How to Choose a Heat Pump for Your Home

Are you considering buying a heat pump?

There are so many different options for choosing a heat pump for your home. There are even more choices when deciding on the type of heat pump you want.

So, let’s start with the basics.

Heat pumps are a common way to heat in New Zealand, especially during the winter. Heat pumps can cool and warm air, which is why more and more Wellington households are choosing them as an alternative to traditional air conditioning throughout the summer months as well.

It can be hard to choose which is best for you and where to start looking.

What type of heat pump should you get?

What size heat pump is required for your house?

Standalone system or ducted?

How do they work?

What does a heat pump cost?

Don’t worry; we will break down all the information about what a heat pump does and tell you exactly what to look for to make an informed decision.

Energy Efficiency

When the weather outside gets chilly, many of us are subjected to rising heating costs. If you choose the proper heating solution, you may heat your house more efficiently while still feeling warm and comfortable.

The main benefit of heat pumps over other heating technologies is that they produce the most energy-efficient form of heat: in fact, heat pumps are the most energy-efficient way to warm or cool your home.

You can compare a heat pump’s effectiveness and running costs to those of other appliances here.

How Does A Heat Pump Work?

A heat pump, in heating, works similarly to a refrigerator in reverse, which means it draws in heat from the outside air and transfers it into your home using two coils, one internal and one external.

Single Room Heat Pumps vs Ducted Heat Pumps

Single room heat pumps

Single room heat pumps have an indoor unit internal to the space being heated, or cooled. The warm (or cooled) air generated by a single room heat pump is confined to the room in which a device is located.

A unit in main living areas means standalone heat pumps can be used efficiently, only heating or cooling the main living rooms.

However, this also means that you may not be able to regulate the temperature in all of your rooms.

Ducted heat pumps

Ducts for ducted heat pumps, on the other hand, deliver heated or chilled air into each room in the house via ducts generally installed in the home’s roof ceiling or below a home using the crawl space underneath.

Ducted heat pumps are a fantastic choice for individuals who don’t want to see the unit inside of their houses and also want to adjust the temperature of the entire house.

The system is controlled by a single central unit so that each space will have the same temperature.

One drawback is that ducting can increase installation costs, be a more invasive installation process, and be more expensive due to its greater complexity.

What Size Heat Pump Do You Need?

The size of the heating system you require is determined mainly by the size of the room you wish to heat. If you get a heat pump that is too small, it may have trouble keeping the space at a consistent temperature and will need to operate more frequently. The ideal size for your home depends on your personal preferences and requirements.

Your local Wellington and Lower Hutt expert heat pump installer can provide expert advice and advise you on the size of the heat pump solution you’ll need, and help you select the best system for your property.

How Much Does A Heat Pump Cost?

There are two variables to consider when looking at pricing: the cost of the installed equipment and its ongoing operating expenses.

Heat pumps are not all the same. Some heat pumps are far more energy-efficient than others, so it’s worth considering the energy efficiency rating when making your purchase.

What is the best way to find out what heat pump is the most energy-efficient?

The easiest way to find out about the energy efficiency of a heat pump is to check the Energy Star rating.

Saving money on your utility bills is only one of the many advantages that Energy Star-certified appliances have to offer.

EECA is a government agency in New Zealand that works to increase the energy efficiency of our homes. They’ve developed a star rating system for appliances so that consumers can make better energy choices. The greater the number of stars, the more energy-efficient an electrical device is.

You can learn more about the star ratings here EECA star rating.

Final thoughts

At Moore Energy, we offer excellent advice and a variety of heat pumps in different sizes to meet the needs of homeowners in the Lower Hutt and Wellington City regions.

We also provide installation and servicing services to ensure that your new heat pump works properly and efficiently.