A ducted heat pump heats and cools the whole home from one central indoor unit, hidden in the roof space or under the floor. Insulated ducts carry the air to slim grilles in each room, and a return grille draws air back to the unit. There are no boxes on the walls, just one controller and, with zoning, a sensor or controller in each zone.
Ducted systems are a bigger project than wall-mounted heat pumps, and they need more design. This page covers when ducted makes sense, how zoning works, what affects the cost and what upkeep is involved.
Pricing: every job starts with a free in-home assessment and a written quote, with a fixed price agreed before any work starts.
When ducted is the right choice
Consumer NZ describes ducted systems as having the least visual impact of any heat pump, but notes they are expensive to install and slightly less efficient, because some heat is lost through the ducts. They make the most sense when you want most of the house heated and cooled, when wall units would clutter a carefully designed interior, or when you are building or renovating and the ceiling is open.
They need space: a roof cavity with enough height for the unit and ducts, or a subfloor with good access. Some Auckland homes, such as skillion-roof designs and many apartments, do not have it. If you only need two or three rooms, or have no roof space, multi-split heat pumps are usually the better fit.
Zoning: heat only the rooms you use
Without zoning, a ducted system pushes air to every outlet whenever it runs. Zoning adds motorised dampers so that groups of rooms, or individual rooms, can be switched on and off and set to different temperatures. Mitsubishi Electric's ZoneIQ system, for example, supports up to 10 zones, each with its own sensor reporting temperature and humidity, and reduces airflow to a room once it reaches its set temperature.
Zoning is where most running cost savings come from: bedrooms off during the day, living areas off overnight. One limitation applies to all single ducted systems: the whole system heats or cools at the same time, so a sunny upstairs room cannot cool while a shady downstairs room heats.
How It Works
Design: sizing, ducts and outlet placement
A ducted system is sized from a room-by-room heat load: floor area, ceiling height, insulation, glazing and orientation for every room served, plus an allowance for losses in the ducts. The unit must deliver that load at Auckland's design temperature, which EECA's installer guide lists as 1 degree for the Auckland Council area.
Duct sizes and lengths are then matched to each room's need, and outlets placed so air washes across the room without blowing on beds or seating. Ceiling outlets are standard; floor outlets suit some homes with good subfloor access. The return air grille needs to be in a central, open spot, such as a hallway, so air can flow back freely. Poor duct design is the most common reason ducted systems are noisy or leave some rooms cold.
Costs and running costs
Ducted systems cost considerably more than wall-mounted heat pumps, because of the larger unit, the ducting, the zoning controls and the labour in the roof space. What moves the price most is the number of outlets and zones, roof access and height, whether it is a new build or a retrofit, and any electrical upgrade. Our heat pump prices guide covers published ranges, and we give a fixed written quote after a free assessment.
Running costs depend on how much of the house you heat. With zoning, you only pay to heat occupied rooms, and Gen Less suggests a setting of 18 to 21 degrees. Compare efficiency using the Zoned Energy Rating Label, which shows heating and cooling stars and annual energy use.
Ducted heating in Auckland homes
Ducted systems suit Auckland's many two-storey family homes and newer builds with accessible roof space. In older villas and bungalows, retrofits are often possible through the roof cavity, though tight spaces need careful planning. Some ducted units split into two parts to fit through small ceiling hatches.
Auckland's humid summers make cooling and dry mode useful, and ducted systems with humidity sensors can manage moisture room by room. Ducted heating also pairs well with a home ventilation system, which moves damp air out while the heat pump keeps the house warm.
Maintenance and compliance
The return air filter needs regular cleaning, and the whole system benefits from an annual service: filters, coil, drain, condensate pump if fitted, duct connections and outlets. Ducted systems often need a condensate pump when the unit sits in the roof, and EECA's guide notes these must be installed to the manufacturer's instructions.
As with any heat pump, a licensed electrician connects the system and issues an Electrical Certificate of Compliance. Heat pump servicing for ducted systems is available from our team.
Why Choose Cheeky's Heat Pumps for Ducted Heat Pumps
Room-by-room heat load
We calculate the load for every room served, not just the total floor area, before choosing a unit and duct sizes.
Zoning that matches your routine
We group rooms into zones around how your household actually lives, so you only heat what you use.
Quiet by design
We size ducts and outlets to keep air speeds and noise down, and plan return air so the system can breathe.
New builds and retrofits
We work with builders at the framing stage or plan retrofits through existing roof and subfloor spaces.
Ducted Heat Pumps FAQs
Is a ducted heat pump worth it?
It is worth considering if you want most of the home heated and cooled with nothing on the walls. Consumer NZ notes ducted systems are expensive to install and slightly less efficient than wall units because of duct losses.
Can a ducted system heat and cool different rooms at once?
No. A single ducted system heats or cools the whole home at the same time. Zoning lets you turn rooms on and off and set different temperatures.
Can you install ducted heating in an existing home?
Often, if there is enough roof or subfloor space. Some units split into two parts for small ceiling hatches. We check access at the assessment.
How many zones can I have?
It depends on the controller. Mitsubishi Electric's ZoneIQ, for example, supports up to 10 zones.
Are ducted heat pumps noisy?
A well-designed system is quiet indoors. Noise usually comes from undersized ducts or outlets, or a poorly placed return grille, which is why design matters.
How often should a ducted system be serviced?
Clean the return air filter regularly and book a professional service every year to check the coil, drain, condensate pump and ducts.
Ducted Heat Pumps Near You
Find your region or suburb for local ducted heat pumps information:
Related Heat Pump Services
Ducted Heat Pumps Guides
- Ducted Heat Pump Cost in NZ: Price, Running Costs and Zones
- What Is Heat Recovery Ventilation and Is It Worth It in NZ?
See the heat pump prices guide or every service we offer.