Heat Pump Water Heater Wellington
Heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) are better than any standard electric cylinder. They pull heat out of the air — even Wellington’s cold air — and use about 1 kW of electricity to deliver 3 kW of heat into your water. That’s roughly a third of the running cost of a standard cylinder.
Southern has been installing and servicing heat pump water heaters across Wellington, the Hutt Valley, Kapiti Coast and Porirua since the technology first hit the market. 40+ years in business, ~29,000 jobs, Master Plumbers for 25+ years.
Call 0800 484 353 — ask about our $200 off heat pump install deal.
Why Switch to a Heat Pump Water Heater?
Water heating is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the average Kiwi home. A traditional electric cylinder generates three times more greenhouse gas than a heat pump water heater.
- Up to 79% energy reduction vs standard electric (manufacturer figure)
- Cut the gas line charge — saves ~$8,000 over 10 years if you go all-electric
- Night-rate compatible — timer operation for ultra-low off-peak heating
- Works where solar can’t — south-facing, shaded, or low-roof-space properties
- Low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants and zero ozone depletion
- Free up cupboard space — outdoor install frees the old cylinder cupboard
- No risk of leaking inside the house when installed externally
Suitable for low-flow homes, retrofits, and new builds.
Things to Consider Before You Install
A heat pump isn’t a drop-in replacement for your old cylinder — the location matters. Here’s what we check during the quote:
- Tank size — 250–260L covers most families; 300L for larger households or long-shower users
- Noise — heat pumps hum; keep them away from bedroom windows if they’ll run overnight
- Location — near the kitchen sink reduces hot-water wait time and pipe heat loss
- Coefficient of Performance (COP) — higher is better; we pick models tuned for Wellington’s temperature range
- Coastal corrosion — marine-grade construction matters if you’re near the sea
- Cable run — dedicated circuit back to the switchboard
- Reheating time — larger tanks take longer to recover between uses
- Timer operation — lets you lean on night-rate electricity
See external hot water cylinders for outdoor install detail.
Heat Pump vs Solar Hot Water
Solar hot water is the strongest competitor to heat pump — and which one wins depends entirely on your roof.
Heat pump wins when:
- Roof is south-facing, shaded, or already full of PV solar
- You want consistent hot water day and night
- You need faster install and lower upfront cost
- You’re coming off gas and want to cut the supply charge
Solar wins when:
- You have north-facing roof real estate free
- You’re happy with 20+ year payback horizons
- You want the absolute lowest running cost when the sun is shining
We’ll tell you honestly which one actually suits your house during the site visit — not which one we’d rather sell.
Apricus All-in-One R290 — Top-Tier
The Apricus All-in-One R290 is our top-tier recommendation for families wanting the best combination of efficiency, controls and reliability.
- Dual heating technology — heat pump primary, electric element backup
- Hot water up to 70°C — enough capacity for back-to-back showers
- Smart touchscreen controller with mode presets
- Hot Water Hub app — monitor and control from your phone
- R290 refrigerant — low GWP, environmentally responsible
- Solid unit with good COP
Rinnai Enviroflo™ — Entry-Level Done Right
The Rinnai Enviroflo™ is our most popular entry-level heat pump water heater — the Rinnai support network and warranty coverage make it the easy choice for most homes.
- Up to 70% savings on hot water running costs vs electric
- Reliable electric element backup for peak demand or cold mornings
- Built-in frost protection — critical for Wellington winters
- User-friendly control interface
- Auto disinfection function — kills Legionella automatically
- Quiet operation — suitable for residential sites
- Minimal-charge R290 refrigerant — low GWP
- Sized for 2–5 person households
- Hard and soft water compatible
Warranty: 5 years on the cylinder, 3 years on refrigeration components, 1 year on other parts.
Designed for outdoor installation (indoor possible in non-occupied spaces).
Haier Monoblock — Smart and Efficient
The Haier Monoblock is a full all-in-one replacement for a traditional electric cylinder — no split components, no external refrigerant lines.
- Captures heat from ambient air down to -7°C — still works on Wellington winter mornings
- Up to 79% energy reduction vs standard electric systems (manufacturer figure)
- Built-in Wi-Fi and SmartHQ™ app integration
- Remote control capability — schedule heating, monitor usage
- R290 refrigerant — extremely low GWP
- Solar compatibility — works well with existing PV panel systems
Ideal for households looking to go fully electric with smart-home integration.
Case Study: Gas to Heat Pump
Scenario: 1982-built Wellington home, 40+ year-old gas storage tank, cylinder inside a cupboard.
Current running cost: 17c/kWh gas × 70% efficiency = ~24c per useful kWh of hot water.
Three options compared:
- New electric cylinder: 28c/kWh running, ~$5,000 installed
- New efficient gas heater (external): 18.5c/kWh running, ~$4,500 installed
- Heat pump water heater: ~7c/kWh running, ~$11,000 installed including the electrical cable
10-year payback maths:
- Heat pump saves approximately $16,000–$17,000 over 10 years at today’s energy costs — pays for the whole installation and delivers a return
- Efficient gas option saves ~$8,000 over 10 years
The outdoor install also frees up the cupboard and eliminates interior leak risk. Pipe runs are insulated to minimise heat loss.
Numbers are indicative — your actual savings depend on usage, tariff, and location.
Brands We Install
We’re brand-agnostic — whichever unit fits your home best is the one we quote:
- Apricus — Eco Energy, solid unit, good COP
- Rinnai Enviroflo — name-brand support, 3 sizes (small/medium/large)
- Rheem — high COP
- Parex (EcoSpring) — budget-friendly, 190L and 300L models
- Haier Monoblock — smart controls and Wi-Fi
- Mitsubishi (split systems) — powerful
Why Southern installs it:
- Master Plumbers Guarantee — deposit and workmanship covered
- Plumber + electrician on staff — no subbie handoffs for the electrical run
- Fixed-price quotes before work starts
- $200 off heat pump installation — current offer
- Your Job On Time, or It’s Free
Call 0800 484 353 or request a free quote.
