Hot water is one of the biggest energy users in a New Zealand home. A heat pump water heater works like a fridge in reverse: it draws heat out of the outside air and moves it into the water, so most of the energy comes from the air rather than through your power meter.
We install split and all-in-one heat pump water heaters across Wellington City, the Hutt Valley, Porirua and the Kāpiti Coast, usually to replace an ageing electric or gas hot water cylinder. Before recommending anything we look at the space, the section, your power plan and your household, because a unit that is badly placed or wrongly sized will not deliver the savings you are paying for.
Pricing: quotes are free, and every job gets a fixed price before we start, so there are no surprises on the invoice.
Heat Pump Hot Water Jobs We Handle Across Wellington
- Heat pump hot water cylinder
- Heat pump hot water installation
- Replacing electric cylinders
- Heat pump hot water servicing
- Running cost comparisons
- Solar-ready systems
How the savings work
EECA's market research found that importers and manufacturers claim a coefficient of performance of roughly 3 to 4, meaning three to four units of heat for each unit of electricity, and energy savings of 60% to 80% against traditional electric and gas water heating. Those are manufacturer claims based on test standards. EECA also notes there is currently no mandated energy-efficiency testing for heat pump water heaters in New Zealand, and it has been monitoring real-world performance in homes. We are upfront about that and stick to proven brands with local support.
Heat pumps work harder in colder air, so efficiency drops on a cold night. That does not rule them out anywhere in the region, but it is one reason we size the system for your coldest months rather than your mildest, and set the timer to run in the warmer part of the day where your power plan allows.
Split, all-in-one or outdoor?
There are three main layouts, and the right one depends on your house:
- Split systems: an outdoor unit like a heat pump heater, piped to a cylinder inside or outside. Flexible on placement and a good fit for most villas and bungalows
- All-in-one units: the heat pump sits on top of the cylinder. Simpler to install, but needs plenty of surrounding air and somewhere sensible for the cool exhaust air
- Outdoor cylinder versions: free up indoor space entirely, useful in townhouses and apartments with no spare cupboard
- Timer and night-rate control: most systems can be set to run when your power is cheapest
How It Works
Placing a heat pump on a Wellington section
Placement is where Wellington installs differ most. Wind is the defining feature of the city's climate: Wellington Airport records gusts over 63 km/h on about 166 days a year. An outdoor unit needs solid fixing, a spot where it is not facing straight into the prevailing wind, and room for air to move freely around the coil. On exposed sites in Lyall Bay, Seatoun or Island Bay we also look at salt spray. Homes within 500 m of the sea, including the harbour, can be in a high corrosion zone, which affects the brackets, fixings and unit we recommend.
On steep hillside sections there is often no flat ground near the cylinder, so we may mount the unit on a wall bracket or a purpose-built pad, keep it away from bedroom windows and the neighbour's deck, and plan where the condensate will drain. If there is genuinely nowhere sensible for an outdoor unit, we will say so and talk through gas hot water or a standard electric cylinder instead.
Cost factors
We give a free quote once we have seen the site. A heat pump system costs more upfront than a standard electric cylinder; the payback comes from lower running costs over its life. The price depends on the system type and capacity, the distance between the outdoor unit and the cylinder, removal of the old cylinder, any electrical work, mounting brackets or pads, and seismic restraint for the cylinder.
Installation done right
A heat pump water heater is still a hot water cylinder, so it gets the same valve set, tempering valve and seismic restraint as any other install. That restraint matters in a region crossed by the Wellington Fault, where a full cylinder that is not properly strapped can topple and tear its pipework in a big shake. On top of that we set the outdoor unit level and secure, insulate the lines, plan the condensate drain and set the timer to suit your power plan.
Electrical connections are completed by a registered electrician. If your switchboard or supply needs upgrading, your power retailer arranges anything that involves the lines company, which is Wellington Electricity in Wellington, the Hutt and Porirua, and Electra on the Kāpiti Coast.
Why Choose Cheeky's Plumbers for Heat Pump Hot Water
Placed for wind and salt
We pick a spot and fixings that suit your exposure, from sheltered Kāpiti gardens to windy south coast sections within reach of salt spray.
Site checked before we recommend
We look at where the outdoor unit can go, noise near bedrooms and neighbours, condensate drainage and switchboard capacity before suggesting a system.
Timer set to your power plan
We set the system to heat when power is cheapest and air is warmest, so the running-cost savings show up on the bill.
Straight about the numbers
Efficiency figures are manufacturer claims, not mandated NZ test results, so we quote realistic savings and stick to proven brands with local support.
Full cylinder install standard
Valves, a tempering valve and seismic restraint go in as on any cylinder, and the electrical connection is done by a registered electrician.
Heat Pump Hot Water FAQs
How much power does a heat pump hot water system save?
Manufacturers claim energy savings of around 60% to 80% compared with standard electric water heating, according to EECA's market research. Real savings depend on your usage, power plan and installation.
Do heat pump water heaters cope with Wellington winters?
Yes. They are less efficient in cold air, so we size the system for your coldest months and set it to heat during the warmer part of the day where your power plan allows.
Will the wind affect the outdoor unit?
Strong gusts are a fact of life here, so we fix the unit securely and avoid placing it face-on to the prevailing wind. On coastal sites we also choose fixings suited to salt exposure.
Are heat pump water heaters noisy?
The outdoor unit makes a hum similar to a heat pump heater. We place it away from bedrooms and neighbours where we can.
Can I swap my gas hot water for a heat pump?
Yes. We remove or cap the gas appliance safely and certify the gas work, and install the heat pump system in its place.
Is there a government rebate for heat pump hot water?
We do not price our jobs on rebates. Check EECA's website for any current programmes before you buy.
Heat Pump Hot Water Across Wellington
Our heat pump hot water team works in every Wellington suburb. Find your local plumbers:
Heat Pump Hot Water Guides
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