Multi split heat pumps for Whangarei homes
A multi split runs several indoor units off one outdoor box. It's a neat fit for bungalows with closed-off rooms and for tight coastal sites where you don't want boxes on every wall.
A multi split heat pump connects two to five indoor units to a single outdoor unit. It heats and cools several rooms at once, each with its own controller, while keeping just one compressor outside. Handy for older Whangarei homes with separate rooms and salt-exposed coastal sites.
Why multi splits suit older Whangarei bungalows
Plenty of homes around Kamo and Maunu are 1950s to 1970s weatherboard or brick-and-tile, with a hallway and several rooms shut off from each other. A single wall unit in the lounge won't reach the back bedrooms, and those closed rooms are exactly where our damp Northland winters leave condensation on the windows and mould in the corners.
A multi split lets you put a head in each room that needs it. The bedrooms stay warm and dry through winter, and the same units cool the house down through those sticky harbour summers. You get to heat the rooms you actually use without running a separate system for each one.
One tidy outdoor unit for tight and coastal sites
The big draw is having just one outdoor unit instead of three or four. On a narrow section, or a place close to the harbour or Bream Bay where salt air chews at everything metal, one box is easier to place, easier to shelter, and easier to keep clean. Less gear outside means fewer things weathering in the salt.
It also keeps the outside of the house looking better. If you'd rather not have units on every wall, a multi split hides the hardware in one spot. Worth comparing against the other types of heat pump before you decide what suits your place.
Choosing the right indoor unit for each room
You don't have to use the same indoor unit in every room. High-wall heads are the common choice, but you can mix in ceiling cassette heat pumps for an open-plan living area, or floor console heat pumps in a room where wall space is tight or you want warmth down low. All of them run off the one outdoor unit.
This mix-and-match is where multi splits earn their keep in the newer open-plan coastal builds around One Tree Point as well as the older places out at Parua Bay. We'll walk each room with you and match the head to how the room's used.
Getting the size and install right
The catch with a multi split is that the outdoor unit has to have enough grunt for all the heads running at once. Undersize it and the back rooms struggle on the coldest mornings. Our heat pump sizing calculator gives you a rough starting point, and we confirm the numbers on site.
Pipe runs from the outdoor unit to each room add up too, so the layout of your house matters for the heat pump installation cost. We handle the whole job as part of our heat pump installation in Whangarei, including working out the cleanest way to route pipes through an older bungalow. If you're heating a lot of rooms, it's also worth weighing a multi split against ducted heat pump systems before you commit. Have a look at the cost and sizing pages next to see how it stacks up for your home.
Not sure how many rooms to do?
Tell us which rooms feel cold or damp and we'll work out whether a multi split is the right call. Ring 09 434 1234 or send us the details.
Multi split questions we get asked
How many indoor units can one multi split outdoor unit run?
Most multi split outdoor units run between two and five indoor heads, depending on the model and its capacity. The more heads you add, the bigger the outdoor unit needs to be so it can keep up when they're all going at once. We size the outdoor unit around the total load of every room you want covered.
Is a multi split cheaper than separate heat pumps?
It depends on how many rooms you're doing. For two rooms, separate single splits are often cheaper to buy and install. Once you're heating three or more rooms, one multi split usually works out better on price and takes up less space outside. We'll price both ways so you can compare.
Can I run different rooms at different temperatures with a multi split?
Yes. Each indoor head has its own controller, so you set the bedroom cooler than the lounge, or turn off rooms you're not using. The one limit is heating and cooling: all the heads on one system have to be doing the same job at the same time, so you can't heat one room while cooling another.
What is the difference between a multi split and a ducted heat pump?
A multi split uses separate wall, cassette or floor units in each room, all fed by one outdoor unit, with visible heads inside. A ducted system hides everything in the ceiling and pushes air through vents, giving an even, out-of-sight result. Ducted usually costs more and needs the roof space, while a multi split is simpler to retrofit into an existing home.
Warm, dry rooms without boxes on every wall
From Onerahi to One Tree Point, we'll design a multi split around the rooms you actually use. Get a quote and we'll come measure up.