Common questions about heat pumps
HOW ARE HEAT PUMPS BETTER THAN OTHER FORMS OF HEATING?
- Heat pumps provide 3-4 times the amount of heat per dollar than any other form of heating.
- Heat pumps do not have any hot surfaces like gas heaters, fireplaces, or electric heaters. This
makes heat pumps extemely safe for children and elderly people, and they present no fire danger.
- Heat pumps do not burn oxygen, create poisonous gases, unpleasent odours, or damp and unhealthy
air like gas heaters.
- Heat pumps can be used to cool your home in summer.
- Heat pumps do no pollute the atmosphere with CO2 or other greenhouse gases.
CAN HEAT PUMPS BE INSTALLED INTO AN EXISTING HOME?
- Yes, most of our heat pump installations are into existing homes.
WHAT ABOUT NEW HOME INSTALLATIONS?
- We can calculate and recommend the best heat pump system for your home based on the plans. Copper tubing and wiring is installed while the home is being built, and the indoor and outdoor unit are installed when the house is nearing completion.
- Heat pumps simply transfer free heat (not air) from one place to another, just like your refrigerator does. The heat that comes from the back of your fridge is coming from the inside. An evaporator coil extracts the warmth from the inside, and transfers it out into your kitchen through the condenser coil in the back.
Heat pumps work in the same way. Two coils, one inside your home and one outside are linked to draw warmth from the outside air (even on a cold kiwi’s winter night) and transfer it into your home.
That’s the major advantage over electric or gas heaters, as heat pumps have no heating element to burn energy. Then at the click of a switch a heat pump can run in reverse, acting as an air conditioner to pump heat out of your home reducing humidity and keeping it fresh and cool in summer.
DO HEAT PUMPS TAKE UP A LOT OF ROOM?
- Inside high-wall units take up no floor space, and both indoor and outdoor units can be installed in convenient and unobtrusive location.
IS A HEAT PUMP LIKE A VENTILATION SYSTEM?
- No. A heat pump is principally for heating or cooling your home. A ventilation system uses only a fan to blow air from the ceiling cavity into your home, and is primarily for reducing condensation
HOW IS AN INVERTER HEAT PUMP DIFFERENT TO A FIXED-SPEED HEAT PUMP?
- An inverter heat pump will automatically vary the speed of the compressor to match the heating / cooling needs of your home. A fixed speed heat pump will turn off when you room reaches the set temperature, and switch back on when the room cools down. An inverter heat pump will maintain your home at a much more even temperature, and approximately 30% more energy efficient than a fixed speed heat pump. Fixed speed heat pumps will eventually become obsolete.
DO HEAT PUMPS NEED TO BE INSTALLED BACK-TO-BACK ON AN EXTERIOR WALL?
- No. Heat pumps can be installed on almost any wall, as long as there is a suitable route for the piping and wiring to be run. Back to back installation where possible does mean costs are kept to a minimum, as condensate pumps and other accessories may be required for installation on interior walls.
HOW IS A HEAT PUMP OPERATED?
- They are controlled with an infrared remote control, with such features as on/off, desired temperature, heat/cool mode, fan speed, and can be programmed to operate at selected times, ensuring a warm home when you return home from work, or first thing in the morning.