Heating a heritage home in Dunedin is a delicate balancing act. You want efficient, modern comfort without compromising the architectural beauty or historical value of your property. At McClelland Refrigeration, we specialise in providing heat pump solutions that work in harmony with older homes—discreet, reliable, and built to handle Dunedin’s unpredictable climate.
Whether your home is an early settler’s villa or a turn-of-the-century bungalow, we can help you stay warm without sacrificing character.
Older homes were built in a different era—before central heating, double glazing, or modern insulation were standard. That makes them notoriously tricky to heat efficiently. With high ceilings, timber joinery, and single-pane windows, heat loss can be significant. Standard heating systems often struggle to perform in these conditions without racking up high power bills. What’s more, heritage protection rules and aesthetic concerns can restrict what can be installed and where.
A modern heat pump is an ideal solution—but only when carefully selected and professionally installed. The right system can heat your space evenly, run quietly, and blend into your home without drawing attention to itself. It all comes down to choosing the right model and approach.
When we work with heritage homes in Dunedin, we look at the full picture: layout, insulation levels, window placement, sun exposure, and the materials used in the construction. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work here. Instead, we customise the solution to the building’s quirks and the owner’s comfort preferences.
High-efficiency inverter systems: These adjust output based on demand, which is crucial in draughty or poorly insulated homes.
Low-profile indoor units: Slimline wall units or floor consoles can often be placed discreetly under windows or into existing alcoves.
Whisper-quiet performance: Important for keeping the calm and serene feel of older homes intact.
Wi-Fi and zone control: Lets you fine-tune your comfort without needing to modify the building.
Outdoor units must be positioned thoughtfully—not just for noise and airflow, but also to comply with local regulations and aesthetic guidelines. We’ll help you find a spot that maintains the appearance of your property and complies with council rules or heritage restrictions.
We understand that renovating or retrofitting a heritage home can be daunting. That’s why our team works with care, respect, and precision. We avoid unnecessary drilling or structural changes, and wherever possible, we use existing cavities or access points to hide cables and pipework. The end result is a heat pump installation that looks like it’s always been part of the home.
If your property is listed or you’re working with a heritage architect, we’re happy to liaise directly to ensure everything meets the necessary guidelines.
McClelland Refrigeration has installed heat pumps in many of Dunedin’s most iconic neighbourhoods—from Mornington and Roslyn to St Clair and Belleknowes. We know the local building styles inside and out and have years of experience overcoming the challenges of stone walls, lath and plaster, and century-old timber framing.
We don’t just install and walk away—we provide ongoing support, annual servicing, and prompt repairs if needed. For heritage homeowners, that peace of mind is priceless.
If you’re looking to install a heat pump in a character home or heritage-listed property in Dunedin, our team would be glad to help. We’ll visit your site, assess your heating needs, and recommend a system that suits both the building and your lifestyle.
Talk to McClelland Refrigeration today about the most discreet and effective heat pump solutions for heritage homes in Dunedin.
Energy Efficiency: COP Heat 4.16 / EER Cool 4.24
(COP shows the kWs of heating or cooling you receive for 1kW of power)
Room size:Ideal for small rooms
The quoted price includes back-to-back installation. Installs that are not back-to-back will cost slightly more.
You can claim this deal today without being locked in to the purchase if you wish to change your mind for any reason.
We are a Fujitsu Accredited Installer, which gives you an extended 6 year warranty on this Fujitsu Heat Pump.
Energy Efficiency: COP Heat 3.7 / EER Cool 3.8
(COP shows the kWs of heating or cooling you receive for 1kW of power)
Room size:Ideal for small to mid sized rooms
The quoted price includes back-to-back installation. Installs that are not back-to-back will cost slightly more.
You can claim this deal today without being locked in to the purchase if you wish to change your mind for any reason.
We are a Fujitsu Accredited Installer, which gives you an extended 6 year warranty on this Fujitsu Heat Pump.
Energy Efficiency: COP Heat 3.51 / EER Cool 3.37
(COP shows the kWs of heating or cooling you receive for 1kW of power)
Room size:Ideal for mid-sized rooms
The quoted price includes back-to-back installation. Installs that are not back-to-back will cost slightly more.
You can claim this deal today without being locked in to the purchase if you wish to change your mind for any reason.
We are a Fujitsu Accredited Installer, which gives you an extended 6 year warranty on this Fujitsu Heat Pump.
Ask us about radiator heating vs heat pumps – you might be surprised!
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03 477 0088
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“I highly recommend John and his team. They don’t just sell to you, they found the problem with my heat pump and didn’t give up until it was fixed… and they didn’t sell me a new pump! Great service thanks guys”
“Wonderful service. Arrived for quote on Saturday and installed two days later. Friendly lads arrived on time and did a wonderful clean job of removing old and installing new heat pump. Asked if I needed help with remote etc. A lovely warm and cosy home again. Highly recommend this company. Thank you.”
“Great initial advise on what I needed. A straightforward quote for the supply and install. Prompt service and efficient, professional installation. I highly recommend this company.”
“John from McClelland Refrigeration came to my rescue over Covid-19 lockdown when my fridge broke down in the first week. John kindly dropped me off a fridge to use which due to unforeseen circumstances. John has been so helpful and understanding I recommend him to anyone needing a fridge or heat-pump. Nothings been a problem and we are so grateful. Thanks McClelland Heat Pumps & Refrigeration Ltd”
“My husband has a terminal Illness and is presently in Hospital but is to be discharged home tomorrow. A hospital bed is being set up for him in our lounge tomorrow. Last night I cleaned the heat pump and today when I turned it on it didn’t work. A distressed and urgent phone call to McClelland Refrigeration telling that I needed heat for my sick hubby tomorrow. Half an hour later John called back and said he was going to pop in now to see what was wrong. Magic!!! He fixed it for me. This is what I call exceptional, caring, and supportive service. Thank you John.”
“We received excellent service from McClelland Heatpumps. John gave us a prompt quote and was superb in all his communication. The installer Laurie was extremely courteous and efficient putting our ceiling cassette heat pump in. We will certainly recommend this company.”
