Poorly installed heat pumps spark deluge of complaints

An increasing number of New Zealand homeowners are having heat pumps installed but the professional lobby for heating and air conditioning engineers says it has been deluged with complaints over poorly installed units. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

Heating and air conditioning engineers say their professional lobby has been deluged with complaints over poorly performing heat pumps, but they can do little to help most victims.

"The issues being raised include quality of installation, building code compliance, the installed solution not performing to expectations and significant power bill increases," said Steve Coatham, general manager of NZ Hevac Ltd.

Research has shown a trend to using heat pumps - with an associated higher annual average consumption of electricity - and installation of heat pumps in 45 per cent of new homes.

According to Contact Energy, some consumers who have complained after seeing their power bills double have households which have installed heat pumps or made more use of oil column heaters.

Trustpower staff have said some heat pumps can cost up to $7 a day to run, while some installers have suggested they can be run for $60 to $70 maximum a month.

But Mr Coatham said that NZ Hevac - fronting for the Institute of Refrigeration Heating Air Conditioning Engineers (IRHACE) and Refrigeration Air Conditioning Companies Associations (RACCA) - said that it could not afford to investigate complaints not directed at its own members.

"Our understanding is that many installers do not have... specialist refrigeration, air conditioning, ventilation system skills or provide electrical certification," he said.

A heat pump with less than a full charge of refrigerant could increase power consumption by over 100 per cent of expected levels, he said.

"Poor heat pump installs bring the industry into disrepute with consumers," Mr Coatham said.

The refrigeration and air conditioning industry wanted people handling refrigerants to require certification, in line with the requirements for electricians and plumbers, and is nearly ready to propose the Government implement a tiered registration process.

Meanwhile, a voluntary scheme designed by IRHACE and RACCA, with the Ministry for the Environment, had been started and over 500 members of the associations complied "on a voluntary basis" with the programme called "No Loss".

But many of the people installing heat pumps were not part of this voluntary process.

- NZPA