Multi Split Heat Pumps for Auckland Homes
One outdoor unit runs several indoor heads, so you can warm the lounge, bedrooms and study without bolting a box on every wall. Handy when yard space is tight.
A multi split heat pump runs two or more indoor units off a single outdoor compressor. It heats and cools several rooms from one box outside, which suits Auckland townhouses and apartments where wall and yard space is limited and running separate units everywhere isn't practical.
How one outdoor unit warms several rooms
A single split has one indoor head and one outdoor unit. A multi split flips that: one outdoor unit, and two, three or more indoor heads piped back to it. Each room gets its own controller, so you set the bedroom cooler than the lounge and only run the rooms you're using.
This is the go for damp, humid Auckland winters when the lounge, kids' rooms and hallway all feel cold and clammy through those long grey months. You take the chill and the moisture off several rooms at once, off the one compressor. If you're still weighing up your options, it's worth a look at the different types of heat pump before you commit to a layout.
Mixing indoor unit styles on the one system
You're not stuck with high walls in every room. On a multi split you can mix indoor styles to suit each space. A high wall in the lounge, a discreet head in the hallway, and something quieter in a bedroom.
In newer open-plan builds and townhouses around Hobsonville and Flat Bush, plenty of people run ceiling cassette heat pumps in the main living area and tuck floor console heat pumps under windows in bedrooms. If you're heating a lot of rooms across two levels, sometimes a ducted heat pump system makes more sense than a multi split with heads everywhere. We'll tell you straight which way suits your place.
- High wall heads for lounges and larger rooms
- Ceiling cassettes for open-plan living
- Floor consoles for bedrooms and rooms under windows
- Up to four or five indoor heads on the one outdoor unit, depending on the model
Where the outdoor unit goes on a tight section
This is where multi splits earn their keep in Auckland's denser suburbs. New townhouses in Takanini and apartments in Ponsonby often don't have the wall or yard space for three or four separate outdoor units. One box instead of several keeps things tidy and keeps the neighbours happy.
Getting the outdoor unit sited well matters: clearances, drainage, and pipe runs back to each room. That's the sort of thing we sort out during heat pump installation in Auckland. To get a feel for how much heating each room actually needs, run your rooms through our heat pump sizing calculator before we visit.
What a multi split costs and the brands we fit
A multi split usually costs more than a single unit up front because of the larger outdoor unit and the extra pipe runs, but it's often cheaper than fitting several standalone systems, and it uses less wall and yard space. Where it lands depends on how many rooms and which indoor styles you pick. Our page on heat pump installation cost walks through what drives the price.
We fit Mitsubishi Electric heat pumps and Daikin heat pumps for multi split setups. Both do the job well in Auckland conditions. We'll match the outdoor unit to the number of rooms so it isn't struggling on the coldest, dampest mornings.
Not sure how many rooms one unit will cover?
Give us a call on 09 234 2345 or send through your rooms and we'll size the right multi split for your place.
Multi split questions we get asked
What is a multi split heat pump system?
It's a heat pump that runs two or more indoor units off a single outdoor compressor. Each indoor head heats and cools its own room with its own controller, but they all share the one box outside. That's the difference from a single split, which has one indoor unit to one outdoor unit.
How many indoor units can one outdoor unit run?
It depends on the model, but most residential multi splits run up to four or five indoor heads off one outdoor unit. The more heads you add, the bigger the outdoor unit needs to be. There's also a limit on how many can run flat out at once, so we size it around how you'll actually use the rooms.
Is a multi split better than separate high wall heat pumps?
It depends on your home. Separate high walls let each room run fully independently and one fault doesn't affect the others. A multi split saves wall and yard space and looks tidier, which matters on tight Auckland sections. If you've got room for separate units and don't mind the boxes, single splits can work out simpler.
Can a multi split heat and cool different rooms at the same time?
Yes and no. Each indoor head sets its own temperature, so you can have the lounge warm and a bedroom cooler at the same time. But most multi splits can't heat one room while actively cooling another at the same moment, because the outdoor unit runs in one mode. All heads either heat or cool together. A few higher-end systems can do both at once, and we'll flag it if that's what you need.
Get a multi split sorted for your Auckland home
Tell us which rooms you want covered across Albany, Hobsonville, Takanini or anywhere in Auckland, and we'll come out and quote the right setup. Call 09 234 2345.