When Sarah and Mike moved into their new townhouse during a February heatwave, they soon discovered that their air conditioning heat pump wasn’t working. Desperate, they bought every fan in sight, tried ice packs, and even resorted to cold showers. By day three, sweltering at 29°C and barely sleeping, they finally called a technician. The diagnosis? A clogged filter and low refrigerant—simple maintenance issues that took an hour to fix. As cool air finally flooded their apartment, they learned a valuable lesson: a little AC maintenance beats a houseful of fans any day.

Remember when it was all about staying warm in winter?

Times have changed. Shamus, owner of No Shock Electrical, is seeing a shift in how Kiwis use their heat pumps. "It's more about cooling now instead of heating," he says. "The way houses have been built—especially new builds and townhouses—there's a lot of work around to cool houses as opposed to heating them."

It sounds counterintuitive until you understand what's happened with modern building standards. When insulation requirements changed for healthy homes compliance, houses that once leaked heat like sieves now hold it in remarkably well. Great news for your winter power bills, terrible news when Auckland hits those sweltering February days.

The problem isn't the insulation itself, but that many modern builds lack adequate ventilation. Traditional villas, with their draughty charm and decorative louvres, naturally released excess heat. Today's tightly sealed homes? Not so much. As one recent news article highlights, overheating in well-insulated homes has become a concern, particularly in townhouses where there's simply nowhere for the hot air to escape.

The forgotten filter—get it serviced!

Most homeowners don't realise that the heat pump you installed for winter warmth needs regular servicing, especially if you're now relying on it to keep cool through summer. "A lot of people just don't know," Shamus explains. "They don't realise they've got to get them serviced."

Think about it—your heat pump works hard during winter, pulling moisture from cold air and pumping warmth into your home. All that moisture has to go somewhere, and over months of operation, it creates the perfect environment for mould and dust to accumulate inside the unit. Come summer, when you switch to cooling mode, you're potentially circulating all that through your home.

The other common issue Shamus encounters? Gas levels. "We're finding a lot of units that are out of gas, and then they're not working efficiently." A heat pump low on refrigerant will struggle to cool effectively, work harder than it should, and cost you more to run—all whilst failing to keep you comfortable on those scorching days.

It’s not complicated but it makes a huge difference

A proper heat pump service isn't complicated, but it makes a significant difference. At minimum, you're looking at a thorough filter clean—removing all the dust, debris and potential mould that's built up over winter. The unit gets a complete inspection, terminals are tightened, and everything's checked to ensure it's operating as it should.

More importantly, this is when you discover if there are underlying issues. Gas levels can be tested, potential problems identified before they become expensive emergencies, and you can address any concerns whilst there's still time before the summer rush hits.

The Christmas countdown

The thing with air conditioning work is that everyone wants it done at the same time. "They normally ring me on the 10th of December," Shamus says. "'I need it done before Christmas.’ Garden lighting, everything."

By the time the first proper hot day arrives and you realise your heat pump isn't coping, every electrician in Auckland is already booked solid. Having your unit serviced now, before the rush, means you're sorted for summer whilst everyone else is scrambling.

Even with a warranty, they need to be checked

The timing makes even more sense when you consider what's available. Both Toshiba and Carrier—the brands No Shock works with—now offer 10-year warranties on their products. That's exceptional coverage in the air conditioning industry, where five to seven years used to be standard. "Pretty bloody good," as Shamus puts it, and it reflects the quality and reliability of modern units. But they still have to be properly maintained.

More than just maintenance

A service visit is also an opportunity to assess whether your current setup still works for your needs. That heat pump installed five years ago might have been perfect for winter heating, but is it adequate for cooling your home on a 30-degree day? Has your family grown, or have you converted the garage into living space?

Sometimes the issue isn't the unit itself but how it's being used. Simple adjustments or additional units in key rooms can make a significant difference to whole-home comfort without requiring a complete system overhaul.

The good news about your new-build being lovely and warm in winter? That same insulation means it's remarkably easy to cool in summer—provided your heat pump is working efficiently. Don't leave it until December to find out it isn't.

For heat pump servicing, gas level checks, or to discuss cooling solutions for your home, contact No Shock before the summer rush begins.