Frequently Asked Heat Pump Questions

This calculation considers the energy efficiency of your particular unit, whether it is sized correctly for the area, your individual energy company rates and how effectively you use the unit.

The EECA (Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority) has identified heat pumps as one of the most energy efficient forms of heating around. 

Heat pumps do not create heat, they simply move available heat from one place to another. The little energy that is needed is predominantly used to run the compressor. A heat pump typically uses 1kW to create 4kW of heat.

In heating mode the heat pump moves available heat from one place to another (a much more energy efficient heating technique than traditional heaters which have to generate heat energy). The heat exchanger in the outdoor unit obtains warmth from the air and transfers it inside the building. The cooler room air warms as the outdoor heat energy is transferred via refrigerant travelling through copper pipework, over the heat exchanger, into the indoor unit and out into the room.

It is quite common for water to drip from the outdoor unit in the winter and from the indoor unit drain to the outside in the summer. The amount of water produced is similar to a dehumidifier.

Try changing the batteries in the remote again, as even in a new pack there may be faulty batteries.

Your remote control will need the batteries changed periodically, when the screen becomes faint or when it becomes less responsive. 

When you do this, the heat pump will revert to its factory settings and will need to be readjusted.  You can avoid this by changing one battery at a time. 

A heat pump can make a sound like air being exhaled or gurgling when defrosting. When the temperature drops, heat pumps need to perform a ‘defrost cycle’ to remove ice build-up on the outdoor coils and maintain efficiency. 

This can mean your heat pump will temporarily stop operating or will blow out cooler air. It is important not to turn your unit off whilst the defrost cycle is running.

If your unit continues to make noises or is not operating it may need further investigation from a trained technician. 

We have a number of technicians able to diagnose and repair faults, including parts replacement in a wide range of equipment. Please contact for an appointment.

For heating and cooling one area of your home or small commercial space, single split heat pumps provide heating and cooling to individual rooms or a specific area such as a lounge or the main living area of an open-plan home. They can also be used in combination to serve larger spaces and multiple rooms. Split systems have one external outdoor unit (containing a compressor) and an internal unit mounted high on the wall or on the floor. The internal unit is made up of electronic controls and a fan which circulates air for cooling or heating, depending on the setting of the unit. A single split system can be either a floor console, a high wall or an ceiling cassette.

Read more about Single Room split systems such as wall mounted heat pumps and floor console heat pumps here - https://www.theheatpumppeople.co.nz/split-systems

Read our latest Blog for tips on maintenance, servicing, cleaning and selecting an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning) Solution for your home or office.