Getting the Size Right Before Anything Else
Most heat pump complaints come back to the same thing - the unit was never the right size for the space. Too small and it runs flat out on the coldest mornings and still never quite gets there. Too large and it short cycles, which is noisy, wears the compressor and costs more to run than it should.
We measure the room, look at the glazing, the ceiling height, the insulation and which way the house faces, then recommend a capacity from that. It is a ten minute conversation on site that saves years of frustration, and it costs you nothing.
Book a free on site quote for your heat pump
Hi-Wall and Floor Mounted Units
A hi-wall unit is the standard choice for most lounges and bedrooms. It sits high on the wall, throws air right across the room, and is the cheapest option to buy and install.
A floor mounted console suits rooms with no clear wall space up high, sloped ceilings, or where you want warm air arriving at floor level - which is often more comfortable in an older, draughtier house. They also suit bedrooms, because the air is not blowing straight down onto the bed.
Ducted Systems for the Whole House
A ducted system puts one indoor unit in the roof space or under the floor and feeds every room through insulated ducting and discreet outlets. There is no box on the wall in any room, just a slim grille in the ceiling or floor and a single controller.
Ducted is the right answer for new builds, full renovations, and homes where you want an even temperature everywhere rather than one warm room and a cold hallway. We run the ducting, fit the outlets, do the electrical work and commission the system.
Hot Water Heat Pumps
Water heating is usually the second biggest slice of a New Zealand power bill after space heating. A hot water heat pump moves heat out of the outside air into the cylinder rather than using an element to create it, which cuts the energy used for hot water considerably.
They suit households with steady, predictable hot water use. We will tell you honestly whether your situation suits one and what the payback looks like against the cylinder you already have.
Servicing, Repairs and Warranty Work
We service and repair heat pumps of any brand across Northland, whether we installed them or not. A yearly service means cleaning filters and coils, checking refrigerant pressures, clearing the condensate drain and making sure the outdoor unit is not choked with leaves or salt.
Northland air is salty and humid, which is harder on outdoor coils than most of the country. Regular servicing is what keeps a unit running at its rated efficiency and keeps the manufacturer warranty valid.
Heat Pump Installation Questions
The questions we get asked most often before a heat pump installation in Whangarei and around Northland.
A straightforward single hi-wall unit is usually a one day job and often half a day. A ducted system through a whole house takes two to four days depending on the size of the house and how easy the roof space or subfloor is to work in. We give you a realistic timeframe with the quote.
A standard heat pump installation does not need building consent. The electrical work does have to be carried out by a registered electrician and certified, which we handle in house. Commercial installations, and anything involving cutting structural framing, can be different - we will tell you at quoting stage if that applies to your job.
Somewhere with clear airflow around it, out of the worst of the salt spray if you are near the coast, and where the noise will not sit under a bedroom window. Keeping the pipe run short between indoor and outdoor units also helps efficiency. We work it out with you on site, because it is one of the decisions that most affects how well the system performs.
Yes. A multi split system runs several indoor units from one outdoor unit, which saves space and looks tidier. It suits houses where you want two or three rooms done but a full ducted system is more than you need. There are trade offs around running rooms at different temperatures, and we will walk you through them before you decide.
A modern inverter heat pump delivers roughly three to four units of heat for every unit of electricity it uses, which is why it beats a plug in heater or an element by a wide margin. The actual cost depends on the size of the space, how well insulated it is and the temperature you set. There is useful independent information on heat pump running costs from EECA.
Why Choose JP Air Con for Heat Pump Installation?
Seven years fitting heat pumps in Northland conditions, with our own registered electricians on the team.
