Heat pump guides for NZ homes
Ten guides written for New Zealand conditions: how to size a room, what the Warmer Kiwi Homes grant actually covers, what happens on install day, how to keep a unit running, and how to read a quote. Every figure has a source and a date. Start with the size calculator if you want a number now.
How to size a heat pump for a NZ living room
Work out the kW your NZ living room needs: floor area, stud height, insulation and your Building Code climate zone, with worked examples to check quotes.
Read Grants and subsidiesWarmer Kiwi Homes: what the insulation and heat pump grants cover in 2026
Who qualifies for Warmer Kiwi Homes insulation and heat pump grants in 2026: 50–90% off insulation, up to 90% off a heat pump (capped at $3,450), exclusions, how to apply.
Read System comparisonDucted vs high-wall heat pumps: which suits your villa or bungalow?
Ducted or high-wall heat pump for an older NZ villa? Compare installed cost, looks, efficiency, zoning and how hard each is to retrofit.
Read Installation guideThe heat pump installation process, step by step
What happens when a heat pump is installed in NZ: site visit, sizing, placement, pipework, refrigerant, electrical Certificate of Compliance and handover.
Read Maintenance guideHow to clean heat pump filters (and when to call a professional)
Clean heat pump filters safely, step by step: how often, washing and drying, caring for the outdoor unit, and when to book a professional service.
Read GuideThe best heat pump settings for a NZ winter
What temperature to set your heat pump in winter, whether to leave it on, the best fan and louvre settings, and why it defrosts on frosty mornings.
Read GuideHeat pumps in rentals: meeting the Healthy Homes heating standard
What the Healthy Homes heating standard requires, how to size a heat pump for a rental's main living room, and what landlords and tenants should know.
Read GuideHeat pump noise, placement and council rules in NZ
Do you need consent for a heat pump in NZ? Council noise rules for the outdoor unit, where to put it, and what apartment and heritage owners must check.
Read GuideHow to compare heat pump quotes
What a good NZ heat pump quote should include, a side-by-side checklist for comparing installers, and the red flags to watch for.
Read GuideHow to choose a heat pump installer in NZ
How to check a NZ heat pump installer: refrigerant certification, registered electricians, dealer status, warranties and the questions to ask.
Read Troubleshooting guideHeat pump blowing cold air or not heating? What to check first
Usually it's the defrost cycle, a dirty filter or the wrong mode. Eight checks to do yourself, in order, and the signs that need a technician.
Read Troubleshooting guideHeat pump leaking water inside: causes and what to do
Water dripping from an indoor heat pump is almost always a blocked or badly sloped condensate drain. What to do now, what to check, and when to call.
Read InstallationHeat pump electrical requirements in NZ: circuits, isolators and switchboards
Does a heat pump need its own circuit in NZ? The dedicated circuit, outdoor isolator, switchboard check and certificates a heat pump install needs, and who's allowed to do it.
Read ServicingDoes a heat pump need regassing? What low refrigerant really means
Heat pumps don't use up refrigerant, so a regas means there's a leak. The signs of low gas, why topping up without a leak test wastes money, and repair vs replace (NZ).
Read SizingSmall heat pumps in NZ: the smallest models, what they heat and what they cost
The smallest heat pumps sold in NZ, brand by brand (Mitsubishi AP20 Mini, Daikin, Fujitsu, Panasonic): heating output, what room size they suit, installed price and how quiet they run.
Read GuideHeat pump remote symbols explained: what the sun, snowflake, droplet and fan mean
What the symbols on a heat pump remote mean: heat, cool, dry, fan and auto modes, fan speed bars, vane and swing, timers and defrost, with what Mitsubishi Electric and Daikin say about each.
Read Grants and subsidiesIs there a heat pump grant in NZ? Every way to get help paying (2026)
One national heat pump grant exists: Warmer Kiwi Homes, 90% up to $3,450, for a narrow group. Who qualifies, and the 1% bank top-ups and council schemes if you don't.
ReadTell us the room. We'll tell you the size, the price and exactly what's included.
Size the room in two minutes. You see the kW, the package it needs and the standard install spelled out. Ducted, several rooms or a tricky wall? Ask for a custom quote.