What affects heat pump installation cost in Christchurch
We price every heat pump install from the house, not just the unit. Here's what moves the cost, so you can read a quote properly and compare them fairly.
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Where heat pump installation prices start
Our heat pump installations start from $1,950 incl. GST. That price is for a Rinnai heat pump installed back to back, with the indoor unit on an outside wall and the outdoor unit straight behind it, powered from an existing power point. It’s a starting point, not a price for your house. The house sets the cost of an install as much as the heat pump does. A free quote on site covers your job.
Knowing what moves the price also tells you what to look for in any quote, ours included.
Heat pump installation cost for Christchurch homes
Your suburb and your type of house change the install work, so they change the price.
- Steep hill sections. On Mount Pleasant and in Heathcote Valley, the outdoor unit often goes on a wall bracket or a deck, and some sites are up long flights of steps. We plan the bracket, the pipe route and the access on the site visit, so they’re in the quote.
- Apartments and unit-titled townhouses. In the Central City, the body corporate rules can decide where the outdoor unit goes and how the pipes run. Find out what yours allows before we quote a final layout.
- Tight townhouse sites near the water. In Ferrymead, a townhouse outdoor unit may only fit in the courtyard, on a side wall, on a balcony or on the garage roof. Low sections can collect surface water, so the unit goes up on feet or a stand.
- New builds before the linings go on. In a new Belfast home, pipes for wall units can run inside the walls instead of in covers outside, and ducting gets a clear path through the ceiling. That’s simpler work than fitting around finished walls and ceilings.
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How the unit affects heat pump installation cost
Three things about the heat pump itself change the cost.
Size. A bigger unit costs more than a smaller one in the same range. Getting the size right means you don’t pay for capacity you don’t need. It also means you don’t end up with a unit too small to keep up. So we work out the right heat pump size before we price the job.
Type. High wall units, floor consoles, ceiling cassettes and multi split systems are priced differently. The install work differs too. So the type of heat pump that suits your rooms shapes the quote.
Model and range. Brands sell more than one range. Higher ranges may add better output in the cold, quieter running, better efficiency or built-in Wi-Fi. Compare models of the same kW size on their energy labels.
Heat pump install price for a wall unit or floor console
A wall unit and a floor console can cost different amounts to fit. That’s because their pipes leave the room in different places. With a high wall unit, the pipes usually go straight out through the wall behind it. A floor console sits low. Its pipes may go down through the floor and under the house. Or they go out through the wall at skirting height. On a concrete slab with no crawl space, the pipes have to go through the wall or up and over. That can mean more pipe and more cover.
Back-to-back or a longer pipe run
The simplest install is back-to-back. The indoor unit goes on an outside wall, with the outdoor unit right behind it on the other side. The pipes go straight through, and the run is short.
The price climbs as the run gets longer or harder:
- An internal wall. The indoor unit is on an inside wall, so the pipes have to cross a ceiling or the underfloor.
- A corner. The outdoor unit has to go round a corner or to the back of the house.
- A tidy finish. The pipes need a cover or ducting on the outside wall.
- A tricky route. The run goes through a garage, a second storey or a finished ceiling.
A longer run means more copper pipe, more insulation and more labour. There are some rules too. The run must stay within the maker’s maximum length and height. Bends should be kept to a minimum. And the system must be charged with refrigerant to suit the pipe length.
How outdoor unit mounting changes the cost
Where the outdoor unit goes changes the cost. A pad on the ground beside the house is usually simplest. Wall brackets add hardware and time. A two-storey wall adds access work. The common mounts are a concrete pad or pre-cast slab, a concrete patio, a timber deck with anti-vibration mounts, or brackets fixed to a wall or foundation. A roof is allowed only where the install has been designed for the load and wind forces.
Wherever it goes, the unit has to sit clear of obstructions. It has to be away from the neighbour’s bedrooms. And defrost water has to be able to drain. The heat pump boundary rules cover the noise side.
Electrical work and the switchboard
Every heat pump needs an electrical connection by a licensed electrical worker. We have that done on every install. The price depends on the switchboard and the cable run:
- Switchboard space. Is there room for a new circuit, or does the board need upgrading?
- Cable length. How far does the cable run from the board to the outdoor unit?
- The isolating switch. It must be lockable. It goes on the house within reach for servicing, not on the unit itself.
- Older wiring. It may need work before a new load goes on.
The heat pump should be on its own circuit, wired back to the distribution board. An existing circuit with enough spare capacity is the other option. You should get an electrical Certificate of Compliance for the work.
Removing an old heat pump
Replacing an old heat pump means taking it out first. We recover the refrigerant and disconnect the power. We remove both units and the old pipes. Then we patch the hole in the wall, or reuse it. Refrigerant must not be released into the air. So recovery is part of the job, not an optional extra.
Sometimes you can reuse the old position, which helps. Sometimes it was a poor spot to start with, and moving it is worth the extra.
Access and the house itself
Access and how the house is built add smaller costs, and they add up. A weatherboard wall is different from brick or block. Framing may need extra dwangs to fix into. The underfloor space may be cramped. A unit high up a stairwell may need scaffolding or a tower. We look at all of this on the site visit. That way it’s in the quote.
Comparing heat pump quotes fairly
Got more than one quote? Check each one names the brand, model number and kW size, so you know you’re comparing the same unit. Each should also say where both units go, how the pipes run and are finished, how the outdoor unit is mounted, and what electrical work is in: a new circuit, the isolating switch and any switchboard work. If an old unit is coming out, refrigerant recovery should be included. And ask whether the size was measured on site or guessed from the room size.
If one quote is much lower than the rest, check whether it’s missing one of these lines.
Get a heat pump install price for your house
We fit Mitsubishi Electric, Daikin, Fujitsu, Toshiba and Rinnai across Christchurch, Selwyn and Lyttelton. We come out and size the unit from your rooms, insulation and windows. We work out the pipe run, mounting and electrical work. Then we give you a free quote. Call 03 242 1023, Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, or request a quote.
Heat pump installation cost questions
How much does it cost to install a heat pump in Christchurch?
Our installations start from $1,950 incl. GST, for a Rinnai heat pump installed back to back and powered from an existing power point. Where yours lands depends on the unit's size and type. It also depends on the install itself. That means the pipe run, where the outdoor unit goes and the electrical work. A free on-site quote gives you a price for your house.
Why do heat pump quotes vary so much?
Because quotes often price different things. One might include a longer pipe run, wall brackets, a new circuit and taking out the old unit. Another might assume a back-to-back install on a ground pad. Check each quote lists the model, where both units go and the electrical work.
Is a floor console dearer to install than a high wall unit?
It can be, depending on the room. A console often needs the pipes run through the floor, or low along the wall. The unit price also differs between models. If you can't decide, ask for both options on the same quote.
Why do you visit before you quote?
So we can look at the pipe route, mounting and electrical work on site. Those change the cost of an install as much as the unit does.
More on heat pump prices and installs
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