Heat pump installation in Sumner, by the beach and on the hills

Choosing heat pumps for Sumner homes

In Sumner, the heat pump comes down to two things. How well does the house hold its warmth? And where can the outdoor unit sit out of the sea wind? Sumner is at the end of the coast road, where the estuary meets the open sea. The sea is close to almost every address.

• Older beach houses, villas and bungalows. These sit on the flat valley floor behind the beach. They lose heat through timber floors, ceilings and single glazing, so they need more capacity than their floor area suggests.
• Newer homes on small sections. They hold heat well. One high wall unit can usually heat an open plan living area. The harder part is outside. The outdoor unit has to fit a narrow side yard, with clear air around it, away from the house next door.
• Homes on the hills either side. Many were rebuilt after the earthquakes, and most are well insulated. The work there is mounting the outdoor unit on a bracket or deck. Then running the pipes up or down the levels.

Heat pumps for damp older Sumner beach houses

Some older Sumner houses started out as beach homes. They have timber floors, single glazing and little insulation. They can feel damp in winter. A heat pump that keeps the main rooms at a steady temperature cuts condensation on the windows. On mild, muggy days, dry mode pulls water out of the air without heating the room much. Got high ceilings or not much wall space? A floor console under a window often suits an older house.

We check the ceiling and underfloor insulation at the quote. Insulating first can mean a smaller unit that costs less to run.

What we do in Sumner

• Installs. Mitsubishi Electric, Daikin, Fujitsu, Toshiba and Rinnai. Wall, console, multi-room or ducted, for beach and hill homes.
• Servicing. A yearly service that checks the outdoor unit for salt build-up and corrosion.
• Repairs. We find faults on all the major brands, Panasonic included.

Sumner comes under Christchurch City Council. Its District Plan sets the noise limits. Houses sit close together on the flat, so placement matters. The boundary noise rules are measured at your neighbour’s property.