Wellington winter is coming for your coldest room.
A heat pump purchase is three decisions wearing one coat: the unit, the installation, and the electrical circuit that powers it. Specialist installers quote supply-and-install packages, but the dedicated circuit is prescribed electrical work that a licensed electrician must certify. On Wellington's old boards and windy hillside sites, the install details matter as much as the brand.
Is this your stream?
One cold lounge points to a high wall unit. Whole-home comfort points to ducted. Either way, a specialist installer sizes the unit to the space and quotes supply, install and the electrical circuit together.
A supply-only price is not the job. Installation runs $750–$1,350 on Consumer's estimate cited by MoneyHub, and the electrical circuit and certification sit on top. Compare installed prices, not box prices.
What it costs in Wellington
The install portion
MoneyHub's Wellington heat pump guide cites Consumer's estimate of $750–$1,350 for a standard installation. Complex pipe runs, high placements and difficult access move the install above the standard band.
Supply and install, NZ-wide
NZ cost guides put a standard unit supplied and installed at $2,000–$5,000 depending on room size, unit type and complexity. Ducted whole-home systems are design-quoted well above this band.
The electrical catch
The dedicated circuit is prescribed work needing a licensed electrician and a Certificate of Compliance. If the switchboard lacks capacity, add $1,500–$4,000 for an upgrade on Weka Electrical's published guide.
Wellington providers, compared
Six installers that do heat pump work in Wellington, grouped by what they are best at. Hover a row for the detail that matters.
Common mistakes
Buying the unit before sizing the room: an undersized unit runs constantly and never gets there; an oversized one short-cycles. Specialist installers size to the room, and Yeti's design-first approach exists for exactly this reason.
Quoting the unit without the electrical circuit: a heat pump needs its own circuit back to the switchboard, and that is prescribed electrical work needing a licensed electrician and a Certificate of Compliance. On old boards, the switchboard may need upgrading first.
Comparing supply-only prices against installed prices: a cheap unit online plus separate install and electrical work routinely costs more than a supply-and-install package. Compare like with like: installed, certified, warranted.
Placing the outdoor unit where the wind tunnels it: Wellington's wind hammers outdoor units. Pipe runs, shelter, and neighbour-facing placement all matter, and hillside sections complicate every one of them. Walk the site with the installer.
Ignoring the install-cost benchmark: MoneyHub's Wellington guide cites Consumer's estimate of $750–$1,350 for a standard installation, with NZ-wide guides putting supply-and-install at $2,000–$5,000 for a standard unit. A quote far outside those bands needs an explanation.
Skipping the maintenance plan: heat pumps need filter cleaning and periodic servicing to hold efficiency. Yeti runs planned maintenance programmes for a reason; a neglected unit costs more to run every winter.
FAQ
How much does heat pump installation cost in Wellington?
MoneyHub's Wellington guide cites Consumer's estimate of $750–$1,350 for a standard installation. NZ-wide guides put a standard unit supplied and installed at $2,000–$5,000 depending on room size, unit type and pipe run complexity. Ducted whole-home systems sit well above that and are design-quoted.
Who installs the electrical side of a heat pump?
The dedicated circuit is prescribed electrical work, so a licensed electrician must do it and issue a Certificate of Compliance. Some installers like Blizzard and 24/Seven have electrical capability in-house; others coordinate an electrician as part of the install.
Do I need a switchboard upgrade for a heat pump?
Sometimes. A heat pump is a sustained load on its own circuit, and old fuse boards may lack capacity. A Wellington switchboard upgrade runs $1,500–$4,000 on Weka Electrical's published guide. Ask the installer to check the board during the site visit.
High wall or ducted?
High wall units suit single rooms and retrofit into existing homes cheaply. Ducted systems heat the whole home invisibly but need design work and ceiling space. Yeti designs ducted systems and presents the design before work starts; that design step is what you are paying for.
What should a supply-and-install quote include?
The unit model and capacity, the pipe run and outdoor unit placement, the electrical circuit and certification, commissioning, and the warranty on both unit and workmanship. If the electrical circuit is not itemised, ask who is doing it and who certifies it.
Budget $750–$1,350 for the install portion (Consumer's estimate via MoneyHub) and $2,000–$5,000 supply-and-install for a standard unit. Size the unit to the room, walk the outdoor placement with the installer, and confirm who does and certifies the electrical circuit. Get Pumped and Yeti for specialist installs, Blizzard when the electrical work needs to sit with the same firm.