11 Questions to See If You Don’t Need a Heat Pump in Your Hamilton Home Right Now

18 August 2025

A heat pump can make life easier, warmer, and more affordable in the long run. But timing matters. Some homeowners in Hamilton might not need to make the switch straight away. Others may find it pays to act sooner. 

We put together this list of 11 checklist questions to help you figure out where you stand.

If you get through the list and realise a heat pump might be the right move, we’re ready to help. At Hamilton Aircons, we install and maintain heat pump systems tailored to your home and lifestyle. But first, let’s see if you might hold off a bit longer.

1. Do Fewer Than Three People Live in Your Home?

Smaller households often consume less energy for heating because there are fewer rooms in use and typically fewer hours of simultaneous heating are required. 

In homes with only one or two people, it might make sense to rely on simpler or existing heating methods, especially if you’re mostly using one or two rooms at a time.

• New Zealand’s average household size is about 2.7 people, so if you live alone or with one other person, your heating load is likely on the lower side.
• Homes with fewer occupants also experience fewer internal heat gains from body heat and appliances, meaning less total warmth circulating, but also lower heating needs.

However, if you’re home for long hours during the day, work remotely, or prefer the entire house to feel consistently warm rather than just one or two rooms, a heat pump in Hamilton homes still makes a lot of sense.

It might not feel urgent, but energy-efficient heating could still improve your day-to-day comfort and lower your overall electricity bill.

2. Is Your Average Power Bill Under $165 in Summer and $240 in Winter?

Tracking your power bill is one of the easiest ways to understand whether your home heating is efficient or lacking. Households in New Zealand typically see a seasonal difference in electricity costs, with winter months demanding more power for warmth and lighting.

• The national average sits around $165/month in summer and $240/month in winter.
• If you’re well below that, you might assume that your existing heating setup is already performing efficiently.

But here’s the question: are you comfortable at that lower price point, or are you under-heating to save money? 

We talk to many Hamilton residents who put up with cold areas of the house or avoid turning on heaters altogether to keep the bills low. If you’re routinely cold or resorting to blankets and hot water bottles in the evenings, a heat pump can give you balanced, low-cost heating without having to ration warmth. 

Lower bills are great, but only if they don’t come at the expense of your comfort or well-being.

3. Has Your Home Received Warmer Kiwi Homes Insulation?

Insulation is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve energy efficiency in New Zealand homes. If your home was upgraded through the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme, you may already enjoy improved heat retention, especially in ceilings and underfloors where heat loss is most common.

• EECA has funded over 385,000 insulation retrofits since the programme began in 2009.
• Homes that received full insulation retrofits often require less active heating to stay warm.

However, insulation isn’t a silver bullet. If your home still feels cold in certain rooms or struggles to retain heat overnight, that could point to a gap in your current heating setup rather than insulation itself. 

Even fully insulated homes benefit from an efficient system like a heat pump to distribute warmth evenly and maintain dry air. A heat pump in Hamilton homes adds a layer of reliable control, which insulation alone doesn’t provide.

4. Have You Already Had an EECA Heater Grant?

If your home has received a heater through the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme, that likely means you’ve already had help accessing energy-efficient heating. These grants are great for reaching minimum warmth standards, but they don’t always mean your heating is optimal for long-term comfort.

• Over 75,000 heater grants have been provided, covering up to 80% of costs.
• Often, these systems are fixed-panel heaters or smaller units with limited capacity.

The difference comes in usage. While these systems meet requirements, they might not provide consistent warmth across multiple rooms or handle winter mornings as effectively as a heat pump would.

A properly sized and installed heat pump can handle multiple zones in your home, offer cooling in summer, and often costs less to run per hour than traditional resistance heaters. So even if you’ve already accessed a heater grant, it’s worth asking if that unit still meets your household’s evolving needs.

5. Was Your Home Built After 2008?

Houses built after 2008 are subject to more stringent insulation and construction standards, thanks to updates in New Zealand’s Building Code. These standards improved thermal envelope requirements, which means newer homes usually retain heat more effectively than older ones.

• Post-2008 homes typically include double glazing, ceiling insulation, and tighter air control.
• In theory, this should reduce the need for constant heating, especially during milder winter periods.

That said, a newer home doesn’t automatically equal year-round comfort. Layout, sun exposure, glazing quality, and ventilation all influence how warm or cold a house feels. We often find homeowners in newer builds surprised by cold zones near the southern walls or in rooms with minimal natural sunlight. 

Even with updated standards, passive heating is not always enough.

If you still find yourself using portable heaters in parts of the house, a heat pump might offer a cleaner, more consistent solution that works with the insulation rather than relying on it alone.

6. Do You Use Air Conditioning Fewer Than Three Months a Year?

If you barely use air conditioning throughout the year, you might assume your heating and cooling needs are minimal. And that could be true, but it’s worth double-checking why.

• Hamilton has around 227 heating degree days annually, meaning heating is needed more often than cooling.
• If you’re not using cooling often but still feel uncomfortable during colder months, your home might not be performing as well as you think.

Sometimes, people avoid using air conditioning or heaters not because they don’t need them, but because of energy costs or the inefficiency of their current system. If you’re putting up with extremes instead of solving them, it’s worth reconsidering. 

A heat pump offers both cooling and heating in one unit, often with lower operating costs than other electric systems. It’s also worth noting that many people don’t realise how much better their home’s climate control can be until they make the switch.

7. Is Your Existing Heating System Less Than Five Years Old?

A relatively new heating system might feel like something you don’t need to replace, and in some cases, that makes sense. Most electric or gas heaters last around 10 to 15 years, with performance tapering off towards the end of that period.

• Systems under five years old generally maintain good efficiency and responsiveness.
• Modern panel heaters or ducted solutions often still provide solid performance in that time frame.

However, that doesn’t mean your current system is giving you everything a heat pump could. For instance, does it dehumidify your space while it heats? Can it cool during summer? How well does it regulate the temperature from room to room? 

If you’re noticing uneven warmth or higher-than-expected electricity bills, it might still be worth considering an upgrade. A newer system might be “working,” but that doesn’t mean it’s the best long-term option, especially compared to a heat pump in Hamilton homes.

8. Is Your Existing Heating System Less Than Five Years Old?

Some homes benefit from passive heating features that keep interiors comfortable well into the night. This could be due to insulation, concrete slabs that retain heat, or north-facing layouts that catch the sun.

• Passive solar gain and insulation together can reduce heating reliance.
• Homes that stay warm overnight often have fewer draughts and more thermal mass.

But you might notice a pattern. If certain rooms feel warm in the evening but lose heat quickly by morning, you could still be dealing with inefficiencies. Many Hamilton homes feel fine at 7 p.m. but uncomfortable by 6 a.m. 

A heat pump with a timer function can kick in before you even get out of bed, providing warmth exactly when you need it. So even if you don’t use heating overnight now, you might still be experiencing unnecessary discomfort.

9. Have You Addressed All Condensation Issues?

Condensation is more than a nuisance; it’s a red flag that your home may not be ventilating or heating correctly. You might have made adjustments already, like using extractor fans or applying window seals, and those are great first steps.

• Persistent condensation can lead to mould, which affects indoor air quality.
• Even well-insulated homes can have humidity issues if the air doesn’t circulate.

Heat pumps don’t just warm your space; they also help dry the air, making them ideal for preventing mould and damp. If you still use towels to mop up windows each morning or notice a musty smell in bedrooms, a heat pump might solve more problems than you realise. 

Certified heat pump installers like us at Hamilton Aircons can assess your space and recommend systems that actively manage moisture and heat at once.

10. Is Upfront Installation Cost a Major Barrier?

Let’s be real… installing a heat pump isn’t pocket change. It’s an investment that pays off over time, not one that always feels affordable upfront. That’s why many people delay.

• The average cost depends on home size, layout, and unit type.
• Thankfully, EECA grants and flexible payment plans exist to soften the blow.

We offer both. At Hamilton Aircons, we can walk you through the financing options and help you check eligibility for funding. What we often see is that monthly savings on your energy bill start to offset the investment very quickly. 

Over time, the heat pump pays for itself, and then some. So if budget is your only hesitation, it might be worth running the numbers first.

11. Do You Value Certified After-Sales Support and Warranties?

Heat pumps require periodic maintenance, much like any appliance. But unlike a plug-in heater, a heat pump is a more technical piece of equipment. That means ongoing support and warranty protection matter more than you might expect.

• Certified installers offer scheduled check-ups to keep things running smoothly.
• Warranties protect your investment and make future repairs easier to manage.

At Hamilton Aircons, we’re committed to supporting you beyond the install. Whether you need a quick fix, system performance check, or warranty-backed replacement, we’re just a call away. 

We find many homeowners feel more confident upgrading once they know they won’t be left to figure things out alone. That peace of mind is worth factoring into your decision.

So… Do You Really Not Need One?

After answering those 11 questions, you might realise that while a heat pump isn’t urgent, it could still improve your comfort and lower your bills.

Let’s be honest, very few homes in Hamilton stay warm, dry, and cost-effective on their own year-round. Heating degree days in Hamilton show just how long our winters can stretch, even if they’re not always freezing. 

And while some insulation upgrades and heater grants go a long way, they’re not the full story.

If your current system does the job and you’re truly comfortable, great, no pressure. But if you’ve been nodding along to more than a few of these questions, maybe it’s time to look again. We’re a certified heat pump installer, and we’ve helped hundreds of families in Hamilton make smarter heating choices that last.

You don’t need to decide today. Just reach out. Ask us what options are available. We’ll give you honest advice, show you the numbers, and help you decide if now’s the time.

That’s what we’re here for.