What a floor console is
It works like any split heat pump: an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and refrigerant pipes and wiring running between them. The difference is height. BRANZ describes floor units as mounted on or just above the floor and against a wall.
Consumer NZ says floor mounted units should go where they can spread warm air to as much of the house as possible. So it wants an open stretch of wall facing into the room, not a nook behind a door.
One unit can't be swapped for the other. BRANZ is firm that a unit built for high on a wall shouldn't be used near floor level, and Mitsubishi Electric NZ won't cover 'Low Wall' installations of its high wall units under warranty. If you want the unit down low, it needs to be a floor console from the start.
Who it suits
People who'd rather not reach overhead. Consumer NZ notes that a high-wall unit's position can make filter cleaning difficult, particularly for the elderly and some people with disabilities. On a floor console, it says, filter cleaning is a breeze.
Rooms where the high wall is taken or awkward. If the only spot up high is in a corner, a console on a clearer wall can be the better choice, because BRANZ warns a cornered unit may heat only part of the room.
The furniture problem
A console needs open floor in front of it. Consumer NZ says to make sure furniture doesn't obstruct the airflow, which is harder than it sounds in a small lounge where the couch wants the same wall.
Before you settle on one, sketch the room with the furniture where it actually lives, not where it could go. If the only place for a console is behind the sofa or under a desk, a high-wall unit on another wall may heat the room better.
Which brands list one here
Not every brand does. Rinnai NZ lists a Pro Series Floor Console, AHI Carrier's NZ site lists floor consoles for its Carrier and Toshiba ranges, and Gree NZ lists floor mount units including the Mini Floor Mount and T-Fresh. Haier Home NZ's air conditioning page lists no floor console.
Warranty terms can differ by type as well. Temperzone's NZ warranty for Hitachi gives 5 years parts and labour on floor mounted split systems, against 6 years on the wall mounted models it lists. Check the warranty for the exact model on your quote, from the brand's own NZ site. We don't sell or deal in any brand.
Ask these before you say yes
- Where will the console sit, and how much clear space does it need in front?
- What's its nominal heating capacity at 7 degrees, and how does that hold up at 2 degrees?
- How will the pipes and drain get from the console to the outside wall?
- Where's the outdoor unit going, and how close is that to the neighbours' bedrooms?
- What does the brand's warranty say about this model, and who issues it in New Zealand?
- Who does the electrical connection, and when will the Certificate of Compliance arrive?
What you can look after
You can
- Keep the floor in front of the console clear.
- Vacuum or wash the filter the way the manual says.
- Keep plants and rubbish away from the outdoor unit.
Leave to a licensed installer
- Choosing the spot and fixing the console in place.
- Running and sealing the pipes and drain through the wall.
- Anything involving refrigerant.
- Wiring and the electrical connection.
What we'd do
If it were our home
If nobody in the house can comfortably reach up to clean filters, we'd lean towards a floor console without much debate. If the only spot for it is behind the couch, we'd go back to a high-wall unit on a clearer wall. Either way we'd settle the size first, then ask a heat pump installer who fits consoles regularly to point out on the floor plan where the warm air will travel.