Installing a heat pump can be an efficient way to cool your home in Summer and heat it in Winter.
Are you interested in adding a heat pump to your home? Most modern houses include a heat pump because heat pumps are an efficient and effective way to heat or cool your home.
Heat pumps give you total temperature control. They are also energy efficient and you can control the cost by setting the temperature you want to achieve. Heat pumps are also easy to operate – delivering heating or cooling functions at the press of a button.
If you’re considering installing a heat pump in your home, read on for this handy guide of what you need to know.
Before you invest in a heat pump
As with any type of heating or cooling system, the first step before you invest should be to make sure that your home is properly insulated. The right insulation will ensure that the money you spend on heating or cooling your home is not wasted. Read more about insulating your home properly.
What type of heat pump is right for your home?
Heat pumps come in two main formats – ducted or standalone.
What is a standalone heat pump?
Standalone heat pumps are usually a single indoor unit which is either wall mounted or floor standing, and is connected to an outdoor unit. Standard heat pumps are usually used to heat or cool a single room, with multiple units required if you want the same effect across the wider home.
What is a ducted heat pump?
Ducted heat pumps use floor or ceiling vents and connect them to a central heat pump unit in either the floor or ceiling. The ducted system is more complex to install but in return it delivers heating or cooling to every room the homeowner installs a duct into.
Which heat pump is right for my home?
Choosing between standard and ducted heat pumps is a combination of personal taste and logistics.
Which type of heat pump looks right in your home?
If you want the functionality of a heat pump without having to look at one, a ducted heat pump could be a good option for you. Ducted heat pumps are largely invisible and because they operate from within the ceiling or under the floor, they give you access to every room without having to find a wall space to mount them on.
High wall heat pumps can be a good option if you don’t mind the look of a heat pump or have a good wall space to mount one on. These standard heat pumps are mounted high on the wall and provide good heating or cooling power within the room in which they are installed.
If you’re looking for the functionality of a standard heat pump but you don’t have the wall space, a floor standing heat pump could be a good option for your home.
Can I install a ducted heat pump in my home?
Ducted heat pumps are more complicated to install than standard heat pumps, and that means they are more expensive. A good starting point if you’re considering ducted heat pumps is to contact a supplier and get a benchmark figure for the number of rooms you would like to heat or cool. This will give you an understanding of whether a ducted heat pump suits your budget.
Ducted heat pumps need either ceiling or floor access to be installed, with space for the main unit to be mounted in either the ceiling or floor cavity and connected to the outdoor unit nearby. If you’re not sure if your home is suited to a ducted heat pump installation, call an expert and they will be able to assess your options.
Can I install a standard heat pump in my home?
Standard heat pumps can be installed in most homes. The easiest way to install a standard heat pump is back to back on the same wall, with the indoor unit either floor or wall mounted and the outdoor unit on the outside of the same wall.
Standard heat pump installations can get more expensive if back to back installation is not an option and work is needed to connect the two units across the home or via interior walls.
Heat pumps also need to be carefully located in your home in order to ensure they work properly and deliver the heat or cooling air you require. A heat pump installer will be able to talk to you about the best location for your heat pump based on the layout of your home and the room you want to heat or cool.
What size of heat pump is right for my home?
Heat pumps increase in size to suit the volume of air you need to heat or cool. This is true for both standard heat pumps and ducted heat pumps. There are many different makes and models of heat pumps available so to choose the right heat pump for your home it’s a good idea to ask an expert.
How much does a heat pump cost?
Heat pumps have two costs – up front cost to purchase the heat pump and running costs to operate it. Choosing the right model of heat pump will help you to manage both costs so make sure you choose a size and make of heat pump that will suit your needs. Don’t forget to ask about the energy efficiency of the model your supplier recommends to make sure your running costs will be as low as possible.
Are you ready to install a heat pump?
If you are based in Napier, Hastings,Havelock North or the wider Hawke’s Bay region and would like to install a heat pump in your home or business, call East Coast Plumbing and Gas today. We supply and install Ducted and High Wall Mounted Rinnai Heat Pumps across Hawke’s Bay and all of our electrical work is carried out by registered electricians. East Coast Plumbing and Gas are a preferred supplier as part of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Sustainable Homes scheme. Contact our experts today and we’ll help you find the right solution to suit your budget and your needs.