Hot Water Heap Pumps

Rather than heating water with an element, a hot water heat pump draws warmth out of the surrounding air and transfers it into the cylinder — the same principle as the heat pump on your living room wall. Because it moves heat that's already there instead of generating it, it delivers the same hot water using a fraction of the electricity.

They come as either an all-in-one unit, where the heat pump sits on top of the cylinder, or a split system, where a compressor outside connects to a cylinder indoors.

Water heating accounts for a large share of household electricity use, so cutting it substantially is what makes the upgrade worth doing. Most households notice the difference on their first full bill, and the payback improves the more hot water you use — larger families and homes on day-rate electric cylinders tend to gain the most.

Not every house is, and we'd rather tell you that upfront. A heat pump cylinder needs airflow around it and a sensible location — it gives off cool air and some noise, so a garage, laundry or exterior wall usually works better than an internal cupboard. Efficiency also drops on the coldest Canterbury mornings, and most units use an electric element to top up when required, so model choice and placement matter more here than they do further north.

We'll look at where your current cylinder sits, how much hot water the household actually uses and what access is like, then give you a straight answer — including when a standard cylinder replacement is the better call.

In many cases a hot water heat pump replaces an existing electric cylinder without major changes to your plumbing. We handle removal of the old unit, installation and commissioning of the new one, any pipework and electrical coordination required, compliance certification, and disposal of the old cylinder.