Ducted heat pumps in Queenstown
A ducted heat pump heats the whole house evenly and quietly, hidden in the ceiling with almost nothing on show. It comes into its own through a long alpine winter, which is why so many new builds around the Lakes choose it. We design and install ducted systems sized for genuine Queenstown cold.
A ducted heat pump in Queenstown heats the whole home evenly through discreet ceiling vents, with the main unit hidden in the roof space. It is the quietest, most seamless way to heat a house through an alpine winter, runs from around $14,000 fitted, and is easiest and cheapest to install in a new build where the ducting can be planned in.
Ducted is the premium end of the heat pump types we install. Where a high-wall heats one room well, a ducted system warms every room you choose to a steady temperature, with no units on the walls and barely a sound. For a high-spec home facing a Queenstown winter, that whole-home evenness is exactly what people are after.
The comfort case for ducted
The difference you notice is even warmth. There are no hot living areas and freezing hallways, no single unit roaring to keep up while the back bedrooms stay cold. The house simply sits at the temperature you set, morning and night, even when it is well below zero outside.
- Even heat everywhere. Warm air reaches every zone through the ceiling vents, so the whole home is comfortable rather than just the room with the heat pump in it.
- Quiet and out of sight. The unit lives in the roof space, so all you see are slim vents. Nothing on the walls and very little noise, which suits a well-finished home.
- Built for the cold. A correctly sized cold-climate ducted system holds its output through a hard frost, so it keeps the whole house warm on the worst mornings, not just the average ones.
- Zoned to save running costs. Heat the living areas by day and the bedrooms at night rather than the whole house at once, so you are not paying to warm empty rooms.
Who ducted suits
Ducted makes the most sense for whole-home heating where the ducting can be run without tearing the place apart. That points squarely at the new builds going up at Jack's Point, Shotover Country, Lake Hayes Estate and Hanley's Farm, where the system can be designed in from the start and the cost folded into the build. It is also a strong choice for a major renovation, or for any existing home with enough roof space to run the ducts.
If you are heating one or two rooms rather than the whole house, ducted is usually more than you need, and a high-wall or multi-split from our types of heat pump guide will do the job for far less. We will tell you honestly which way to go rather than selling you the biggest system.
What a ducted system costs
Ducted whole-home systems in the Queenstown Lakes run from around $14,000 to $28,000 or more, fitted and including GST. The spread is wide because it depends on the size of the home, the number of zones, the brand and how easily the ducting runs. A new build where the ducts are planned in is usually at the friendlier end, while a retrofit into an existing roof costs more.
| System | Typical situation | Fitted price |
|---|---|---|
| Ducted whole-home | New build, ducting planned in | From $14,000 |
| Ducted whole-home | Larger or multi-zone home, retrofit | $20,000 to $28,000+ |
For how ducted compares with every other option, see the full heat pump installation cost guide, or get a quote and we will price your actual home.
Planning a new build or renovation?
The best time to design in a ducted system is before the linings go up. Talk to us early and we will help you plan it right and price it properly.
Ducted heat pump questions
How much does a ducted heat pump cost in NZ?
A ducted whole-home heat pump in the Queenstown Lakes runs from around $14,000 to $28,000 or more, fitted and including GST. The figure depends on the size of the home, the number of zones and how easily the ducting can be run, which is why a new build is often cheaper to duct than a retrofit.
Can you fit a ducted heat pump in an existing home?
Often yes, as long as there is enough roof space to run the ducting and site the indoor unit. A retrofit is more involved than ducting a new build, so we check the roof void and layout first and tell you honestly whether ducted makes sense or whether a multi-split would give you most of the benefit for less.
Are ducted heat pumps good for cold climates?
They are excellent for them, which is why so many new builds around the Lakes specify ducted from the start. A correctly sized cold-climate ducted system heats the whole house evenly and holds its output through a hard frost, with no cold rooms and almost nothing on show.
Can a ducted system be zoned?
Yes. Zoning lets you heat the living areas during the day and the bedrooms at night rather than the whole house at once, which keeps running costs down. We set the zones up around how you actually use the home so you are not paying to heat empty rooms.
Ready to heat the whole home?
Get a free quote for a ducted system sized for your house and a Queenstown winter. No obligation, usually same business day.