A floor console is a heat pump indoor unit that sits at floor level against a wall, about the size of a low cabinet. It does the same job as a high-wall unit: one indoor unit, one outdoor unit outside, refrigerant pipes between them. The difference is where the warm air comes out. Near the floor, not up by the ceiling. In the right room that makes a real difference.
The short version: a floor console is worth a look when you want heating more than cooling, when there’s no good high wall to put a unit on, or when the person using it would rather not stand on a chair to clean the filters.
Why does heat from floor level feel warmer?
Warm air rises. A high-wall unit has to push warm air down from near the ceiling to where you’re sitting. A floor console starts it at your feet, so it rises through the room past you on the way up. That means fewer cold spots around your feet.
The same logic works in reverse for cooling. Cold air falls, so a high-wall cools a room better than a floor console does. If summer cooling in a hot Hawke’s Bay or Nelson room matters as much as winter heating, a high-wall may still be the better pick.
Some floor consoles blow air both up and down at once to spread the heat faster and cut draughts. Mitsubishi Electric’s RapidHeat consoles, for example, blow warm air downward first on a cold start and then reheat it.
→ Related: High wall heat pumps and the rooms they suit
When does a floor console make more sense than a high wall?
What if there’s no high wall to mount on?
A high-wall needs a clear stretch of wall up near the ceiling. Plenty of rooms don’t have one:
- Vaulted or cathedral ceilings, where there’s no flat high wall to mount on.
- Rooms full of windows or ranch sliders, where the only spare wall is the low bit below the glass.
- Decorated walls, with built-in shelves, art or panelling you don’t want to cut into.
A floor console can sit on the short wall under a window, as long as curtains don’t hang over it and block the air.
Can a floor console replace a fireplace or night-store heater?
Yes, and it’s a natural swap. If your lounge still has an open fireplace or an old night-store heater, a slim floor console can sit in the cavity left once it’s gone. Some models can be partly recessed into the wall. Mitsubishi Electric’s KW series, for one, goes from 215 mm deep to 145 mm when recessed.
Do floor consoles work in bedrooms?
In a bedroom, a floor console puts the heat where you get dressed on a cold Dunedin morning, down at the level you actually stand. Some models are very quiet on their lowest fan setting, which helps when it’s running overnight. Check the indoor noise figure on the energy label and compare it across the models you’re quoting.
Are floor consoles easier to clean?
The filters on any heat pump need regular cleaning. On a high-wall that means lifting the front cover above head height, often from a step ladder. On a floor console the filters are at waist height or lower, so cleaning them, checking for leaks and other simple jobs are far easier. For an older parent living alone, or anyone with a bad back, that alone can be the deciding factor. The job itself is straightforward, and a heat pump servicing routine should include the filters every time.
Do floor consoles suit cold, frosty towns?
Because they heat from low down and warm a room quickly, floor consoles are often a good choice in colder parts of the country, like Central Otago, inland Canterbury and the Central Plateau. Check the heating output at 2°C on the energy label if your winter mornings are frosty.
→ Related: Best heat pumps for cold NZ climates
What are the downsides of a floor console?
- Floor space. It takes up room a high-wall doesn’t. In a small bedroom or a tight lounge, that space matters.
- Furniture has to stay clear. You can’t put a couch, bed or bookcase in front of it, or the air can’t get out. Plan the room’s layout before you choose where it goes.
- Weaker cooling. Cold air falls, so a unit up high cools a room better than one at floor level.
- Little hands. It’s at their height, so keep toys and clutter out of the grilles. Like any heat pump it has no flames or hot surfaces, which is safer than a bar heater at the same height.
Where should a floor console go in the room?
Where the console goes inside the room matters as much as choosing one. A few rules of thumb:
- Keep the front clear for good. Leave open floor in front of it, not just on install day. A couch pushed up against it later undoes the whole point.
- Keep it out of direct sun and away from other appliances. Sunlight, a TV or a lamp next to the unit can throw off its temperature sensor, so it misjudges how warm the room is.
- Think about where you sit. Warm air rises from the unit and spreads out, so a spot that lets it move freely across the room you use most works best.
- Pick a wall the pipes can reach. The indoor unit has to go where its power and refrigerant pipes can be routed to the outdoor unit, and that can rule out some walls.
How is a floor console installed?
A floor console is often simpler to install than a high-wall. It can sit near an existing power point, and it needs little or no structural support because it’s not hanging off the wall up high. The pipes still need a path to the outdoor unit, so the installer will look at which wall it’s on and how far it is to the outside.
Ask the installer:
- Can it be recessed into the wall here?
- Where will the pipes run to the outdoor unit?
- What’s the indoor noise level on the lowest fan setting?
- Is this size right for the room? Check it against what size heat pump you need.
→ Related: Questions to ask a heat pump installer
How do I find someone to install a floor console?
Browse installers who fit floor console heat pumps, or pick your town to see who works near you.