Heat pumps and ventilation

A heat pump heats in winter, cools in summer and dries the air, and in a well insulated room it does all three for less running cost than plug-in heaters. Ventilation takes the damp out of bathrooms and kitchens before it turns into mould. Both are electrical appliances at heart, and because Bream Bay Electrical supplies, wires and installs them, the circuit, the switchboard and the unit are all done by one team.

Heat pumps and air conditioning

• High-wall heat pumps for living areas, bedrooms and offices, the most common choice.
• Floor consoles where there is no good wall space, or where you want the warm air low in the room.
• Multi-room systems, with several indoor units running from one outdoor unit.
• Ducted and zoned systems for new builds and larger homes, with discreet ceiling vents in each room and a wall controller, like the AirTouch controller in the photograph, that sets each zone separately.
• Air conditioning for businesses: offices, shops, staff rooms and server rooms.

Sizing and position matter most

A heat pump that is too small runs flat out and never gets the room warm; one that is too big cycles on and off and costs more than it should. We size each unit to the room: its floor area, ceiling height, insulation, glazing and which way it faces. Then we place the indoor unit so the air reaches where people sit, and the outdoor unit where it has room to breathe, drains properly and will not annoy you or the neighbours. EECA, the government's energy efficiency agency, has good advice on heating and cooling efficiently, including why insulation and sensible thermostat settings matter as much as the heat pump itself.

Living near the coast

Much of Bream Bay is close to the sea, and salt air is hard on outdoor units. Where the property is exposed we think carefully about where the outdoor unit goes, and we can talk you through models with extra corrosion protection for coastal homes. Rinsing the outdoor unit with fresh water now and then, and having it serviced, helps it last.

The electrical side

Every heat pump needs its own circuit from the switchboard with the right protection, plus an isolating switch at the outdoor unit so it can be worked on safely. In many older homes the switchboard has no spare space or no RCD protection, and adding a heat pump is the moment to put that right. Because we are electricians first, we check the board before we quote and include any work it needs; our residential electrical page explains switchboard upgrades in more detail.

Getting the most from a heat pump

A heat pump works best when it is left to do its job. Set a sensible temperature, use the timer to warm the room before you need it, and avoid turning it up high to heat the room faster, because it will not. Keep the indoor filters clean and the outdoor unit clear of plants and clutter so air can flow freely. When we finish an installation we show you how to use the controls, so you are not left guessing with the remote.

Home ventilation

Showers and cooking put a surprising amount of water into the air, and without somewhere to go it ends up on windows, walls and ceilings. We install bathroom extractor fans and rangehoods ducted to the outside, and whole-home ventilation systems such as SmartVent, which brings in drier air and moves it through the house from a controller like the one shown here. Landlords should note that the Healthy Homes standards require extraction in the kitchens and bathrooms of rental homes. If you are looking at running costs overall, see our solar and energy solutions.