 22 January 1985, Page 7

Snow or Sun it's business for Mike

A guarantee to cut your power bill in half is being offered by a new business which will open in Raetihi next week. The company — Snowline Home Improvement Services — will offer super-efficient water heating systems as well as exterior and interior house cladding and a painting and decorating service. The man behind the new business is Mr Mike Gibbes, who grew up in Taihape but moved to Tauranga where, in recent years, he ran his own painting and decorating business. However, he has been returning to the Ruapehu region regularly to ski and he and his wife Daryl have now decided to move here with their 18-month-old daughter Laura, to live. At present they are staying with Philip and Belinda Stevens at their home outside Ohakune, while they are looking for a property in Raetihi.

Mike feels this area is ideal for his new business as it is growing, but there are also a number of older properties which need work doing on them. The colder climate should also provide him with plenty of customers for his heating units. The unit Mike will be selling was invented by Tauranga engineer Henry Marshall. The Marshall heaters burn wood, rags, paper or any household rubbish. The method of housing the firebox and flue of the heater in water eliminates fire risk and means that every inch of possible heat is trapped and transferred to the water heating system. The heaters can also be used to heat swimming pools and spa pools as well as domestic water radiators. In fact, Mike claims that due to the radiators having a special fan which circulates hot air throughout the home, only one radiator is

needed in an average sized house. The hot water unit can heat sixty gallons of water from cold in forty-five minutes, and even larger units are popular with farmers and horticulturists. Mike is a true believer in his product, as before he started his painting and decorating business in Tauranga, he worked for Marshall Heaters Ltd making the units he now sells. In addition to their heating and money-saving properties, certain types of Marshall Heaters can be used to provide free cooking as well. Although the Waimarino's cool winters should result in good business for Mike, he won't be too upset if the sun shines — as he also plans to sell solar heating units!