Heating a house in Dunedin is its own puzzle. Winter afternoons rarely get far past single figures, low cloud rolls in off the coast and sits over the harbour, and plenty of homes on the hills lose the sun behind the ridge by mid-afternoon. A heat pump here works long hours in damp air, so the unit and its placement matter more than they would further north.
The housing adds to it. Roslyn, Mornington and Maori Hill are full of high-stud villas with long hallways and single glazing, North Dunedin has rows of old student flats that were never built to hold heat, and the Taieri has newer homes on bigger, frostier sections around Mosgiel. For any of those houses, these ten are where we'd start.
When a Dunedin home needs an installer
Plenty of people put up with a cold house for years. These are the usual signs the heating has stopped keeping up.
- Condensation runs down the windows every morning from May to September, and black mould is creeping back into the bedroom corners after you cleaned it off.
- The lounge only gets warm in the evening and the rest of the villa stays cold, so everyone lives in one room with the doors shut.
- Your heat pump sits in a hallway or a spot that made sense to the last owner, and the rooms you actually use never feel it. Our guide to what size heat pump you need helps you check whether it was ever big enough.
- In Mosgiel or out on the Taieri, the outdoor unit ices up on hard frosty mornings and the house takes until lunchtime to feel right.
- On the Peninsula, at Macandrew Bay or Portobello, the outdoor unit's casing or fins are showing rust, a sign the salt air is getting to it. Our page on replacing a heat pump helps you decide what next.
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1. Davies Heat & Cool
Kenmure, Dunedin
A century-old family firm with a Daikin showroom and its own service team
More than 100 years in business makes Davies Heat 'n' Cool one of the oldest names in Dunedin heating, and it is still family owned and run. The showroom on Donald Street in Kaikorai Valley is open to visitors, so you can look at units before anyone measures your house. Jobs run from small homes to large commercial sites, from Christchurch down to Invercargill.
Its engineers are certified suppliers and installers of Daikin, and the range covers high-wall units such as the Cora and Zena, the Prefera floor unit, ducted central heating and Daikin hot water heat pumps. Older systems are part of the trade as well: in-floor heating, radiators, boilers and furnaces. Each system comes with a 60 day money-back performance guarantee, and finance over 6 to 24 months is offered through Consumer Finance and Q Card.
Why they made the list
Few installers in the city can show you this much under one roof, and an in-house service department means the people who fit your unit can maintain it too. Polite staff and technicians are mentioned constantly, along with a clear quote process, tidy installers who protect the carpet, and someone taking the time to explain the controls.
1 Donald Street, Kenmure, Dunedin 9011
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2. HeatCo Ltd
Mosgiel, Dunedin
A Mosgiel showroom where the owner measures every room himself
Out on Gordon Road in Mosgiel, HeatCo sells heat pumps beside wood, gas and electric fires, which suits Taieri households weighing up more than one way to stay warm. It is an approved supplier and installer for General (formerly Fujitsu) and Mitsubishi, and the team includes registered plumbers and electricians as well as New Zealand Home Heating Association installers. Stefan, the owner, measures each home or commercial space personally before recommending anything.
Systems come as single-split, multi-split or ducted, and heat pump hot water is on offer too. HeatCo is also a registered DVS installer, so ventilation to cut condensation can go in alongside the heating. Accredited General installations carry a 6-year warranty, qualified technicians handle service and repair work, and payment terms run up to 36 months interest-free, with conditions.
Why they made the list
Its whole pitch is getting the size right, never too big or too small, and that matters in a frosty Mosgiel winter. Feedback keeps returning to fast installs, a good installation team and a reliable company, and a couple of people mention careful outdoor unit placement and an end to condensation once the system was running.
92 Gordon Road, Mosgiel, Dunedin 9024
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3. FeaturEnergy Limited Heat Pumps Dunedin
Brockville, Dunedin
A Brockville HVAC-R crew people describe as knowing their stuff
Working from Cockerell Street in Brockville, up the hill from Kaikorai Valley, FeaturEnergy is a heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration business. That HVAC-R background means refrigeration is the core skill here, the part of a heat pump job that matters most once the unit is on the wall and running. Hill-suburb homes in Brockville, Halfway Bush and Wakari are its near neighbours.
The work covers installing, maintaining and repairing heat pumps, air conditioning and ventilation systems, with an emphasis on energy efficient equipment. That mix suits a house that needs more than one fix: a new unit in the lounge, say, plus ventilation to deal with damp in the bedrooms, or a repair on a tired older system.
Why they made the list
Knowledgeable staff is the single thing customers mention most, by a wide margin, and that is exactly what you want when deciding between repairing and replacing. People also bring up quick, tidy installs, a professional electrician, competitive quotes and a proper site inspection before the price is set. Nearly every review is five stars.
4 Cockerell Street, Brockville, Dunedin 9011
FeaturEnergy Limited Heat Pumps Dunedin listing See FeaturEnergy Limited Heat Pumps Dunedin's website
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4. Otago Heating and Ventilation
Mosgiel, Dunedin
Owner-operated, with the same engineer from first visit to finished job
Josh, who owns Otago Heating and Ventilation, is a qualified heating, ventilation and air conditioning engineer with more than ten years in the trade. It is a locally owned family business on Factory Road in Mosgiel, and it serves the greater Otago area. Because it is owner-operated, you deal with him from the first assessment through to the finished install, rather than being handed between sales staff and contractors.
Mitsubishi, Daikin and General heat pumps are all supplied and installed, including ducted systems for whole-home heating and cooling, and the business is an approved Mitsubishi Electric and Fujitsu installer. Lossnay heat recovery ventilation is designed and fitted to tackle condensation and stop overheating, for owner-occupied homes and rentals alike. A free assessment comes first, with an accurate quote back within two days, and servicing and maintenance follow.
Why they made the list
Pairing heating with ventilation is the right answer for many damp Dunedin houses, and few small firms do both this seriously. Each of its 27 reviews gives five stars, mentioning good advice, friendly service, punctuality, tidiness and solid workmanship, and a few people single out problem solving and ducted installs.
60 Factory Road, Mosgiel, Dunedin 9018
Otago Heating and Ventilation listing See Otago Heating and Ventilation's website
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5. A1 Electrical Contractors Limited
Kaikorai Valley, Dunedin
Master Electricians since 2006, accredited for Fujitsu and Mitsubishi
Locally owned and on Kaikorai Valley Road, A1 Electrical has worked across Dunedin and Otago since 2006 as Master Electricians, with EWRB licensed electricians on the team. Much of its work is classic electrical: new builds, alterations, rewiring, switchboard upgrades, inspections, EV chargers, solar panels and emergency callouts. It was named Contractor of the Year 2022 by Latitude Homes and holds Gold SiteWise certification.
Heat pump installation and ventilation is a named service, and the business holds Fujitsu and Mitsubishi installer accreditation. Master Electricians membership brings fixed price guarantees and warranties on every project, on top of a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Payment plans for larger jobs run through MTF Finance Dunedin South, and quotes are free.
Why they made the list
If your villa needs a rewire or a new switchboard before a heat pump can go in, one firm can do the lot. People keep mentioning pleasant, friendly electricians, competitive pricing and tidy jobs, and several have used it for urgent work, new lights and rewiring as well as heat pumps.
405 Kaikorai Valley Road, Kaikorai Valley, Dunedin 9011
A1 Electrical Contractors Limited listing See A1 Electrical Contractors Limited's website
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6. Lanark
Bradford, Dunedin
Bathrooms, plumbing, wiring and heat pumps from one Bradford team
Lanark started out doing bathrooms and has grown into a full trades business on Kaikorai Valley Road in Bradford. Builders, plumbers, electricians and gasfitters all work in-house, so jobs that cross trades stay with one crew. Beyond renovations it handles flooding repairs, gas conversions and carpentry, and a commercial service and maintenance team looks after businesses with regular checks and repairs.
Heat pumps and hot water heat pumps are separate services. It installs Mitsubishi Electric units and will maintain and service them afterwards to keep them running smoothly. That makes sense if you are renovating an older Dunedin house room by room and want the heating, plumbing and wiring planned together. Free consultations and quotes are offered.
Why they made the list
Having every trade in-house is the draw, especially in a renovation where the heat pump is one part of a bigger job. Feedback highlights efficiency, tidiness, a personable team, prompt installs and fair pricing, and a fair amount of it comes from wiring repairs and bathroom work.
313 Kaikorai Valley Road, Bradford, Dunedin 9011
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7. Dunedin Home Heat Pumps
Dunedin Wide
A local team built around villas, hill suburbs and Taieri homes
Hard frosts, damp southerlies and high-stud villas shape the brief for this installer, which works across the city, the Otago Peninsula and the Taieri, out to Mosgiel and Outram. Every job starts with a visit to check the rooms, insulation, wall space and access, then the size and the best spot for the unit are confirmed and a fixed price follows. Quotes are free.
Systems run from a single high-wall in a villa to whole-home ducted heating, and floor units, cassettes in the ceiling and multi-split setups fill the gap between. Hitachi, Panasonic, Fujitsu, Daikin and Mitsubishi Electric are among the brands it fits. The electrical connection is certified by a registered electrician, and an approved filler licence covers the refrigerant side. Each unit has the maker's warranty, and servicing and repairs are handled for anything this installer has put in.
Why they made the list
Without Google reviews, judge it on the work. It covers every system type, prices the job firmly once someone has walked through your home, and looks after what it fits, keeping filters, coils and defrost cycles working through salty Peninsula winters. Its focus on how villas and hill homes lose heat suits the city's older housing.
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8. McClelland Heat Pumps & Refrigeration Ltd
Green Island, Dunedin
Green Island refrigeration people, sizing heat pumps since 1990
John McClelland owns and runs this Main South Road business in Green Island, which was established in 1990. Over more than three decades it has installed and serviced heat pumps, air conditioning, cool stores and commercial refrigeration across Dunedin and Otago, with orchards on the commercial side. Homes, offices and schools all appear among its heat pump customers.
High-wall units, floor consoles, in-ceiling cassettes, central heating and cooling and Gree hot water heat pumps are all on the list. Each system is sized to the home's layout, insulation and heat loss, with Otago winters in mind. As a Fujitsu Accredited Installer it gives an extended 6 year warranty on Fujitsu heat pumps. Free quotes and service requests can both be made online.
Why they made the list
A refrigeration firm with this much history has seen just about every kind of unit fail and knows how to fix it. Customers single out cleanliness above all, followed by fair pricing, good workmanship, quick set-up and punctual installers.
137 Main South Road, Green Island, Dunedin 9018
McClelland Heat Pumps & Refrigeration Ltd listing See McClelland Heat Pumps & Refrigeration Ltd's website
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9. Otago Air Conditioning - Dunedin's heat pump specialists
Blackhead, Dunedin
Mitsubishi Electric agents with a 24 hour emergency line
From Green Island Bush Road in Blackhead, on the coast south of the city, Otago Air Conditioning fits and maintains heating and cooling in houses and commercial buildings throughout Otago. The team has more than 20 years of heat pump installation experience. Weekday hours run from 8am to 5pm, appointments can be booked online, and a 24 hour emergency service runs every day of the year.
It is an accredited Mitsubishi Electric agent and installer, and Mitsubishi Electric heat pumps it fits carry a 5 year warranty. Repairs and servicing cover air conditioning, ventilation and light industrial and industrial split systems. It also fits fresh air heat recovery ventilation for a drier, warmer home, and designs and builds commercial refrigeration such as walk-in chillers and display cabinets.
Why they made the list
A round-the-clock emergency line is rare among smaller firms and handy if your heat pump quits in a July cold snap. Its eleven reviews are all top marks, praising communication, workmanship and the Mitsubishi product itself. Sticking with one brand keeps parts and warranty work simple.
313 Green Island Bush Road, Blackhead, Dunedin 9076
Otago Air Conditioning - Dunedin's heat pump specialists listing See Otago Air Conditioning - Dunedin's heat pump specialists's website
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10. Foleys | Dunedin
Kenmure, Dunedin
A 90-year-old multi-trade company for bigger and commercial jobs
Founded in 1934, Foleys has worked in Dunedin for more than 90 years and now has a workforce of more than 260 across 11 locations nationwide. Its Dunedin team covers plumbing, drainage, gasfitting, electrical and HVAC from Kaikorai Valley Road, with a service area that reaches Waikouaiti, Middlemarch and Waihola. Local projects include Emerson's Brewery and the Dunedin Hospital Outpatients Building.
On the HVAC side the focus is commercial heat pump installation and servicing, ventilation, cooling towers, smoke control and Building Warrant of Fitness compliance maintenance. Home heating, cooling and ventilation sit on its residential menu too, alongside hot water cylinders and drain work. Jobs can be booked online, a free quote is available on request.
Why they made the list
For a business, a body corporate or a home where plumbing, gas and heating all need sorting at once, scale counts. Pleasant staff come up most in feedback, and people like the text updates and tidy work. Many reviews are about hot water cylinders and drains, so it suits bigger jobs over a single wall unit.
566 Kaikorai Valley Road, Kenmure, Dunedin 9011
Choosing the right installer for a Dunedin house
Start by asking how the size was worked out. A sound quote rests on the room, the glazing, the insulation and how much winter sun reaches the house, because a unit that copes in March can fall short on a raw July morning. If you want to check the numbers yourself, see how to size a heat pump.
Match the system to the layout. A villa with a long central hallway and separate rooms often does better with a multi-room system or a floor console in a high-stud lounge, while a newer, well insulated Taieri home can suit a ducted system. The pros and cons of each are laid out in ducted versus high wall.
Treat damp as part of the job. Many Dunedin houses need ventilation as much as heat, and several installers above do both. What a heat pump can do about condensation, and where it stops, is covered in do heat pumps dehumidify.
Lay the quotes side by side: brand and model, where each unit sits, how long the pipe run is, the warranty on the unit and any guarantee on the workmanship. Find out who will service it after the install, since a unit that runs most of the year needs regular care; servicing explained lists what a proper visit includes.
Last, confirm the qualifications of whoever turns up. The electrical connection has to be made by a registered electrician, and handling refrigerant takes its own certification, so check both against who is allowed to install a heat pump. Owners on a lower income should look at grants for heat pumps before signing anything.
Every heat pump installer in Dunedin is on the Dunedin page, where you can filter by the job you need.