Heat pump types for Christchurch homes
High-wall, floor console, cassette, ducted or multi-split. Here's what each one does and which suits your home, from a Merivale bungalow to a new build in Kaiapoi.
The main heat pump types are high-wall, floor console, ceiling cassette, ducted and multi-split. High-walls suit most rooms, floor consoles handle frosty Christchurch mornings, and ducted or cassette systems warm open-plan spaces. The best one depends on your layout and budget.
High-wall heat pumps: the everyday choice
The high-wall is the unit you see mounted up near the ceiling in most Christchurch homes. It's the cheapest to buy and fit, it heats a room quickly, and there's a model to suit nearly any lounge or bedroom. For a lot of houses it's simply the sensible pick.
The catch is wall space. Older bungalows around Merivale and Papanui often have small rooms, high windows and picture rails, so there isn't always a clean spot to hang one. When that's the case, another type usually works better.
Floor consoles for frosty mornings
Sitting low on the wall like a gas heater, a floor console pushes heat out at your feet, which is exactly what you want on a still Christchurch morning when the frost is on the lawn. They warm up fast from cold and don't need high wall space, so they're a good fit for character homes with lots of windows.
They do take up a bit of floor and wall room down low, so furniture placement matters. If a fast cold-start heater in the main living area is what you're after, floor console heat pumps are worth a look.
Cassettes and ducted for open-plan living
Modern open-plan homes in the newer subdivisions often have big living zones and not much spare wall. That's where a ceiling unit earns its keep. Ceiling cassette heat pumps sit flush in the ceiling and blow air out in several directions, so they're tidy and even across a large room.
If you want steady heat through the whole house rather than one big room, ducted heat pumps run quiet grilles into each room off a hidden central unit. They cost more and need ceiling space for the ductwork, so they suit a renovation or a new build better than a quick retrofit.
Heating more than one room
Plenty of Sumner and Redcliffs homes want warmth in the lounge and a couple of bedrooms without an outdoor unit bolted to every wall. Multi split heat pumps run several indoor heads off one outdoor compressor, so you keep the outside of the house tidier and control each room on its own.
You can mix types on a multi-split too, say a high-wall in the bedrooms and a floor console in the lounge. It's a neat answer for older homes where space is tight in different ways from room to room.
Getting it fitted and keeping it running
Picking the type is half the job. Where the indoor and outdoor units sit, how the pipework runs and how the unit is sized all decide whether you get quiet, cheap heat or a noisy underperformer. Good heat pump installation makes the difference, and it's worth knowing the rough installation cost before you commit.
The heat pumps we install, we look after. If you'd like the same crew handling your heat pump servicing down the track, that's built in. Not sure which type fits your place? Give us a ring on 03 222 3413 and we'll talk it through.
Not sure which type suits your home?
Send through your room sizes and where you'd like heat. We'll tell you honestly what fits and what it'll cost, no pressure.
Common questions about heat pump types
What are the different types of heat pumps?
The common ones are high-wall units mounted near the ceiling, floor consoles that sit low on the wall, ceiling cassettes set into the ceiling, ducted systems that run through the roof space, and multi-splits that feed several indoor heads from one outdoor unit. Each suits a different room shape and budget.
What is the difference between high-wall and floor console heat pumps?
A high-wall hangs up high and blows warm air out and down, which suits most rooms and costs less to fit. A floor console sits down near the floor and pushes heat out at your feet, so it warms up faster from cold and doesn't need high wall space. In frosty Christchurch mornings a lot of people prefer the floor console feel in the main living area.
Which type of heat pump is best for my home?
It comes down to your layout, wall space and how many rooms you want heated. A single high-wall or floor console does one room well, a cassette or ducted system suits big open-plan living, and a multi-split covers several rooms off one outdoor unit. Tell us about your home and we'll point you at the right one.
Talk it over with us
From character streets in Merivale to new builds in Kaiapoi, we'll match the right heat pump to your home. Call 03 222 3413 or send us the details for a quote.