Heat pump installers (not heat pump brands)

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neb

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#273365 18-Aug-2020 16:42

Having read through many of the heat-pump threads here, and sales literature from all the big brands, it looks like (a) all of them are roughly the same in terms of features, performance, refrigerant used, noise levels, etc, and (b) what really matters is who installs them, not so much the brand. We're looking for a multi split unit for the Casa de Cowboy redo, so a single outdoors unit feeding the upstairs lounge, 5.5m x 6m, and downstairs, 5m x 4m, all of which are insulated etc, which a rough calculation has put at 8-9kW so we'll over-spec to 10-11kW, e.g. the Daikin Super Multi NX 10kW.

That's just for background info since I'm sure people will ask, but what I'm really after is recommendations for someone in Auckland who'll do a good job and won't charge the earth for it. Doesn't have to be a Daikin dealer since they all seem fairly similar, more interested in getting a good installer.

SomeoneSomewhere

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#2543893 18-Aug-2020 18:57

I would note that there *are* differences between the available units. All the manufacturers have the bargain, average, and $$$ units, and the COPs and sometimes turndown ratios change with that.

I would generally suggest 2x separate splits for that. Multis are usually only worth it for large numbers of smaller heads. Separate also gives you the option of simultaneous heating and cooling, and fault tolerance. The COPs are usually significantly better too as they are upgraded more frequently.

Yoban

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#2543925 18-Aug-2020 20:09

can recommend these guys http://www.aucklandheatpumps.co.nz/ (Mike) they happen to be daikin dealers too.

CokemonZ

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#2543926 18-Aug-2020 20:17

We've had two good experiences with heat pump city: https://www.heatpumpcity.co.nz/

dejadeadnz

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#2544075 18-Aug-2020 22:50

We and a number of our friends have had excellent experiences with Albany Heatpumps. www.albanyheatpumps.co.nz

Dynamic

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#2544240 19-Aug-2020 09:00

I cannot recommend this guy enough: https://www.nocowboys.co.nz/businesses/vincent-install-ltd

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#2544251 19-Aug-2020 09:13

Dynamic:

I cannot recommend this guy enough: https://www.nocowboys.co.nz/businesses/vincent-install-ltd

I totally agree. I used Vincent after your last recommendation and have since recommended him to others. I used him install a multi-split outdoor unit and two indoor units and he did an amazing job. He doesn't have any alliance to any of the manufactures but knows what's going on with each of them. I've had him back out to my new place three weeks ago for a quote to install another three units.

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neb

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#2544409 19-Aug-2020 12:59

Thanks for all the reccos! Looks like it's easier to find good installers than some of the experiences in the other threads indicated, I've also had an off-list recco for Everything Except Shoes, http://www.ees.co.nz for people who are keeping score.

One comment, also off-list, that someone made in favour of a multi-split is that you get an over-specced outdoor unit thrown in for free if you're not running all the indoor units at once, which we won't ever be doing. So instead of needing (as an illustrative example) 4kW out/4kW in x 2 we could get 6kW out/(2 x 4kW in).

bfginger

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#2551045 28-Aug-2020 05:54

it looks like (a) all of them are roughly the same in terms of features, performance, refrigerant used, noise levels, etc, and (b) what really matters is who installs them, not so much the brand.

Sometimes people say that but it isn't the case different brands and units are interchangeable. The best installer in the world isn't going to turn a pig's ear into a silk purse.

Multisplits aren't intended to be used for the heck of it. Most outdoor units aren't going to be able to ramp down like smaller individual units would and may end up costing more for hardware and installation than a couple of individual units.

I'd suggest a Daikin New Cora FTXM50UVMZ unit for the 33m2 upstairs and a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Avanti Plus for the 20m2 downstairs.

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#2551052 28-Aug-2020 07:10

We had a good experience getting a ducted system put in by these guys Oxygen Air

https://oxyair.co.nz/

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neb

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#2551444 28-Aug-2020 16:36

bfginger:
Multisplits aren't intended to be used for the heck of it. Most outdoor units aren't going to be able to ramp down like smaller individual units would and may end up costing more for hardware and installation than a couple of individual units.

There's more problems with multisplits that I wasn't aware of until talking to the installer who's doing the work. The biggest one is that you can't have e.g. a 10kW outdoor unit and three 5kW indoor units and only drive one at a time, which was approximately what we were planning, because the outdoor unit won't even start if the indoor capacity is higher than the outdoor capacity even if only a single 5kW indoor unit is running. So there's no saving there.

The next problem is that the manufacturers make standard units by the Panamax-load but multisplits only in small quantities, which means that they're more expensive in comparison and harder to get, particularly given the current situation.

So the end result is that we're going with two outdoor units rather than a multisplit.

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#2551485 28-Aug-2020 17:13

we used EES for our ducted and highwall installs, the installers were great and did an excellent install good job, the sales rep was a d*ck and the we had one negative experience with their after sales support, consequent general maintenance and service jobs have all been good and professional

I could only assume that with these larger companies is that they will have different install techs for each part of Auckland/NZ though so install quality could possibly vary?

We are in Albany, north shore of Auckland

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#2551499 28-Aug-2020 17:48

CokemonZ:

We've had two good experiences with heat pump city: https://www.heatpumpcity.co.nz/

Same they were very quick. I had a small fault and they came back and fixed that in record time. Much better to deal with than my previous install.

SomeoneSomewhere

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#2551536 28-Aug-2020 19:39

neb:
bfginger:

Multisplits aren't intended to be used for the heck of it. Most outdoor units aren't going to be able to ramp down like smaller individual units would and may end up costing more for hardware and installation than a couple of individual units.

There's more problems with multisplits that I wasn't aware of until talking to the installer who's doing the work. The biggest one is that you can't have e.g. a 10kW outdoor unit and three 5kW indoor units and only drive one at a time, which was approximately what we were planning, because the outdoor unit won't even start if the indoor capacity is higher than the outdoor capacity even if only a single 5kW indoor unit is running. So there's no saving there. The next problem is that the manufacturers make standard units by the Panamax-load but multisplits only in small quantities, which means that they're more expensive in comparison and harder to get, particularly given the current situation. So the end result is that we're going with two outdoor units rather than a multisplit.

Usually there is a rating for the maximum over-capacity you can attach, around 125% of rated capacity I think.

When engineers specify them (and VRFs) for commercial, we normally seen them ignore that and size it at 90-100% of outdoor unit capacity.

neb

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#2551625 28-Aug-2020 21:41

SomeoneSomewhere:
Usually there is a rating for the maximum over-capacity you can attach, around 125% of rated capacity I think.

When engineers specify them (and VRFs) for commercial, we normally seen them ignore that and size it at 90-100% of outdoor unit capacity.

Yeah, I was a bit surprised at that as well, looking at Daikin you can over-spec by 162% at 10kW and for Panasonic it's up to 180% depending on outdoor unit size. Have gone back to ask what the story is, it looks like a split multi is fine for what we were after.