Can I get a ceiling cassette heat pump installed in an existing home?

Yes, but the ceiling cavity needs to be checked first. The indoor unit needs enough space above the ceiling lining and a route for the refrigerant pipe. Most North Shore homes have adequate ceiling space. Craig confirms on the site visit.

What is the difference between a ceiling cassette and a ducted heat pump?

A ceiling cassette is a single unit recessed into the ceiling of one room with four-way airflow. A ducted system uses a central unit with ductwork running to multiple rooms throughout the home. A cassette costs much less than a full ducted system and covers one large room or zone very effectively.

How much does a ceiling cassette heat pump cost in Takapuna?

Ceiling cassette installations in Takapuna run from $4,500 for a medium space up to $9,000 or more for commercial or complex installs. All prices include supply, ceiling access work, installation and electrical connections.

Takapuna and North Shore Auckland

Ceiling Cassette Heat Pump Installation Takapuna

A ceiling cassette sits flush in the ceiling and pushes air in four directions at once. No wall units, no floor units — just a neat grille in the ceiling and even warmth throughout the room. Craig installs ceiling cassettes across Takapuna and the North Shore.

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Flush in the ceiling, completely hidden Air in four directions at once All major brands installed Free on-site assessment

Ceiling cassette heat pump installed flush in the ceiling of a Takapuna North Shore kitchen

Installed from

$4,500 incl. GST

Ceiling cassette heat pump flush in the ceiling of a North Shore Takapuna kitchen

What Is a Ceiling Cassette and When Does It Make Sense?

A ceiling cassette heat pump is recessed into the ceiling with only a flat grille visible from below. The indoor unit sits in the ceiling cavity above, connected by refrigerant pipe to the outdoor unit outside. Air is drawn in from the centre of the grille and pushed out in four directions simultaneously.

This four-way airflow is what makes a ceiling cassette the right choice for large, open or square-shaped rooms where a high wall unit would struggle to reach all four corners evenly. Craig will tell you in the site visit whether your ceiling space can accommodate one.

Completely invisible from the room, only a flat grille in the ceiling
Four-way airflow covers large open plan spaces evenly
No wall space used at all, walls stay completely free
Works for residential open plan living and commercial spaces
Excellent for kitchens, dining rooms and large square living areas
Can be connected to a multi-room outdoor unit to cover several rooms
Modern inverter technology adjusts power in real time, quiet enough for bedrooms and work-from-home spaces

Where Ceiling Cassettes Work on the North Shore

Craig installs ceiling cassettes in three main situations across Takapuna and the North Shore.

Large open plan living and kitchen

The most common ceiling cassette install on the North Shore. Newer homes in Albany, Silverdale and Pinehill often have large open plan kitchen and living areas that are 50m2 or more. A single ceiling cassette positioned in the centre of the space covers all four corners in a way no wall-mounted unit can match.

Commercial spaces and offices

Retail stores, medical practices, offices and reception areas on the North Shore frequently use ceiling cassettes. The commercial environment means you can't have wall units taking up display or desk space, and the ceiling is the natural place for heating and cooling equipment.

New builds and renovations

The best time to put a ceiling cassette in is during a new build or renovation when the ceiling is open and the unit can be positioned and connected before the gib goes on. Craig works with builders across the North Shore to plan cassette installations into new builds from the start.

Craig's tip

Don't wait until the gib is on. If you're doing a reno, tell your builder to leave the ceiling open where the cassette is going. It takes a fraction of the time and saves a significant amount on the install cost.

Ceiling Cassette Cost in Takapuna

2026 installed prices including supply, installation and electrical work. All prices include GST.

Medium space, up to 40m2

$4,500 to $6,000

Large lounge or open plan dining

Standard ceiling access, single cassette, straightforward pipe run to outdoor unit.

Large space, 40 to 70m2

$5,500 to $7,500

Large open plan kitchen and living

Higher capacity unit required. Most common North Shore install for modern family homes.

Commercial or complex install

$6,500 to $9,000+

Office, retail or large residential

Multiple cassettes, commercial grade units or complex ceiling access. Craig confirms on site.

Craig installs Panasonic, Mitsubishi Electric and Daikin ceiling cassettes on the North Shore, the three brands with the strongest track records for this unit type in NZ. Ceiling cassettes cost more than high wall units because of the ceiling access work involved. In an existing home Craig needs to work in the ceiling cavity to position and connect the unit, which takes longer than a standard wall-mount install. The only accurate price is Craig's fixed-price quote after seeing your ceiling space. Visit the main heat pump installation page or read the full heat pump installation cost guide or use the sizing calculator for a rough estimate first.

Ceiling Cassette vs Ducted vs High Wall

All three hide or partially hide the indoor unit. Here is the honest difference between them.

Ceiling cassette

One room, four-way airflow, flush ceiling

Completely flush in ceiling, grille only
Four-way airflow covers large spaces evenly
One cassette per room or zone
Lower cost than full ducted system
Works in new builds and existing homes

Ducted whole-home

Every room, vents in the ceiling

Heats and cools every room in the home
Multiple ceiling vents throughout
One system, one outdoor unit
Higher upfront cost, $8,000 to $25,000
Best for new builds or full renovations

High wall unit

One room, one direction, wall-mounted

Visible on the wall, can't be hidden
One-directional airflow
Lower upfront cost, from $2,500
Fastest installation, 4 to 6 hours
Right for most standard rooms

How Craig Installs a Ceiling Cassette

Ceiling cassette installs take a full day in most existing homes. In a new build or open renovation they're much faster.

Site visit and ceiling check

Craig checks your ceiling cavity, confirms there's enough space for the indoor unit, designs the pipe route to the outdoor unit, and gives you a written fixed-price quote.

Free, no obligation

Unit ordered

Craig orders the right cassette unit for your space. Most units available within a few days. Install date booked at the same time.

2 to 5 days

Installation day

Craig cuts the ceiling opening, positions the indoor unit in the ceiling cavity, runs refrigerant pipe to the outdoor unit, connects the electrics, and fits the grille flush to the ceiling.

Full day

Running and signed off

Craig commissions the system, tests all four airflow directions, walks you through the controls, and confirms you're happy before leaving.

Same day

Ceiling Cassette Questions We Get Asked All the Time

Can I get a ceiling cassette installed in an existing home?

Yes, but Craig needs to check your ceiling cavity first. The indoor unit needs enough space above the ceiling lining to sit flush, and there needs to be a route for the refrigerant pipe to reach the outdoor unit. Most standard North Shore homes have enough ceiling space for a cassette install. Craig confirms on the site visit and won't quote until he's seen the ceiling himself. Getting the size right matters — an undersized unit runs flat out and costs more to run, while an oversized unit short-cycles and wears out faster. Craig does a proper heat load calculation on every cassette install.

Why is a ceiling cassette better than a high wall for a large open plan space?

A high wall unit pushes air in one direction. In a large open plan kitchen and living area that might be 60m2 or more, the far corners of the room simply don't get enough airflow. A ceiling cassette positioned in the centre of the space pushes air in all four directions simultaneously, covering the entire room evenly from a single unit. It's the difference between the room feeling consistently warm and having warm and cold patches.

Is a ceiling cassette the same as ducted?

No. A ceiling cassette is a single unit recessed into the ceiling of one room. A ducted system uses a central unit in the ceiling with ductwork running to multiple rooms throughout the home. A cassette is much cheaper than a full ducted system and covers one room or zone very well. If you want whole-home heating and cooling with ceiling vents in every room, ducted is the right answer. Craig will help you work out which suits your home on the site visit. Read more on the ducted heat pump page.

Do I need a council permit?

Usually no. Standard ceiling cassette installations are a permitted activity under Auckland Council rules as long as the outdoor unit placement doesn't breach boundary setbacks or create unreasonable noise for neighbours. Craig handles the placement to keep you compliant and will flag anything unusual during the site visit.

Can a ceiling cassette connect to a multi-room outdoor unit?

Yes. A ceiling cassette can be one of the indoor heads connected to a multi-room outdoor unit. This means you could have a cassette in the open plan living area and high wall units in the bedrooms, all running off a single outdoor compressor. Craig will design the right system for your home on the site visit. Read more on the multi-room heat pump page.