Heat pumps use electricity to transfer thermal energy from the air and can transform one unit of electric energy into three or four units of heating. They are the most efficient way to use electricity in your home.
A heat pump can also provide air conditioning during hot Auckland summers. They can be installed as part of a new home build.
Energy efficiency
Heat pumps use electricity to shift ambient heat from the air into your home. They can convert one unit of electricity into three or more units of heating energy – so they’re the most energy efficient form of electric heating available, according to the government agency ECCA.
They’re also the most efficient way to cool your home. Air to air heat pumps (the most common in NZ) can cool your home for about the same amount of electrical energy as it takes to warm it, and many have a timer function that allows you to set the times you want to turn them on and off.
The popularity of heat pumps has made them a desirable feature in new homes, but they need to be properly designed and installed for maximum efficiency. This involves correctly sizing the system for your climate and home, selecting the right unit for your needs, and ensuring the system is weather tight (including through penetrations of external building cladding). Getting good advice is crucial.
Ease of installation
Heat pumps are wall-mounted or ducted units that circulate conditioned air through vents and ducts in your living areas. They warm your home in winter and cool it in summer. They also provide dehumidification, keeping your home healthy and dry.
They use electricity to work, but that electricity is produced much more efficiently than with gas heating or conventional air conditioning. That’s why they are an excellent option for new homes and renovations. You can even install them during the building process, allowing you to move into your newly built home without any heating or cooling worries.
A qualified heat pump installer will ensure your system is correctly sized for your building and lifestyle. They will take into consideration the size of your living areas, windows and other insulation to determine what sized heat pump you need. It is important to get this right. An incorrectly sized heat pump will not only be inefficient, but it can also cause problems with humidity and noise levels.
Energy savings
Heat pumps use less energy to heat your home, saving you money on electricity bills. They also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and are more environmentally friendly than other heating systems.
Heat Pumps extract energy from the air and ground to provide warmth for your home, making them more efficient than traditional heaters. They can even reverse their operation in the summer, cooling your home.
Air-to-air heat pumps are the most popular in New Zealand and work by transferring heat from the air to your house through a refrigerant system. They are suitable for most living areas but require adequate insulation to be effective in cold climates. Ground-to-air heat pumps can be more efficient in cold climates than air-to-air models because they operate at consistent sub-soil temperatures. They are also more expensive to install because they involve excavation and ductwork.
Maintenance
Heat pump installation Auckland is not cheap and like any large investment you should prioritise looking after it. One of the best ways to do that is through routine maintenance. It will help your system work at its peak performance, keeping energy costs low year after year.
A heat pump essentially pulls in air from the environment and transfers the thermal energy via a refrigeration cycle, cooling the cool space and heating the warm one. It can also be used for air-conditioning in warmer weather and has the added bonus of supplying hot water for washing and cooking.
A heat pump system is a complex piece of equipment and should only be installed by an experienced, accredited installer. The installer should be qualified as a refrigeration technician or registered electrician and have attended manufacturer courses on how to properly install and service these types of systems. They should also understand the effects of positioning and locating the indoor and outdoor units. They can also advise if the builder of your new home should incorporate the ducting and heat pump into the building process to ensure that it is located correctly, performs effectively and is covered by warranty.