Latest heat pumps offer massive step forward
As winter sets in, the team at North Canterbury Energy Centre are finding that some of the early models of heat pumps are not performing as well as they should, or are failing all together.
NCEC co-owner Matt Withers says repair is often not a viable economic option and some of the earlier technology uses a refrigerant that is no longer available. This leaves no choice other than to replace the appliance.
It’s not all bad news for early adopters of the heating technology though, because as old models go out, new models can be installed which are vastly superior.
‘‘The new heat pumps are streets ahead in efficiency, output and performance in the cold,’’ Matt says.
There is usually very little warning before a heat pump fails, he adds. ‘‘We have a full service department with technicians available to diagnose and repair faults on all the major brands of heat pumps. We are also well equipped in the event of a failure to be able to offer the most suitable replacement for your home and have it installed quickly so you are not left out in the cold,’’ he says. ‘‘If an old model isn’t performing well, we can replace it and offer you 12 months interest-free finance through Q Card, and guarantee you’ll be warm this winter.’’
Matt and business partner Tracey Brown each have more than 25 years’ experience in the industry and have set North Canterbury Energy Centre apart from other heat pump providers by having a large service department that includes three service technicians and three maintenance technicians across two branches in Rangiora and Kaikoura.
‘‘We’re all about keeping people warm. There is no straight-out-of-the-box scenario so we custom-make solutions to suit the home, and we back ourselves fully. We offer a free in-home consultation and we guarantee any new products we supply.’’