A wall heat pump is the most affordable way to heat one main living space. A ducted heat pump heats and cools the whole home through discreet ceiling vents, with one controller and optional zoning. A multi-room system sits in between, running several indoor units from one outdoor unit.
In this article6 sections
If you're heating more than one room, the choice usually comes down to a wall heat pump (or several), a multi-room system, or a ducted heat pump. Each suits different homes and budgets.
How a wall heat pump works
A high-wall heat pump has one indoor unit on the wall and one outdoor unit outside. It's the simplest and most affordable option, and perfect for an open living area or a single room. The downside is that it heats the room it's in best; bedrooms down the hallway stay cooler.
How a ducted heat pump works
With ducted heating, the indoor unit is hidden in the ceiling space (or sometimes under the floor). Insulated ducts carry warm or cool air to small vents in each room, and the air returns through a central grille. You control it from one wall controller or an app.
- Even comfort in every room, including bedrooms and hallways.
- Discreet. No units on the walls, just neat ceiling vents.
- Zoning lets you heat only the areas you're using, such as living areas in the day and bedrooms at night.
- One outdoor unit for the whole home.
Ducted vs wall heat pump at a glance
- Upfront cost: wall units are the lowest. Ducted is a bigger investment because it covers the whole home.
- Comfort: ducted gives the most even temperature through the house.
- Looks: ducted is almost invisible; wall units are visible in each room.
- Running costs: heating one room uses less power than heating a whole home. Zoning keeps ducted systems efficient.
- Installation: a wall unit is usually done in a single visit. Ducted needs enough ceiling space and takes longer.
What about a multi-room heat pump?
A multi-room (multi-split) system runs two or more wall units from one outdoor unit. It's a good option when you want separate control in a few rooms but don't have the ceiling space for ducting, or you want fewer outdoor units on the house.
Can I put ducted heating in an existing house?
Often, yes. Many New Zealand homes have enough ceiling space for a ducted system, and new builds and renovations are an ideal time to plan one. We check the roof space, insulation and switchboard during the free assessment.
Which one should you choose?
- One main living area: a correctly sized wall heat pump.
- A few rooms with separate control: a multi-room system.
- Whole-home comfort with nothing on the walls: ducted heating with zoning.
See our ducted heating and cooling and multi-room systems, or book a free in-home assessment for a fixed-price quote. Every install comes with a 5-year workmanship warranty along with the 5-year manufacturer warranty.
Frequently asked questions
Is a ducted heat pump better than a wall heat pump?
Neither is better for everyone. A ducted system heats the whole home evenly with discreet ceiling vents and one controller. A wall heat pump is the most affordable way to heat one main space. Many homes choose a wall unit first and add more later.
Can you put ducted heating into an existing house?
Often, yes. Ducted systems suit homes with enough ceiling space for the indoor unit and ducts. We check the roof space during the free assessment to confirm it will work.
Is ducted heating expensive to run?
A correctly designed ducted system with zoning is efficient because you only heat the rooms you are using. Heating a whole home will naturally use more power than heating one room.
Ready for a comfortable home all year?
Book a free in-home assessment and get a fixed-price written quote from our local team in Hamilton, the Waikato and Auckland.