| SmartVent Positive Pressure System | 6 Vents Installed Home Wide | 5kW / 6 kW Lounge Heat Pump | 2.05kW / 2.8 kW Bedroom Heat Pump |
Project Overview
Ventilation and heat pump NZ solutions don’t always mean a full ducted system, and Melissa’s home in Bayview, Auckland is a good example of getting the balance right. Having had a SmartVent Positive Pressure ventilation system in a previous home and liked the difference it made, Melissa wanted the same solution for her current single glazed home, which wasn’t holding warmth through winter. Future Energy installed a SmartVent Positive Pressure ventilation system alongside two Panasonic Aero high wall heat pumps, one sized for the lounge and one for the bedroom, giving Melissa independent control over each space without the cost of a full ducted heat pump system.
The Challenge
Like many single glazed homes, Melissa’s Bayview property struggled to hold warmth, and her previous experience with SmartVent ventilation in another home meant she knew what she wanted for fresher, drier air. The brief was to improve air quality and moisture control throughout the home while also heating the two main living spaces, the lounge and the bedroom, to different temperatures independently. A fully ducted heat pump system was considered, but came in slightly over budget for what the household needed, so the brief shifted to a solution that delivered targeted heating in the rooms that mattered most, alongside whole home ventilation.
The System
SmartVent Positive Pressure Ventilation
A SmartVent Positive Pressure ventilation system was installed in the ceiling, supplying six vents through the home, two in the lounge and dining area and one in each of the remaining living spaces, plus a hallway spill vent. The system draws filtered air from the roof space and gently pressurises the home, pushing out stale, damp air and helping to reduce the condensation that’s common in older single glazed homes.
Panasonic Aero Series High Wall Heat Pump – Lounge
The lounge was fitted with a Panasonic Aero series high wall heat pump, rated at 5kW cooling and 6kW heating, sized to comfortably heat the home’s largest living space.
Panasonic Aero Series High Wall Heat Pump – Bedroom
The bedroom was fitted with a smaller Panasonic Aero series high wall heat pump, rated at 2.05kW cooling and 2.8kW heating, giving Melissa independent temperature control in the bedroom, separate from the lounge.
Ducted Heat Pump Considered, Not Selected
A fully ducted heat pump system was assessed as an option to heat the whole home from a single unit, but came in slightly over budget for the areas that mattered most to Melissa. Two single split high wall heat pumps paired with the SmartVent ventilation system delivered targeted heating in the lounge and bedroom at a lower cost, while still meeting her goal of a warmer, drier home.
The Results
- SmartVent Positive Pressure ventilation system installed, supplying 6 vents across the home
- Two Panasonic Aero high wall heat pumps installed, giving independent temperature control in the lounge and bedroom
- Lounge heat pump rated at 5kW cooling and 6kW heating
- Bedroom heat pump rated at 2.05kW cooling and 2.8kW heating
- A lower cost alternative to a full ducted heat pump system, while still targeting the two main living spaces
- Improved airflow and reduced condensation risk throughout a single glazed home
A warmer, drier home, without the ducted price tag.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a SmartVent Positive Pressure system and a ducted heat pump?
A SmartVent Positive Pressure system is a whole home ventilation solution, drawing filtered air from the roof space and gently pressurising the house to push out stale, damp air. A ducted heat pump is a heating and cooling system that distributes conditioned air through ceiling ducts from a single indoor unit. The two solve different problems, and can be installed together, as they were in Melissa’s Bayview home, or on their own.
Can you heat different rooms to different temperatures without a ducted system?
Yes. Installing single split high wall heat pumps, like the two Panasonic Aero units installed in Melissa’s lounge and bedroom, gives each room its own independent thermostat and settings, so different spaces can be heated to different temperatures at different times, without the shared airflow of a ducted system.
Why might a homeowner choose single split heat pumps over a fully ducted system?
Cost and flexibility are the two biggest factors. A fully ducted system heats a wider area from one unit but can cost more upfront, while single split heat pumps let homeowners target the rooms they use most, like a lounge and a bedroom, at a lower cost, with the option to add more units to other rooms later.
How does positive pressure ventilation help a single glazed home?
Single glazed homes are more prone to condensation and cold, damp air, since there’s less insulation between inside and outside temperatures. A positive pressure ventilation system like SmartVent constantly supplies filtered, drier air from the roof space into living areas, helping to push out moisture and reduce condensation, which supports a warmer, healthier home even with single glazing.
Got a single glazed or hard to heat home? Future Energy installs SmartVent ventilation systems and Panasonic heat pumps sized to your rooms and your budget, whether that’s a single high wall unit or a fully ducted system. Get in touch for a free assessment.
