Forlongs Furnishings: Everything for you and your home

The recent boom in sales for household heat pumps has seen sales triple in the last five years. Over the same period, the average efficiency of heat pumps available in New Zealand has increased noticeably. Forlongs are proud stockists of Quiet Air heat pumps.

How heat pumps work
Heat pumps (or 'reverse cycle air conditioners') use the same technology as your refrigerator, but in reverse to heat your home. They work by taking heat from the air outside your house and transferring it inside, using a sophisticated compressor, fan and refrigerant gases.

In New Zealand, a good quality heat pump should perform effectively when the temperature gets down to minus 15 degrees Celsius as long as it is sized and installed correctly.

Energy efficiency
A conventional electric heater will deliver 1 kW of heating for every 1 kW of electricity used.
Some heat pumps can produce up to 5 kilowatts (kW) of heating for every 1 kW of electricity they use.
This is energy efficiency at its best!

Choosing what size to buy
Some heat pumps are more efficient than others and the differences in running costs and performance can be significant. Our Quiet Air Heat Pumps are produced to give you maximum efficiency through Winter and Summer.
When buying a heat pump, it is important to get one that is matched to the size of the area in your house that will be heated. Contact us to assist in understand what size is best for you. As heat pumps just move heat from outside your house to inside, they have to work harder and get less efficient as outside temperatures drop.

Using your heat pump smartly
Like any heating option, heat pumps give the best energy savings when they are used smartly. We advise:

• Heat the spaces that you are actually using, and shut doors and curtains to keep the heat in.
• Don't have the temperature higher than you need it – aim for between 18°–22° Celsius while you are using a space and then 16° Celsius overnight if required.
• Learn to use the timer features so your heat pump comes on an hour or so before you get home, instead of leaving it on all day.
• Make sure your house is well insulated, otherwise you could lose up to 75 % of the heat you are paying for through your ceiling, walls and floor.

View our selection of heat pumps online, visit us in store or feel free to us on 07 8479089.