Whole-home heating — nothing on the walls

Ducted whole-home heat pumps — invisible, even, complete

One central system heats and cools every room through ceiling ducts. No wall units, no wall space needed — just discreet ceiling vents and consistent temperature throughout your home. Best suited to new builds and major renovations.

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How it works

One central unit, every room

A ducted system uses one outdoor unit connected to one central indoor air handler — typically installed in ceiling space or underfloor. The air handler distributes conditioned air through a network of insulated ducts to supply vents in each room.

Return air grilles pull air back to the central unit, where it's conditioned again and recirculated. The result is consistent temperature throughout the whole home from a single integrated system.

Modern ducted systems include zone control — dividing the home into two to six independently controllable areas. Living zones can run at different temperatures to sleeping zones, and unoccupied areas can be switched off entirely.

How a ducted system distributes air

Ceiling space

Central air handler

Lounge

Bedroom

↓

Ceiling vent

Conditioned air flows through insulated ducts to discreet ceiling vents in every room. No wall units visible anywhere.

Why ducted

The advantages of a ducted system

Ducted systems are the premium whole-home heating solution — here's what makes them worth the investment.

Completely invisible

No wall units anywhere. Just discreet ceiling vents that blend into the room. Your interior design is completely uncompromised — the system is hidden in the ceiling space.

Even whole-home coverage

Every room is heated and cooled from the same integrated system. No cold hallways, no temperature variation between rooms — the whole home reaches a consistent level of comfort.

Open-plan friendly

Large open-plan spaces are difficult to heat evenly with wall units. Multiple ceiling vents distribute air across the full area — no hot spots near the unit and cold zones at the far end.

Quiet operation

The central air handler sits in the ceiling cavity away from living spaces. The only sound in the room is the gentle airflow from the ceiling vents — far quieter than individual wall units.

Zone control

Divide the home into independently controlled zones. Living areas and sleeping areas can run at different temperatures, and unoccupied zones can be turned off to reduce running costs.

Property value

A ducted climate control system is a significant selling point. It's the kind of feature buyers notice and value — particularly in the new build market where buyers compare houses closely.

Zone control

Independent control for different areas

Modern ducted systems divide the home into zones — typically two to six — each with its own wall controller. Zones are usually set up to reflect how you actually use the house.

Sleeping zones can be set cooler than living zones. Unoccupied areas can be switched off entirely without affecting the rest of the house. WiFi-connected systems allow control from a smartphone app.

WiFi control options →

Typical zoning for a 4-bedroom home

Living areas

Lounge, dining, kitchen

20–22°C

Master bedroom

Bedroom and ensuite

18–20°C

Secondary bedrooms

2–3 bedrooms on same zone

18–20°C

Additional space

Study, rumpus, or spare room

Off when unused

Is it right for your home?

What ducted systems require

Ducted systems are the most complex heat pump installation. Understanding the requirements upfront prevents disappointment — we assess all of this during your free site visit.

Best suited to

New builds — ducts planned from the start

Major renovations with ceiling access open

Homes with 600mm+ ceiling cavity height

Single-storey homes with consistent ceiling height

Homes requiring whole-house climate control

Properties where aesthetics are a priority

Worth checking before proceeding

Minimum 600mm ceiling cavity for standard duct runs

Space for central indoor unit (approx. 1.2m × 0.8m × 0.6m)

Two-storey homes need individual assessment for duct routing

Higher upfront cost than multi-split or wall units

If the central unit faults, heating stops across all rooms

Less flexible for adding rooms later compared to multi-split

Not sure if your home suits a ducted system? We assess ceiling cavity access, duct routing, and unit placement during your free site visit — at no charge and no obligation. If ducted isn't feasible, we'll recommend the best alternative for your situation.

Installation process

What to expect — from assessment to handover

Ducted installations take longer than wall unit installs — typically two to four days depending on home size. Here's what happens at each stage.

Site assessment and system design

We check ceiling cavity dimensions, confirm duct routing options, plan zone layout, and calculate the correct system capacity for your home. This is a detailed visit — not a quick look around. We provide a written quote before anything proceeds.

Outdoor unit installation

The outdoor heat pump unit is installed at the planned location with correct clearances, drainage, and electrical connections.

Central air handler and duct network

The central indoor unit is installed in the ceiling space. Insulated duct runs are installed from the air handler to each supply vent location, along with return air grilles. This is the most time-intensive stage.

Vents, zone controllers, and electrical

Supply vents and return air grilles are installed in each room. Zone control wiring and wall controllers are fitted. All electrical connections are made and circuits protected.

Commissioning, balancing, and handover

The system is commissioned, airflow is balanced across all vents and zones, and the full system is tested in heating and cooling modes. We walk you through the zone controllers and settings before leaving.

Brands we install

Accredited for the three leading brands

We install ducted systems from Mitsubishi Electric, Daikin, and Panasonic. We'll recommend the right system for your home's size and layout.

Accredited installer

Mitsubishi Electric

Proven whole-home ducted solutions with excellent warranty support. Reliable performance in New Zealand conditions with strong multi-zone control options.

View Mitsubishi Electric →

Accredited installer

Daikin

Advanced zone control and superior energy ratings. Daikin's ducted range has a strong track record in both residential and commercial applications, with excellent smart home integration.

View Daikin →

Accredited installer

Panasonic

Quiet operation with good value for residential ducted installations. Panasonic's systems offer reliable whole-home performance with solid smart control options.

View Panasonic →

View all brands →

Every installation

What's included as standard

No hidden extras. Every ducted installation includes the following.

✓

Detailed site assessment, duct design, and heat load calculations

✓

Outdoor unit supply and installation with correct drainage

✓

Central indoor air handler supply and installation

✓

Full insulated duct network designed and installed

✓

Supply vents and return air grilles in every room

✓

Zone control system with wall controllers

✓

All electrical connections and circuit protection

✓

System commissioning and airflow balancing across all zones

✓

Full demonstration and walkthrough of zone controllers

✓

Warmer Kiwi Homes subsidy application where eligible

✓

Complete site cleanup on completion

✓

Written quote at no charge, same-day response

Government subsidy

Up to $3,450 off your installation

Ducted heat pump installations qualify for the Warmer Kiwi Homes subsidy for eligible homes. As a government-approved provider, we handle the application on your behalf.

$3,450

Maximum subsidy for eligible homeowners

To qualify your home generally needs to be owner-occupied, your primary residence, and built before 2008. We check eligibility as part of your free site assessment.

Full eligibility details →

80%

Community Services Card holders

Or qualifying community organisation members

66%

Other eligible homeowners

Owner-occupied homes built before 2008

Call to check your eligibility

Common questions

Ducted heat pump FAQ

The questions we get asked most about ducted systems.

How much ceiling space is needed?

Standard ducted systems need a minimum of 600mm ceiling cavity height for the duct runs, plus space for the central air handler unit (typically around 1.2m × 0.8m × 0.6m). We check this during the site assessment. Homes with shallow ceiling cavities may need a different solution, or custom duct design to work within the available space.

Is it more expensive than individual wall units?

The upfront cost is higher than a single wall unit, but for whole-home heating the comparison is against multiple wall units. Installing individual heat pumps in four or five rooms generally costs more than a ducted system covering the same area — and a ducted system has only one outdoor unit, simpler servicing, and no visible indoor units. We provide detailed quotes for both options where relevant so you can make a direct comparison.

What happens if the system develops a fault?

This is the key limitation of a ducted system compared to multi-split: if the central unit or outdoor unit faults, heating stops throughout the whole home. With a multi-split system, individual unit faults only affect that room. It's worth considering if whole-home disruption is a concern — a multi-split system may be more resilient for your situation.

How many zones can I have?

Residential ducted systems typically support two to six independently controlled zones. The number depends on the system capacity and how the home is laid out. We design the zone layout during the site assessment based on how you use the house — most families find two to four zones covers their needs effectively.

Can it be retrofitted into an existing home?

Yes, but it's more complex and costly than installation during a build or renovation. Retrofitting requires access to ceiling cavities, cutting vents into finished ceilings, and routing duct runs in a completed roof space. Some homes are well-suited to retrofits; others aren't practical. We assess this honestly during the site visit — if a retrofit isn't going to work cleanly, we'll tell you.

How does servicing work on a ducted system?

Ducted systems need annual professional servicing, which is more comprehensive than a wall unit service. We service the central air handler, outdoor unit, return air filters, zone dampers, and inspect the duct network for leaks or damage. Regular servicing is important for ducted systems — duct leaks can significantly reduce efficiency and go unnoticed without a proper annual check.

Other installation types