31/01/26
Heat pumps are the mainstay in heating for most of New Zealand with around 67% of homes using them to heat in winter and stay cool in summer. They are so popular that over half the new homes being built, have heat pumps fitted as standard according to Oxygen Air – who are New Zealand’s leading installer of heat pumps.
But what is a heat pump, and what makes it the new standard in home heating? As the name suggests, a heat pump transfers heat. It doesn’t burn fuel or heat an element. It uses a refrigerant to extract heat from the outside air and pumps the warm air into your home. And it does so incredibly efficiently. In fact, for every one unit of energy used, today’s most efficient heat pumps can deliver up to five times the energy out. In other words, if you spend one dollar on electricity, you can get five dollars’ worth of warmth or cooling in summer. That’s sure to help with the bills!
Heat pumps are the mainstay in heating for most of New Zealand with around 67% of homes using them to heat in winter and stay cool in summer. They are so popular that over half the new homes being built, have heat pumps fitted as standard according to Oxygen Air – who are New Zealand’s leading installer of heat pumps.
But what is a heat pump, and what make it the new standard in home heating? As the name suggests, a heat pump transfers heat. It doesn’t burn fuel or heat an element. It uses a refrigerant to extract heat from the outside air and pumps the warm air into your home. And it does so incredibly efficiently. In fact, for every one unit of energy used, today’s most efficient heat pumps can deliver up to five times the energy out. In other words, if you spend one dollar on electricity, you can get five dollars’ worth of warmth or cooling in summer. That’s sure to help with the bills!
Heat pumps have come a long way over the last 20 years. Instead of noisy, ugly boxes, they are now fit unobtrusively in a home setting and can be wall, floor or ceiling mounted. They even come in different colours. Oxygen Air say that along with standard white or silver, brands like Mitsubishi Electric offer glossy black or red. There is also a move to tailor the look of outdoor units with heat pump covers that can be custom powder coated to match your exterior paint colour.
The latest heat pump models offer far more than efficient heating and cooling. They can dehumidify your home, they can get rid of that stale air smell at a touch of a button, and they can filter all sorts of nasties out of the air. They are smart, too. You can connect your mobile to your heat pump or multiple heat pumps and control your home from work…or anywhere in the world! So your home is always cozy and warm the moment you step in.
As mentioned, new units have sophisticated filters and some brands – like Panasonic have their own Nano technology that can charge the air molecules to trap allergens, dust and pollutants. The experts at Oxygen Air say cleaning the filters is essential to keeping the air in your home healthy and your unit operating efficiently. It’s also a job for the experts – not a man in a van! The refrigerant experts at Oxygen Air, for example, will not only clean the filters, but they’ll also check the heat pump’s refrigerant level and performance. Getting your heat pump regularly serviced will protect your investment and help you breathe a little easier.
After “what is a heat pump” your next question is usually “how many do I need?” Well, that all depends on the size of your home, the layout, the insulation quality and what other source of heating you might already have. For example, if you have a heat transfer system, you might get away with just one large unit. But if you’ve got a standard Kiwi style home with multiple bedrooms and open plan kitchen and lounge, you might need more than one heat pump to keep everyone comfortable. There’s a mathematical formula that the experts at Oxygen Air can use to give you unbiased advice on what would be most efficient and perform best in your home.
Now you understand “what is a heat pump”, it’s important to know that not all heat pumps are created equal. The more Energy Stars means the lower the energy consumption. While you might be tempted by price, choosing a more efficient model will certainly pay off long term – keeping your home comfortable and you comfortable with your electricity bill!
For expert advice on heat pumps, be sure to contact the friendly team at New Zealand’s No1 dealer – Oxygen Air.
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