It’s usually time to replace a heat pump when it’s getting old, keeps breaking down, no longer heats the room properly or costs more to run than it used to. When we replace one, we size the new heat pump for the room, reuse what we safely can, and remove the old unit, recover its refrigerant gas safely and dispose of it for you.
In this article5 sections
Heat pumps last a long time, but not forever. Newer models are quieter, more efficient and better on frosty mornings. Here's how to tell if it's time for a new one, and what a replacement involves.
Signs it’s time to replace
- Age: it’s been in for many years and is starting to show it.
- Repairs keep coming: the same faults come back, or the repair costs a large part of a new unit.
- It struggles in winter: the room never really warms up on cold mornings.
- Power bills are creeping up: older units use more power for the same heat.
- It’s noisy: rattles, hums or a loud outdoor unit.
- Old refrigerant: some very old units use R22 gas, which has been phased out and is hard to get for repairs.
Repair or replace?
If the unit is fairly new and the fault is simple, repair it. If it’s old and the repair is expensive, compare it with the price of a new one. A new heat pump comes with a full warranty and costs less to run. We give you both prices so you can decide. See heat pump repairs.
Choosing the new heat pump
Don’t just copy the size of the old one. Your home may have new insulation or glazing, or you may want to heat a bigger area. We size the new heat pump for the room as it is now. See what size heat pump you need and the best heat pump brands in NZ.
What a replacement includes
- Safe gas recovery: the refrigerant in the old unit is recovered properly, not released into the air.
- Removal and disposal of the old indoor and outdoor units.
- Reusing what we safely can, such as the position, brackets or wiring, when it suits the new unit.
- Installing the new heat pump, with the electrical connection done by our registered electrician, then pressure testing, leak testing and commissioning.
Everything is in your written quote before work starts. See heat pump installation costs.
Replacing a heat pump in a rental
If the heat pump is how your rental meets the Healthy Homes heating standard, a replacement needs to be sized to meet it too. We can work this out for you.
Frequently asked questions
Do you take the old heat pump away?
Yes. We recover the refrigerant gas safely, remove the old indoor and outdoor units and dispose of them for you.
Can the new heat pump go in the same place?
Often, yes. We reuse what we safely can, but we will recommend a better position if it helps the new unit work properly.
Should I replace my heat pump with the same size?
Not necessarily. We size the new heat pump for the room as it is now, which may differ from the original.
Do you replace heat pumps you did not install?
Yes. We replace heat pumps of any brand, whoever installed them.
Time for a new heat pump?
Book a free in-home assessment and get a fixed-price written quote, including removal of the old unit.