Mid-century weatherboard homes on a flat street in north-east Christchurch

Heat pump installation and repair in Shirley

We install and repair heat pumps in Shirley. Many of its mid-century weatherboard and brick homes have little ceiling insulation and cold timber floors, so we measure each room and size the unit to suit it, and quotes are free.

Prefer to talk? Call 03 242 1023

10+years in business

CertifiedNZ Certificate in Air Conditioning Installation

All brandsserviced and repaired

Insuredfully covered

Heat pump installation for damp Shirley homes

Some Shirley homes feel cold and damp at once. Water runs down the windows on winter mornings. A house like that needs a heat pump that runs steadily. An hour of blasting heat in the evening won’t do it. Steady warmth keeps walls and windows warm enough that moisture doesn’t settle on them. Most units also have a dry mode for mild, muggy days.

Shirley is a flat suburb in the north-east. It has lots of mid-century weatherboard and brick houses. Many sit on concrete or timber floors. Unless they’ve been upgraded, the insulation is modest. That changes the setup:

Little or no ceiling insulation. The lounge unit needs more capacity. Top up the insulation and a smaller unit will do.
Timber floors. Cold air comes up from underneath. Underfloor insulation matters as much as the heat pump. Concrete floors feel cold to walk on, but they don’t let draughts through.
Closed-off bedrooms. This is where damp usually starts.

Heat pump outdoor unit on a frosty morning

Before we size a heat pump for your Shirley home

We size from the room itself: how big it is, how high the ceiling is, how much glass there is and whether it’s single or double glazed, whether there’s insulation in the ceiling and under the floor, and which way it faces. A Shirley lounge with ceiling insulation and new windows needs a smaller heat pump than the same room without them.

We come out, measure up and ask how you use the house. Then we give you a free quote for a unit that fits.

Get a free quote in Shirley. Installs, servicing and repairs on all major brands.

Call 03 242 1023 Request a quote

Moisture from bathrooms and laundries

A heat pump can only do so much if moisture keeps pouring into the air. Run the extractor fans in the bathroom and over the stove. Dry washing outside or in a vented dryer. Open the windows for a bit on dry days. Do that, and the heat pump keeps the house warm and the windows clearer.

Warm, dry bedrooms in Shirley

Bedrooms are often shut and unheated. A small bedroom unit on low overnight keeps the room dry and comfortable. Want several bedrooms covered? A multi-room system runs them off one outdoor unit.

Heat pump service for older Shirley units

Many Shirley homes already have a heat pump that’s a few years old. A service once a year clears dust from the filters and coils. We also check the drain. That matters more in a damp house, because a blocked drain can drip down the wall. If your unit has stopped working, our repairs cover all major brands.

Suburbs near Shirley

We also work in Richmond, Mairehau, Dallington, Burwood, St Albans and right across Christchurch.

Call us on 03 242 1023, or use the form, to book a free quote in Shirley.

Shirley heat pump questions

Can a heat pump help with a damp Shirley house?

It can help. Keeping rooms at a steady temperature cuts condensation, and most units have a dry mode that pulls moisture out of the air. It won't fix a leak or rising damp, so get those sorted first. See heat pump dehumidification.

Should I leave the heat pump on all day?

In a cold house, a steady, moderate setting is often more comfortable. Switching it off means heating from cold again. A timer that warms the house before you wake or get home works well.

Water runs down my windows on winter mornings. What else helps besides the heat pump?

Cut the moisture going into the air. Run the extractor fans in the bathroom and over the stove, dry washing outside or in a vented dryer, and open the windows for a bit on dry days. Then the heat pump keeps the house warm and the windows clearer.

Is a heat pump suitable for a bedroom?

Yes. Small wall units are made for bedrooms. They run quietly on low speed overnight. A warm, dry bedroom is easier to keep free of mould.

Why does a Shirley lounge need a bigger heat pump than a similar room elsewhere?

Many Shirley homes are mid-century weatherboard or brick with little or no ceiling insulation, so the lounge unit needs more capacity. Top up the insulation and a smaller unit will do. Timber floors also let cold air up from underneath, so underfloor insulation matters as much as the heat pump.