Your Complete Installation Guide

What to Expect When You Get a Heat Pump Installed

No surprises, no guesswork. Here is exactly what happens from your first call to Craig walking out the door after a finished install, including what you need to do to get ready.

Usually booked within 2 weeks In and out same day for high wall We clean up after ourselves Full walkthrough before we leave
Heat pump installer fitting a high wall unit in a North Shore Auckland home

From First Call to Finished Install

Here is the complete process, step by step, in Craig's own words.

1
Day 1 — 5 minutes

You call or fill in the form

Call 09 243 0791 or fill in the quote form on the website. If Craig doesn't pick up straight away, leave a message and he'll get back to you the same day.

Craig will ask a few quick questions — what type of unit, what room, what suburb. This helps him give you a rough ballpark before the site visit.
2
Within a few days — 30 to 45 minutes

Free site visit and quote

Craig comes to your home. He'll measure the room, check the wall where the indoor unit will go, find the best spot for the outdoor unit, and check your switchboard. He'll flag any extras that might apply, long pipe runs, difficult access, and so on.

You'll get a written quote before he leaves. No pressure to commit on the day.

Craig will recommend the right brand and size for your room and your location. If you're on the coast, he'll factor in the salt air. If you're in a Takapuna apartment, he'll check the boundary noise rules.
be home for the visit and have access to the room and the area where the outdoor unit will go.
3
After you accept — same day

You accept the quote and book the install

Once you're happy with the quote, Craig books you in. Usually within 2 weeks. In peak season, winter and summer, it can be 3 to 4 weeks. Craig will give you a specific date and a time window.

Craig orders your unit and has it ready for install day. You don't need to source the heat pump yourself.
4
Install day — see system guide below for timings

Installation day

Craig and the team arrive in the morning. They'll introduce themselves, confirm the plan with you, and get started. You don't need to hover, but you should be home in case any decisions need to be made during the job.

They'll mount the indoor unit, run the pipes, install the outdoor unit, connect the electrics, and commission the system. Before they leave, they'll walk you through how to use the remote and answer any questions.

Most high wall installs are done in a single morning or afternoon. Your heat pump will be running before they leave.
be home, and have the area around the indoor and outdoor unit locations clear and accessible.
5
Same day — 15 minutes

Walkthrough and handover

Before Craig leaves, he'll walk you through the remote, explain the settings, and show you how to switch between heating and cooling modes. He'll tell you what filter cleaning looks like and how often to do it.

Craig handles all annual servicing directly, so you know exactly who to call when your first service is due. Warranty registered before he drives away.
6
Ongoing

12-month guarantee and manufacturer warranty

Your install is covered by a 12-month workmanship guarantee. If anything goes wrong because of how we installed it, we'll come back and fix it at no charge. The heat pump itself is covered by the manufacturer's warranty, typically 5 to 7 years depending on brand.

Annual servicing by Craig keeps your warranty valid and your system running efficiently. Craig will be in touch when it's time.

What Happens on Installation Day

Select your system type to see exactly what to expect. Timelines vary depending on what Craig is installing.

Typical install time: 4 to 6 hours. You'll have a running heat pump by the afternoon.
8–9
am

Craig and the team arrive

They'll introduce themselves, confirm the plan, and unload the gear. Takes about 15 minutes to get set up.

9–11
am

Indoor unit installation

The indoor unit goes up on the wall. The hole is drilled through, pipe run started. Noisy for about 30 minutes during drilling.

11am
–1pm

Outdoor unit and pipework

The outdoor unit is mounted, refrigerant lines run, brazed, and pressure tested before anything is switched on.

1–2
pm

Electrical connection and commissioning

The registered electrician signs off. System switched on, tested, and dialled in for your room size.

2
pm

Tidy up and handover

Team vacuums up, takes all packaging, Craig walks you through the remote. Your heat pump is running before they leave.

What to expect

There will be some noise when the hole is drilled through the wall, usually 20 to 30 minutes, and a small amount of dust. The team brings everything they need and cleans up before they leave.

You don't need to hover, but be home in case any decisions need to be made. The heat pump will be running before they leave.

High wall heat pump installation in a Takapuna home
Typical install time: 1 full day. More rooms, more pipe runs, more testing.
8–9
am

Arrival and setup

Craig and the team arrive, confirm unit positions in each room with you, and start unpacking. More gear than a single unit install.

9am
–12pm

Multiple indoor units installed

Each indoor unit goes up in turn. Holes drilled, pipe runs started for each room. More drilling than a high wall, but spread across the morning.

12–2
pm

Outdoor unit and all pipe connections

The single outdoor unit is mounted and all refrigerant lines from each indoor unit are run and connected. Lines brazed and pressure tested together.

2–4
pm

Electrical work and commissioning

Electrical connections made to all indoor units and the outdoor unit. Each room tested independently to confirm correct operation.

4
pm

Tidy up and full walkthrough

All rooms vacuumed and packaging removed. Craig walks you through controlling each zone individually and the whole system together.

What to expect

A multi-room install is busier than a high wall — more drilling, more pipe runs, more rooms involved. Plan for the team to be in and out of several rooms throughout the day.

Make sure all rooms where indoor units are being installed are accessible and clear before the team arrives. The job typically wraps up by late afternoon.

Multi room heat pump installation in a North Shore home
Typical install time: 2 to 3 days. The most involved installation, but the cleanest result.
Day
1
am

Ceiling access and duct installation begins

The team gets into the ceiling cavity and starts running ductwork to each room. The indoor unit is positioned and mounted in the ceiling space.

Day
1
pm

Ceiling vents cut and fitted

Return air grille and supply vents are cut into the ceiling and fitted flush. This is the visible part of the system — the only thing you'll see when it's done.

Day
2
am

Outdoor unit installed and refrigerant lines run

The outdoor compressor is mounted, refrigerant lines run from outdoors to the indoor unit in the ceiling, brazed and pressure tested.

Day
2
pm

Electrical work and first commissioning

Electrical connections completed and signed off. System powered on for the first time, initial airflow checks done in each room.

Day
3

Zoning, balancing and final handover

Airflow is balanced across all zones, dampers adjusted, temperature output checked in each room. Full walkthrough of the controller and zone settings with you before the team leaves.

What to expect

Ducted is the most involved installation. Plan for 2 to 3 days of access across multiple areas of your home, including the ceiling. There will be ceiling dust on Day 1 from the vent cuts.

The team will need roof cavity access throughout. If your home has a particularly tight crawl space, Craig will have flagged this during the site visit.

By Day 3 when the team leaves, the system is fully commissioned, every room is balanced, and the only sign of their visit is ceiling vents where there were none before.

Ducted heat pump installation in a North Shore Auckland home

How to Prepare for Installation Day

There's not much to do, but these things make the day run smoother for everyone.

Inside the house

  • Clear the area under and around where the indoor unit is going — about 1 metre of clear floor space
  • Move any furniture directly against the wall where the unit is being mounted
  • Take down any wall hangings near the install location
  • Make sure the team can access your switchboard or meter box
  • Put pets somewhere they won't be in the way during the noisy parts

Outside the house

  • Clear the area where the outdoor unit is going — Craig confirmed this on the site visit
  • Move any garden furniture, pot plants or obstacles near the outdoor unit location
  • Make sure there's clear access around the side of the house
  • If you have a dog or gate, make sure the team can get through safely
  • Let your neighbours know if the outdoor unit is going near their boundary

After the Installation

Your heat pump is in. Here is what happens next to make sure you're set up properly for the long term.

Warranty registration

Craig registers your manufacturer warranty before he leaves. You'll receive confirmation by email. The warranty typically runs 5 to 7 years depending on the brand. Keep the paperwork somewhere safe.

Servicing introduction

Craig and the team handle all annual servicing on units they install. Your warranty stays valid and your system runs efficiently. You'll know exactly who to call when your first service is due.

12-month workmanship guarantee

If anything goes wrong because of how we installed it, call Craig and he'll come back and fix it at no charge. No runaround, no questions asked. The guarantee runs for 12 months from installation date.

We take everything with us

All packaging, offcuts, and waste leave with the team. Nothing left in your driveway, nothing left in your garden. The area is vacuumed before we go.

Craig's cleanup promise

I've seen too many guys leave plaster dust on the carpet and cardboard in the driveway. Part of our process is the final vacuum and taking every scrap of packaging away with us. When we leave, the only way you'll know we were there is that your house is finally the right temperature.

Ready to Get Started?

Fill in the form and Craig will call you back to talk through what you need. Usually booked within 2 weeks.

We aim to get back to every enquiry the same day.

Questions About the Installation Process

Do I need to be home during the installation?
+
Yes, you need to be home. Not because Craig needs you hovering, but because there are occasionally decisions to make during the job. You also need to be there for the handover at the end so Craig can show you how to use the remote.
Will you need to get into my roof?
+
For most Shore homes, yes. Whether it's a tight Devonport crawl space or a modern Albany roof cavity, we'll need access to run the piping and cables out of sight. If it's a particularly tricky one, I'll flag it during the quote so there are no surprises on the day.
How much noise and mess should I expect?
+
There's a 20 to 30 minute period of drilling when the hole goes through the wall. That's the noisiest part of the job. There will be a small amount of dust from the drilling. The team cleans up, vacuums, and takes all packaging before they leave.
How long will my home be without power during the install?
+
The electrical connection work usually requires a short power interruption of around 15 to 30 minutes. Craig will let you know before it happens. The rest of the install doesn't affect your power supply.
What if something goes wrong after the install?
+
Call Craig directly on 09 243 0791. If it's a workmanship issue, Craig will come back and fix it under the 12-month guarantee at no cost. If it's a unit fault, it's covered by the manufacturer warranty and Craig will help you through that process too. You're not left to figure it out on your own.

Ready to Book Your Installation?

Now you know exactly what to expect. Get a free quote from Craig and the team and get booked in.