Heat pump expert warns of 'dodgy heat pumps'

Coldrite Refrigeration and Air Conditioning owner Jim Bullock warns residents against 'grey brands' or cheap heat pumps /Photo Glenn Taylor

A frosty bite in the air is keeping heat pump businesses busy, with Coldrite Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps saying they have been inundated with call-outs.

But owner Jim Bullock had a piece of advice for those who were thinking about installing a heat pump system into their home this winter.

"A lot of people install what we call 'grey brands' [cheap brands] of air conditioning systems and they do not last, they struggle in cold temperatures and unfortunately people get caught out with it and they cost a lot of money to run," he said.

While he said the company was busy installing between 8-10 heat pumps in homes around Hawke's Bay every day, they've also been tasked with replacing and reinstalling cheaper systems.

"It's important for people to do their research about what heat pumps are good, too many people sell these cheap systems and we've just been replacing them full time. We've got two guys actually assigned specifically to do just that at the moment, because it's such an issue.

"That has become a big problem, a number of people have put in these cheap brands, find that they're pumping out cold air and then they call us for assistance, I believe Japanese brands are the best."

A Canstar Blue survey showed the top six brands included Mitsubishi Electric, Daikin, LG, Fujitsu, Hitachi and Panasonic.

Bullock said a lot of people were switching from wood fires to heat pumps and believed that it was the better option.

"We ripped our fireplace out a year and a half ago and it's the best thing we've ever done."

"I think you'll find with what's going on in the Government, especially with the Green Party that they'll put a 'no fire' period in at some stage throughout the country. It's not a case of if, it's a case of when."