Size for the bigger of two jobs
NIWA puts typical winter daytime highs in northern New Zealand at 12°C to 17°C, with summer highs of 22°C to 26°C. Winters this mild mean many homes need less heating capacity than the same house would further south. Summer is when a unit can be pushed hardest, especially in a room that faces the afternoon sun.
So check both numbers on the label. EECA's Zoned Energy Rating Label shows heating output at 7°C and 2°C outside, and cooling output at 35°C. If you want the unit mainly for summer comfort, the cooling figure is the one to match to your room. Buying for winter alone can leave you with a unit that is too small in February, and buying far too big wastes money.
The sizing calculator next to the table gives you a starting point. Tall ceilings and big glass both raise the number, and our sizing guide shows why.
Mounting that stands up to Northland storms
NIWA notes that storms of tropical origin can bring high winds and heavy rain from the east or northeast in summer and autumn. An outdoor unit that is poorly fixed, or sitting low where water pools, is at risk when one comes through.
That can add a little to the parts list. Ask the installer how the unit will be secured, whether it should sit on a raised pad or wall brackets, and whether the spot they have chosen drains well in a downpour. These are small costs next to replacing a damaged unit.
- Find out whether it will be bolted to a pad, a frame or the wall itself.
- Check it sits clear of any spot where rainwater collects.
- Make sure pipe covers and cable runs are sealed against driving rain.
How Whangārei installers compare
Of 25 heat pump installers in Whangārei, 11 fit ducted systems and 10 do multi-split work, so bigger jobs draw plenty of bidders. If you are unsure whether to go whole-house, read our ducted and high-wall guide first.
Twenty-one of them service heat pumps, which is most of the trade. That is worth using. A unit that runs for heating and cooling across much of the year needs its filters and coils cleaned regularly, so ask what a service involves and add it to the cost of owning the unit. Beyond that, repairs come from 10, free quotes from 11, and hot water heat pumps from 8.
Before you choose, put the quotes side by side and check that each covers the same model, the same kW and the same extras. One installer may include a raised pad or a wall bracket while another leaves it out. Ask about the workmanship guarantee too, and who you call if something goes wrong in the first year.
Grants, finance and rentals
EECA's Warmer Kiwi Homes grants are open nationwide and can meet some of a heat pump's cost for owners who qualify. In Whangārei, 3 installers mention grant work, and the same number offer finance. EECA's website has the eligibility check, and our grants explainer fills in the rest.
Renting the house out brings a rule of its own. Tenancy Services sets a heating standard for the main living room: the heater must be at least 1.5 kW, and heat pumps are acceptable. Its heating assessment tool works out the capacity a room needs, which is a sensible figure to give installers when you ask for quotes. What counts as a standard fit is set out in our guide to heat pump costs.
Compare every installer on the Whangārei page, or read 10 Best Heat Pump Installers in Whangārei.