Heat pumps are the perfect solution to maintain ideal temperature for your home all year round. They have bridged the gap between early adopters and the wider population over the last 15 years, becoming a highly preferable form of home heating and cooling in New Zealand.
Using a heat pump is convenient, effective, reliable and energy efficient. On average, a heat pump can produce up to 4.5kw of heat for every 1kw of electricity used. Or, put in another way, it gives you $4.50 worth of heat for every $1 worth of power. A typical heat pump costs about $250/year to run, while the most efficient 7-star models cost only $180/year to operate. It just makes sense.
Heat pump supply in Auckland
As demand for heat pumps ballooned, the number of heat pump providers also grew. The latest BRANZ survey in 2007 revealed that 19% of Kiwi homes already have a heat pump installed and, with ‘clean’ air regulations put to place, the number of installations has increased dramatically over the years.
Today, there are around 70 suppliers in Auckland. Included in this number are specialist heatpump installers like Kiwi Heat Pumps, building product retailers, heating appliance retailers and some electrical appliance retailers.
Does it matter which supplier you choose? Granted, all suppliers carry practically the same range of heat pumps, the level of service they provide will set the difference. Retailers usually provide the unit itself but not the installation service. On the other hand, specialist installers will do more than set up the unit in your home – they can help you choose the right product to cater your home heating needs.
There is a wide selection of heat pumps available today, with a diversity of brands, designs and technologies. Each brand carries a number of product ranges which include different models. And each model will feature different technologies and specifications.
Toshiba and Mitsubishi are popular choices for their advanced technology, reliability and durability. They offer a comprehensive range of sizes, allowing you to precisely control power consumption and temperature. Meanwhile, Fujitsu is highly recommended by Asthma New Zealand for its world exclusive self-cleaning filters – an automatic filter that cleans itself, sterilises dirt and dust and refreshes the air. Other models also have plasma filters that remove dust and dirt from the air and absorb unpleasant household odours.
Heat pumps sold in New Zealand must legally comply with minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and mandatory energy performance labelling (MEPL) requirements. MEPS and MEPL helps consumers to compare and select more efficient models, which help to save on running costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the life of the product.
Another thing to consider is that outdoor conditions will affect the performance of your heat pump. For instance, Auckland and Queenstown experience different climates and weather patterns, so appropriate unit selection is critical.
Specialist installers know this too well, so they can help solve the guesswork when comparing options for your home. They also have practical knowledge of commonly reported issues with different brands, since they also carry out repairs for those.
Heat pump installation
The most common types of heat pump installed in Kiwi homes are air-to-air, reverse-cycle, single-split systems that consist of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit (compressor). Back-to-back installation of outdoor and indoor units guarantees the lowest installation costs, but this may not be possible for some homes.
Installing a heat pump involves piercing the building envelope, but it can be done in New Zealand without a building consent. It also involves electrical work which must be undertaken by registered tradespeople, so you will find that it’s more convenient to take advantage of a full end-to-end service.
Factors that will influence heat pump installation costs include:
- the size of your heat pump
- the length of pipe run between the outdoor and indoor units
- the type of wiring (local circuit or switchboard)
- the length of capping for the pipes
- the need for pavers and feet for the outdoor unit
For more information about heat pump installation, give us a call today!