4 Things you Should Know Before Buying a Heat Pump
Are you considering a heat pump to warm your home this winter? Heat pumps are arguably New Zealand’s most popular method of heating and cooling homes. We have compiled a guide to explain the various functions and features to look for when buying your heat pump. Is a heat pump efficient? What size do I need? Where is the best place to put a heat pump in my home? Read on as we discuss these questions and other considerations to find the best heat pump for your home.
What type of heat pump should you buy?
There is a wide range of heat pumps available including high wall, cassette, floor console and ducted. These all work similarly by transferring heat from outside and bringing it indoors. Conversely, when in cooling mode it takes the heat indoors and transfers it outside.
The biggest difference between heat pump types is the look of the indoor unit or the locations you can install them. As mentioned earlier the location choice for your heat pump is one of the biggest considerations to make. Sometimes the different unit types can help you place the unit where you want or limit the disruption to the functionality of your home.
Size and Kilowatt Rating
Getting the right size heat pump for your home is one of the most important considerations when choosing a heat pump. Heat pumps all have a cooling and heating output measured in kilowatts which ranges from 2 kilowatt up to 8 killowatts. If you have a large room or a high ceiling, the total volume of your room will be greater meaning you will need a bigger heat pump. Most heat pumps have a higher heat output than cooling output, so it is important to figure out what area of your home you want to heat and cool before selecting the size of your heat pump.
Location
Choosing the correct location is more than working out where it will look best in your room. As the heat pump unit works it will push air out and around the room, so you want to make sure there are no obstacles in the way. The indoor unit and outdoor unit need to be connected, so the further apart they are the more it may cost to install.
Heat Pump Prices
Heat pump prices start around $1600 and increase depending on the size and the functions of the unit. Different models may come with additional functions such as WIFI control, motion sensing on and off functions, motion-sensing heat distribution, and different timing functions. These can be great features but do cost more so it is worth considering how often they will be used to warrant the additional purchase price.
How can I make heating my home cheaper?
Make your home as thermally efficient as possible, to keep the heat inside during winter
Eliminate draughts. Make sure your windows and doors are sealed. Use draught excluders and door snakes if needed and close off any rooms you don’t need to heat.
Insulate the ceiling and underfloor of your home. Rugs can provide some useful insulation on a hard floor.
Curtains and blinds will help keep the warmth from escaping through glass windows and doors.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this guide has given you a clearer idea of what will work best in your home. Aeon energy offers obligation-free home consultations. Seeing your home first hand we can discuss the points mentioned above and work out which unit will fit best for your needs.
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