What's worth knowing
- Low cost – Heat pumps are cheaper to run than other home heaters.
- Instant heating (and cooling) – Temperature can be controlled at the flick of a switch and can be turned on and off as needed or set to a timer.
- Versatile – Heat pumps can heat one room, or many rooms if you buy a ducted system.
- They can be noisy when running at full power.
- Future proof – In the near future, our electricity grid will require demand response capabilities in equipment – heat pumps can offer this.
- Low emission – Heat pumps are 100% electric. New Zealand’s highly renewable electricity grid makes them a low emission option – but remember, they don't work during a power cut.
- Very efficient - Heat pumps can put out three times more heat than the power they consume.
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More stars, more efficient
Using a heat pump with 3 stars on the Energy Rating Label uses 34% less energy than a similar heat pump with only 1 star. New Zoned Energy Rating Labels also tell you which models suit different climates.
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When to switch off
Lots of people think that it’s more efficient to keep your heat pump running all the time. This is incorrect – make sure you turn your heat pump off when you’re not in the room and when you leave the house, it’ll save you money and avoid wasted energy.
Using a heat pump with 3 stars on the Energy Rating Label generates 34% less emissions than a similar heat pump with only 1 star.
Run your heat pump efficiently
Heat pumps come with built-in features to help you better control the amount of energy you use.
- Use the timer to warm the room just before you get home and switch off when you don't need it.
- Set the thermostat between 19ºC and 21ºC – this keeps your home warm and dry, while saving power.
- Set the fan to ‘auto’ mode – this will let the pump optimise its fan speed.
- If you want to heat a room up quickly, set it the fan to ‘high’ as this also has great efficiency.
- Only set the fan to 'low' if you really need it to be quiet – this will reduce the efficiency for the unit and increase your power bill.
- Heat pumps sometimes blow cold air during very cold weather, to defrost the outdoor unit. This is normal, and it should be back to heating in a few minutes.
- Clean the removable filter with a vacuum cleaner or warm water every couple of months. It's easy and stops the filter from getting clogged, which stops the air from flowing.
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Warmer Kiwi Homes
Warmer Kiwi Homes grants cover 80% of the cost of approved insulation and up to 80% of the cost of approved heaters. If you own and live in a house built before 2008, and either live in a lower-income area or have a Community Services Card, you may be eligible.
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Efficient appliance calculator
Compare heat pumps to find the one that suits you best.
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Cooling
How to use a heat pump for cooling without generating more emissions than you need to.
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Choose more stars
Use the Energy Rating Label to choose a heat pump that’s more Gen Less.