Steps, paths and carrying gear in
An outdoor unit is heavy and awkward. When the van can park at the gate, one or two people can have it in place quickly. When the house sits above or below the street at the end of a long flight of steps, it takes more people and more time, and installers price that in.
Tell installers about access when you ask for a quote, and send photos of the path. It helps them give a firm price rather than a range, and it stops a surprise charge on the day.
Parking is the other cost. In inner suburbs with narrow streets and resident parking, the installer may need a permit or a paid park close by. Ask who arranges it and whether it is in the price.
Bad weather can push a job back too, as nobody wants to carry an outdoor unit up wet steps.
Fixing the outdoor unit so it stays put
On a sloping section there is often no level ground beside the wall, so the outdoor unit goes on wall brackets instead of a pad. Brackets and the bolts that hold them are an extra cost, and the wall has to be strong enough to take the weight.
In a city that knows earthquakes, it is fair to ask how the unit will be secured. A good installer will explain the fixings they use and why. Ask for this on the quote so you are comparing the same standard of work.
Ask too how the pipes will be run down the wall and covered. Proper pipe covers cost a little more than bare lagged pipe but protect it and look tidier.
Budgeting for heat in a Wellington rental
Landlords must meet the healthy homes heating standard. The main living room needs one or more fixed heaters that can heat it directly, each at least 1.5 kW. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters do not qualify. A heat pump is an acceptable heater, but it must have a thermostat.
The heater's output also has to match the room. A unit too small for a large open-plan lounge will not meet the standard, thermostat or not.
Tenancy Services lets you work out the capacity the room needs with its Heating Assessment Tool, the formula in the regulations or a professional assessment. Do that before you buy, and see our guide on heat pump sizing.
Comparing the 37 installers who work in the city
Of the 37 installers we track in Wellington, 13 fit ducted systems and 9 fit multi-split systems. A ducted system can suit a house with a usable ceiling space, but in older homes with low roof voids a few wall units may be easier. Our guide to ducted vs high-wall heat pumps sets out the differences.
With a smaller pool of installers than Auckland, the good ones can book up. Contact two or three at once, and ask each for a date as well as a price, so you know how long you would wait.
15 offer servicing and 10 handle repairs. 17 give a free quote, and only 3 offer finance. Just 2 mention Warmer Kiwi Homes. That national EECA programme has grants that can cover part of the cost of a heat pump for eligible owners, based on things like holding a Community Services Card or SuperGold Combo card and where you live. Check on EECA's website and read our heat pump grants guide.
- Mention steps, slopes or a lack of parking when you ask for a price.
- Ask how the outdoor unit will be fixed and what brackets are used.
- Compare quotes against our NZ cost guide.
Compare every installer on the Wellington page, or read 10 Best Heat Pump Installers in Wellington.