Discover how to choose the right heat pump with RCR

Is the winter chill starting to bite? You’re not the only one! But winter doesn’t have to be a horrible time of year where you’re left shivering 24/7. With the right kind of heating in your home, you can turn your living spaces into a warm and toasty sanctuary.

The problem is, with so many heating options on the market, how do you know what’s best for your home? Heat pumps are so popular not just because they work well and are cost-effective, but they’re also easy to install. Granted, you still need an experienced technician for the job, but it’s much cheaper than running energy-sucking standalone heaters.

To help you make the right choice this winter, we’ve put together some helpful tips on choosing the right heat pump.

Look for the Best Energy Rating

It’s no surprise in today’s energy-conscious environment that you should look for the best energy rating on heat pumps. One of the easiest ways to do this is to look for the Energy Star mark. This is only awarded to the most efficient units. If you’re in a particularly cold climate, the Energy Star is even more important, because a unit can’t be awarded the star without being able to operate in low temperatures.

Aside from this, all heat pumps are labelled with an energy rating for both cooling and heating. The more stars, the more efficient your heat pump will be.

How Many Rooms Do You Want to Heat?

The major consideration when choosing the right heat pump is how you plan to use it. For example, if you live in a small home and only plan on heating the main living area, your needs will be different from someone wanting to heat several rooms of a larger home. Here are the main types of heat pump solutions, and how you can best use them.

Single-split systems

Single-split systems are the most popular, primarily because they’re cheaper than other products. They’re efficient, easy to maintain, and cheaper to buy, however, they’re more suited to single room use. If you intend to put it in your living room and only heat that area, a single-split system works fine. If you want to heat more rooms, you may want to consider other options.

Multi-split systems

Multi-split systems are more suited to heating an entire house. Rather than just being a single unit, multi-split systems have one outdoor unit that supplies heat to several smaller units throughout the home. The choice is yours on how many internal units you have because all house sizes are different.

Ducted systems

Ducted systems are also great for heating the whole house, but can be a little more labour intensive to install in an existing home. However, it’s certainly not impossible. Ducted systems also have one outdoor unit that transfers air through the home, controlled by smaller ducts in the floor, walls or ceiling.

Consider the Climate in Your Area

When purchasing a heat pump, you will need to consider how cold it gets in your area. Some of the cheaper heat pumps work fine in normal conditions, but if the outdoor temperature drops, your heat pump’s performance can also decrease.

Look for high-quality units, especially those with an Energy Star, as they will be better equipped to keep working even though the coldest New Zealand winter nights.

Only Use a Qualified Installer

Finally, make sure you use a qualified installer for all of your heat pump needs. Installing a heat pump isn’t a regular DIY job, so make sure you call in the professionals. Not only will they ensure your heat pump is installed safely, but they will also offer advice on the size and design of the unit to best suit your needs.

For any inquiries, contact us now!