Each model is specifically designed for certain environmental and climatic conditions. With regular hoar frosts and below zero overnight lows in the central South Island, Kerry’s years of experience in this harsh climate ensure the best fit for each property and electrical situation. “Heat pumps must be sized correctly as the heating capacity will be less as the temperature drops below zero,” he says. The capacity is greatly decreased in winter when Twizel and other areas have a layer of fog that can last for weeks. This means there is no sun and nothing defrosts causing the ice to build up on the outdoor unit more than it would normally.

It’s also important to ensure that heat pump filters are cleaned out every four to twelve weeks, depending on how often the heat pump is used.  It’s important to remove the filters and vacuum out the dust build-up, which can inhibit proper function. Heat pumps need a service once every six to 12 months. This means cleaning indoor and outdoor coils with a special cleaning solution. The build-up of dust, dirt, grease, etc, on the coils reduces the heat transfer efficiency. Cleaning the coils also deodorises them.