The Heat Pump Buyers Guide.
Are you considering a heat pump to warm your home? Heat pumps are arguably New Zealand’s most popular method of heating and cooling homes. We have compiled a heat pump buyers 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.
Energy efficiency- COP and EER
A heat pumps efficiency to heat is measured by it Coefficient of performance or COP. The higher the COP the more efficient your heat pump is at heating. Conversely, the EER is the rating given to a heat pumps ability to cool. Once again the higher the EER rating the more efficient the unit is. It is quite common to find the EER is a bit lower than the COP, this is due to the fact a heat pump works harder to cool than it does to heat.
Heat pump size or output- kilowatt rating
Getting the right heat pump for the size of the room is one of the most important considerations when choosing a heat pump. Heat pumps all have a cooling and a heating output measured in kilowatts. If you have a large room or a high ceiling, the total volume of your room will be greater and you will require a bigger heat pump. Most heat pumps will 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.
The second consideration is the physical dimensions of both the indoor and outdoor unit. It pays to check these against the area available to ensure you have the space to put both parts.
Heat pump location 
Choosing the correct location is more than working out where it will look best in your room. As the unit works it will push air out and around the room, so we want to make sure there are no obstacles in the way. We also need to connect the indoor unit to the outdoor unit so this is also something to consider. The further the two units are apart from the more it may cost to install, and if the distance is too great it may affect the efficiency of the heat pump.
Heat Pump buyers guide to price
Heat pump prices start around $1600 and increase depending on the size and the functions available on the unit. When choosing a heat pump it is worth considering how much you would like to use it and factor in the long-term savings. There are heating options that cost less to purchase but the increased running costs may add up to considerably more in the long run.
Types of heat pump
There is a wide range of heat pumps available including high wall, cassette, floor console and ducted. These all work in primarily the same way transferring heat found in the outside air and bringing it indoors. Conversely, when it is in cooling mode it takes the heat found indoors and transfers it outside.
The biggest differences between the types are the look of the indoor unit or the locations you can place 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.
View the different heat pump types
Optional extras
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.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this heat pump buyers 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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