Multi Split Heat Pumps for Invercargill Homes
One outdoor unit feeding heaters in several rooms. It's a sensible fit for older Southland homes where a single wall unit can't reach the bedrooms.
A multi split heat pump runs several indoor units from one outdoor compressor. It heats multiple rooms from a single outside unit, which suits older Invercargill villas with separate living and sleeping rooms that one heater can't reach.
Why multi splits work well in older Southland homes
A lot of Invercargill houses are timber villas and bungalows with the living room down one end and bedrooms strung along a hallway. One heat pump in the lounge does a good job of that room and not much else. The heat doesn't turn corners or push down a cold passage.
A multi split puts a small indoor unit in each room that matters. Through a long winter of hard frosts and damp southerlies, that means the whole house stays warm, not just the spot in front of the lounge unit. You're heating the bedrooms in Hawthorndale or Rosedale before bed, not fighting a cold room with an electric heater.
Matching indoor units to each room
The units don't all have to be the same. High-wall heads are the usual pick for a lounge, but a bedroom under a sloped ceiling or a room with no spare wall might suit something else. We'll look at each space and choose what fits.
If wall space is tight, ceiling cassette heat pumps sit flush in the ceiling and blow down from above. In older villas with limited wall room, floor console heat pumps sit low like a gas heater and warm you at floor level. It's worth reading up on the different types of heat pump so you know what each room could take before we plan the system.
Fitting one outdoor unit on a compact section
City sections around Windsor and Gladstone don't leave much room down the side of the house. That's the real win with a multi split: one outdoor unit instead of three or four bolted along the wall. Less clutter on the cladding, less noise, and more of your yard left alone.
We work out where that single unit goes so it's out of the way, gets airflow, and the pipe runs to each room stay sensible. Longer runs and tricky routes shape the install, so we sort that on the visit. Have a look at how heat pump installation in Invercargill runs so you know what to expect on the day.
Sizing and cost before you commit
Multi splits cost more up front than a single unit, so it pays to size it right rather than over-buy heads you won't use. We measure each room and match the outdoor unit to the total load, because an undersized system struggles on the coldest Southland mornings and an oversized one cycles and wastes power.
You can get a rough feel with our heat pump sizing calculator, then we'll confirm it on site. For a full breakdown of heat pump installation cost, including how head count changes the price, take a look before you decide. If you'd rather heat a large open home evenly, ducted heat pump systems are worth comparing too. Not sure which way to go? Give us a call on 03 244 7345 and we'll talk it through.
Have a look at our types of heat pump, ceiling cassette heat pumps, floor console heat pumps, heat pump installation cost, heat pump installation in Invercargill, ducted heat pump systems and heat pump sizing calculator for more.
Not sure how many rooms to heat?
Tell us which rooms feel coldest and we'll suggest a layout that suits your house and budget.
Common questions about multi split heat pumps
What is a multi split heat pump?
A multi split heat pump is one outdoor unit connected to several indoor units by refrigerant pipes. Each indoor unit heats its own room, so you can warm a lounge, hallway and bedrooms from a single compressor outside. It's a common choice when one wall unit can't reach the whole house.
How many indoor units can one outdoor unit run?
It depends on the model, but most residential multi splits run between two and five indoor units off one outdoor unit. The outdoor unit has to be sized for the total heating load, not just the number of heads. We'll check your rooms and match the capacity so it copes on cold mornings.
Is a multi split cheaper than separate heat pumps in each room?
The multi split hardware often costs more than a single unit, but it's usually cheaper than fitting three or four separate heat pumps with their own outdoor units. You save on outdoor units, wall space and labour. If you only need one or two rooms heated, separate units can work out similar, so it's worth pricing both.
Can a multi split heat different rooms at different temperatures?
Yes. Each indoor unit has its own controller, so you can set the lounge warmer than the bedrooms or turn a room off completely. One limit to know: all the indoor units share the outdoor unit's mode, so you generally can't have one room heating while another is cooling at the same time.
Warm up the whole house this winter
Send us your rooms and suburb and we'll put together a multi split plan and quote for your place.