If you have just bought a house or you are renovating an old home, one of the things that you have to think about is the kind of heating system that is most appropriate. Heat Pumps have become popular because many People want to heat their homes in an environmentally friendly manner. There are several advantages of using these heating systems.

Heat pumps are a very efficient way of heating your home. A good system will convert one unit of electricity from the supply to three to five units of heat. In New Zealand most electricity is generated using renewable resources such as water and this, coupled with the efficiency of heat pumps, means they are more environmentally friendly than many other heating systems.

It usually costs more to install heat pumps but the extra money that you spend at the beginning will be recovered over the years. Your energy bill over the next few years will be significantly lower and this is an advantage.

A heat pump heats up the home by transferring the heat from the air outside to the air inside even on a very cold day. In summer the heat pump becomes an air conditioner by reversing the operating cycle to run on cooling. That is two appliances in one. Some units have the capability of using the fan only to provide cooling when the temperature is not very high.

One of the main concerns that homeowners have when looking for a home heating system is even distribution of heat in the house. Some of the conventional systems fail in this area but heat pumps produce more even temperatures. This is very important especially during very cold winters when all your rooms should be well heated.

You will not need to use a humidifier when using a heat pump as the humidity will be at a comfortable level.

The heat pump is a relatively quiet system because the compressor is normally placed outside the building. The inside unit can be installed in a variety of ways such as wall mounted, floor standing or floor/under ceiling. This allows for flexibility and the room shape and size can be accommodated.

Another advantage of using a heat pump is that they can be turned off when they are not needed. You can also time them to come on so that you get up or come home from work to a warm house without spending money on heating an empty house. They provide heat quickly once turned on so that it won’t take long to heat up the room. It can also be cost effective to set the temperature lower to just keep off the chill and then giving it a boost when required.

Heat pumps are a safe alternative to gas systems because they do not use flammable or potentially asphyxiating fuel and cause less fires. No flame is produced and they don't need a vent.

The advantages of using a heat pump outnumber the disadvantages. A cost projection will show how the initial outlay to install the heat pump will be offset by the savings in lower running costs. The flexibility of use means that you can adapt the use of a heat pump to suit your needs and your pocket.