Hot water heat pumps in Wellington
Certified installers of hot water heat pumps, and honest advice on gas and electric too
Get a quoteA hot water heat pump heats the same cylinder of water using a quarter to a third of the electricity. PGM supplies and installs hot water heat pumps across Wellington, Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt.
Hot water heat pump installation
Most hot water heat pump installation is a straight swap: the heat pump takes the place of your existing electric cylinder, usually in half a day to a day. What we sort as part of the job:
- Siting the unit, outdoors or in
- Removing the old cylinder
- New pipework and valves where needed
- The electrical connection, arranged with an electrician
- Commissioning and testing before we leave
The unit needs a bit of space and clear airflow to do its work, so placement matters. We will assess your setup and tell you where it should go at your place, and if your site does not suit a heat pump, we will say so.
Get a quoteHeat pump hot water cylinders
A heat pump hot water cylinder, sometimes sold as a heat pump water heater, works like a fridge running in reverse. Instead of pumping heat out of a box, it pulls heat from the outside air and moves it into the water in the tank.
The reason the savings are real: for every unit of electricity it uses, a heat pump puts three to four units of heat into the water. A standard element manages one for one. Modern units keep working through cold Wellington mornings, and the fan is about as loud as the heat pump you already have on the living room wall.
What a hot water heat pump costs to install
The price of a hot water heat pump installation depends on the size of the unit, the type of unit (integrated vs split), brand of unit and the complexity of the installation:
- Size: a bigger household needs a bigger unit to keep up, and bigger units cost more.
- Type: an integrated unit has the tank and heat pump built into one. A split system has an outdoor unit piped to a separate cylinder, and takes more work to install.
- Brand: some brands cost more than others. We will talk you through the options and what the difference buys you.
- Complexity: where the unit is going, how much pipework has to change to get it there, and the electrical work.
The range is indicative until we have seen your site, and every quote is for the whole job.
Get a quoteHot water heat pump, supplied and installed
$5,000 to $8,000 +GST
Gas, electric or heat pump?
We install all three, so the advice is straight. If you are weighing a hot water heat pump vs gas, the honest answer depends on your house, how much hot water you use, and what is already in the walls. Have a look at gas hot water in Wellington and hot water cylinders in Wellington, or ring us on 021 607 658 and we will give you a solution that best suits your situation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to install a hot water heat pump?
As an indicative range, $5,000 to $8,000 plus GST for a hot water heat pump supplied and installed in Wellington. Unit size, where it is going, the state of the existing pipework and any electrical work are what move the price. We quote the whole job before we start.
Is a hot water heat pump worth it?
For most households, yes, over time. Heating water is usually the biggest single chunk of a power bill, and a heat pump does it with 60 to 75 percent less electricity than a standard cylinder. The bigger your household and the more hot water you use, the faster the upfront cost pays itself back.
What are the downsides of a hot water heat pump?
It costs more upfront than a like for like cylinder swap. The unit needs space and airflow, so not every site suits one. The fan makes about as much noise as a heat pump for your living room. And it reheats more slowly than gas. If your house is not a good fit, we will tell you before you spend anything.
Do hot water heat pumps need to be installed by a professional in NZ?
Yes. The plumbing side is regulated work that has to be done by a certified plumber, and the electrical connection is an electrician's job. Doing it yourself puts your insurance at risk if anything goes wrong later. Ring us on 021 607 658 and we will price it.
Where should a hot water heat pump be installed?
Most units go outside against a wall, like a living room heat pump's outdoor unit, with clear airflow around them. Some models suit a garage or laundry with ducting. We will assess your setup and tell you where it should go at your place, because the right spot depends on the house.
Thinking about a hot water heat pump?
Tell us about your house and we will come back with a straight answer and a price.
Sticking with a cylinder? See hot water cylinders in Wellington for repairs and replacement. Weighing up gas? Califonts and Rinnai Infinity live on our gas hot water in Wellington page. For everything else with water in it, see our plumbing services in Wellington.