Frequently Asked Questions

Installation costs can vary a lot depending on what is required but for a standard 'back to back' installation on an external wall you should allow around $1000. For an internal wall installation with a condensate pump then you should allow around $1500.

A condensate pump is a small water pump that usually sits in the ceiling about the heat pump indoor unit. These pumps are required when it is not possible to connect a gravity drain from the indoor unit to outside the house. When you run a heat pump in cooling then some condensation is produced at the indoor unit and this needs to be drained, or pumped, to outside.

Yes - all domestic heat pumps sold in New Zealand can do both heating and cooling. Some heat pumps can only do cooling but these are typically only sold in hot countries where heating is never required. Some commercial heat pump systems only do cooling as well, but these are typically for industrial applications.

Most people find around 22 degrees is comfortable for either heating or cooling. It comes down to personal preference though and if you find 22 degrees is not quite right for you then go up or down a degree until you are comfortable.

For most situations we recommend setting the fan to "Auto" speed as this will allow the heat pump to select the best fan speed for the temperature that is set on the remote controller. If the fan speed it set to "Quiet" or low fan speed it can restrict the amount of heating or cooling that can be achieved and therefore reduce the effectiveness of the heat pump.

The running costs for a heat pump will vary a huge amount depending on a large number of factors and there is no single right answer to this question. Running costs are typically about 1/4 of the equivalent electric heating costs and a typical single living room heat pump might cost $2 - $5 a day to run during winter. A large ducted heat pump system doing a whole house might cost $5 - $10 a day to run. It will depend very much on the heat pump capacity, how long you run it for, what temperature you have it set at, what the temperature is outside, what your insulation is like, what power rate you are on, etc etc.

Have you ever wondered about the science behind your heat pump? We've created an informative video that breaks down the inner workings of an air source heat pump, explaining the refrigeration cycle that allows it to heat your home in winter and cool it in summer. Learn about key components like the compressor and reversing valve, and discover how clever engineering ensures your heat pump operates efficiently and effectively all year round.

Clean the filters yourself every one to three months, and have a professional service the unit every one to two years. If you run it year-round, or you're in a coastal or dusty part of Christchurch, make that annually. Filter cleaning is the job that matters most and the one most people skip.

It depends on room volume, ceiling height, insulation, glazing, which way the room faces and how open the plan is — not just floor area. An undersized unit runs flat out and never quite gets there; an oversized one short-cycles, which is inefficient and harder on the compressor. A correctly sized mid-range unit will outperform a poorly sized premium one, which is why we measure the space rather than quote off a floor plan.

All major heat pump brands have models that are suitable for Christchurch. We install Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Panasonic, Fujitsu and Hitachi, and the right choice depends on the room and the budget more than the badge. When comparing brands the most important considerations are rated output (kW), energy efficiency, and noise levels, personal preference, and budget.

Yes, and it's a common job for us in Christchurch. In Environment Canterbury's Clean Air Zones, on sites under two hectares, existing low-emission burners can be used for up to 20 years from installation, and any new burner must be an ultra-low emission model. A lot of burners installed in the 2000s are reaching that point now. Sizing matters more than usual on these jobs, because a heat pump heats very differently from a fire.

Most heat pumps last 10 to 15 years. That's the life of the system as a whole, though — it's normal for individual components to need replacing along the way, and fan motors and circuit boards are the most common. General wear and tear happens to any heat pump regardless of brand. Keeping the filters clean and having the unit serviced regularly won't make it last forever, but it does tend to keep it at the upper end of that range rather than the lower.

Anywhere from a day to three days, depending on the type of system. A single room heat pump is typically installed in a single day. A small multi-split might also be done in a day, but usually needs a team of two or three installers. A ducted system generally takes a team two to three days.Beyond the system type, the building itself makes a difference — how easily new services can be run through it, and how complex the design is on larger systems. We'll give you a realistic timeframe when we quote.

No — building consent isn't typically required to install a heat pump, and for the vast majority of installations there's no issue with consent or other building legislation.The work still has to meet the relevant regulations. Electrical standards must be followed on every job. On new builds, all relevant building code requirements apply to penetrations through the building envelope, and a producer statement may also be required.