Looking for a heat pump or air conditioning unit in Taupo and needs some advice? 

The benefits of having a heatpump in your home or workplace are outlined below.

From frequently asked questions to the right advice when selecting a heat pump, Taupo Heating Solutions offer the answers and advice to all your heat pump and air conditioning needs.

 

Key Factors When Choosing a Heat Pump

CAPACITY

Heat pumps come spec’d with different power outputs, you need one that suits the size of the room it is heating or cooling. Too small can be inefficient and noisy, too big can be draughty and have erratic temperature control.

LOCATION

Just as in real estate location (of the unit in your home) is very important and will play a big part in it’s effectiveness. We will advise on the ideal system and placement of a it to ensure even room heating without creating drafts. With many years’ experience we know every trick in the book to ensure a successful outcome.

TYPE OF SYSTEM

There are different types of Heat Pump systems available each with their own pros & cons, we can walk you through them during an appraisal.

WALL MOUNTED

These are the most common type of heat pump, taking up little space and are the most affordable option.

FLOOR MOUNTED

The best option when a wall mounted unit isn’t feasible, these are also great when replacing a fixed gas heater.

DUCTED

For heating multiple rooms from one unit which is usually located out of the way in a roof cavity or under the house.

Benefits of a Heat Pump System at your home or workplace:

EFFICIENT

Heat pumps popularity is mainly due to them being the most cost effective way to heat your home, better than any other method. Heat pumps cost 5-9c/kw vs electric heater 30c/kw.

QUALITY AIR

Heat pumps filter the air as it passes through it, removing dust & other particles from the air improving the air purity which is especially helpful to asthma & allergy sufferers.

LESS HUMIDITY

As the system runs it draws moisture out of the air, dryer air is released into the house which is better to breathe and helps maintain a dry mold free home.

FAMILY FRIENDLY

Unlike most other heating systems like heaters and fireplaces there are no hot surfaces on a heat pump making them much safer especially if you have children at home.

ALL YEAR COMFORT

Dual modes of both heating & cooling means you can control the temperature to be whatever you like, affordable climate comfort all year round.

HOUSE VALUE

Along with the numerous benefits from installing a heat pump system, it also improves the value of your home by adding another asset.

FAQs

FAQs

DO YOU RECOMMEND USING A HEAT TRANSFER SYSTEM IN CONJUNCTION WITH A HEAT PUMP?

No we don't for a number of reasons.  Firstly, a heat pump is really only suitable for one area of the house.  Sucking the warmed or cooled air out of that room with a "heat transfer" system will result in an uneven room temperature and increased high power bills.  Secondly, the recommended winter temperature for a heat pump is around 21-22 deg for a living area, or around 16 deg for a bedroom.  By the time this air (16 - 22 deg) has mixed with and diluted the much colder air in other rooms of the house the difference in temperature of those rooms is barely noticable.

IS IT TRUE THAT HEAT PUMPS USE LESS POWER IF THEY ARE LEFT ON ALL THE TIME?

No.  This is a myth.  It will cost a lot more to maintain a specific temperature in a room 24hours than it will for just a few hours per day.  Mike Underhill of EECA states in NZ Herald "leaving the heat pump running 24hrs a day would clearly push the powerbill up"
However the way a retired elderly person compared to a young couple out at work all day should use a heat pump is completely different. We are happy to explain in detail during the consultation.

IS A HEAT PUMP LIKE A VENTILATION SYSTEM?

No. A heat pump is principally for heating or cooling your home. A ventilation system uses a fan to blow air from the ceiling cavity into your home, and is primarily for reducing condensation. 

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MAJOR BRAND HEAT PUMPS?  

Most leading brand heat pumps are very similar in the way the operate and their functions and features.  It really comes down to small differences in efficiency, physical size and appearance, length of warranty, and price.  We have chosen to deal with Fujitsu they have a small edge over the other brands in all of these areas. 

WHAT DOES C.O.P. MEAN?

Co-efficient Of Performance. If a heat pump has a COP of 4.0, this means for every kilowatt of electrical energy consumed, 4.0kilowatts of heat is produced, or in other terms $4 of heat for $1 cost.  The higher the COP the more efficient the heat pump is.  Fujitsu heat pumps are market leading in efficiency.

WHAT DOES E.E.R. MEAN?

Energy Efficiency ratio.  This is basically the C.O.P. for the cooling efficiency of the heat pump.

HOW ARE HEAT PUMPS BETTER THAN OTHER FORMS OF HEATING?

• Heat pumps provide 3-5 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 them extremely safe for children and elderly people, and they present no fire danger. 
• Heat pumps do not burn oxygen, create poisonous gases, unpleasant odours, or damp and unhealthy air like gas heaters. 
• Heat pumps can be used to cool your home in summer. 
• Heat pumps do not pollute the atmosphere with CO2 or other greenhouse gases.
• Warming your home is as easy as pressing a button on the remote control.
• A correctly sized heat pump will warm the entire room in 10 - 30 minutes.  No more huddling in front of heaters on cold nights.
They are usually very simple and cost effective to install unlike fireplaces and gas fires.

DO HEAT PUMPS NEED TO BE INSTALLED 'BACK-TO-BACK' ON AN EXTERIOR WALL?

Heat pumps can be installed on almost any wall, as long as there is a suitable route for piping and wiring to be run to outside. Back to back installation where possible does mean costs are kept to a minimum, as condensate pumps and other accessories are not required.

ARE SOME HEAT PUMPS NOISIER THAN OTHERS?

Some manufacturers like to make a big deal out their "quiet" models.  The fact is, all leading brands of heat pumps are extremely quiet, and it is impossible for the human ear to detect the difference in noise levels of 1 or 2 decibels. The only noise from the indoor unit is the fan noise, which on quiet mode is almost silent. The decibel ratings for heat pumps are listed in the product brochures. 

DO HEAT PUMPS NEED MAINTENANCE?

The only maintenance required is the vacuuming or washing of the filters every 4 - 8 weeks, (depends on how much the heat pump is used) which can be done easily by the owner of the heat pump. If you feel your heat pump is not performing properly we are happy to come and test/service the system for you.

HOW IS A HEAT PUMP OPERATED?

Heat pumps 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 on your return from work, or first thing in the morning.

MY HOME IS BOTH COLD AND DAMP.  AM I BETTER OFF WITH A VENTILATION SYSTEM OR A HEAT PUMP?

A ventilation system will not heat your home, nor will a heat pump rid your home of condensation.  Although some ventilation systems have in-built heaters, this is to prevent your home being cooled as the system must run during cold winter nights to stop the condensation build up in the morning.  And although most heat pumps have a dehumidify function, this is a gentle cooling process and is unsuitable in winter when the condensation occurs. The Best solution for the central plateau region is to install a heat pump, do your best to extract steam etc from the house, with the best practical advice coming from EECA open a window or two during the day and let the house “air".  

WHY SHOULD I USE TAUPO HEATING SOLUTIONS TO INSTALL MY HEAT PUMP?

We are accredited installers for Fujitsu, and offer an extended Fujitsu 6-year warranty, (a full year longer than non-accredited installers).  As we carry out the entire sales / installation / wiring process ourselves we are able to minimise our costs and offer very competitive prices. 

CAN I PURCHASE A HEAT PUMP FROM YOU AND ARRANGE MY OWN INSTALLATION?

No, our suppliers like to have quality control over their product.  We do not supply heat pumps without installation included.  An improperly installed heat pump will cost a lot more to run and will have a significantly shortened life.

A  VENTILATION COMPANY TOLD ME THAT I CAN "RECOVER THE FREE HEAT" FROM MY ROOF SPACE AND USE IT TO HEAT MY HOUSE MORE EFFICIENTLY THAN A HEAT PUMP.  IS THIS TRUE?

NO!  We live in the Central Plateau! We have come across many customers who have bought a ventilation system after being told it would significantly heat their home with free warm air from the roof space.  Even on a sunny winters day the air in the roof space is only slightly warmer than outside.  Cloudy or wet winter days and at night (the times when your home most requires heating) the roof space air is as cold as it is outside and there is absolutely no "free heat"!  Blowing this cold air into your home with a "heat recovery ventilation" system will unfortunately not heat your home at all...it will probably do the opposite!