Heat Pump Cover System

Aluminium Heat Pump Covers in NZ

SD Aluminium heat pump covers shield your outdoor unit from the weather while keeping airflow clear, so the unit keeps running at full efficiency. Built from powder coated aluminium, each cover resists rust, salt and UV through New Zealand summers and winters alike, turning the plain box on the side of the house into a tidy, durable feature. Whether you call it a heat pump cover, an air conditioner cover or an outdoor unit cover, the job is the same: protect the equipment, cut the noise, and tidy the look.

Unlike a wrap or an enclosed box, a louvred aluminium cover keeps the manufacturer service clearances clear, so the fan still discharges freely and the unit never short cycles. It is the difference between protecting your heat pump and accidentally choking it.

Why an aluminium heat pump cover

• Weatherproof: shields the outdoor unit from rain, sun, dust, leaves and coastal salt, extending the life of the heat pump.
• Airflow first: louvred sides keep the manufacturer service clearances clear, so the unit runs efficiently and never short cycles.
• Rust free: powder coated aluminium does not corrode like a steel guard, ideal for coastal and inland NZ sites alike.
• Quieter: the cover redirects some of the low frequency hum away from the nearest window.
• Tidy look: a clean horizontal louvre finish that lines up with modern cladding, in a colour to match your joinery.
• Low maintenance: a rinse once or twice a year is all the upkeep an aluminium cover needs.

Sizes and custom fit

Covers are available as a standard size and as a made to measure option priced per square metre, so the cover fits your exact outdoor unit and mounting space.

• Standard cover: 1000 x 800 x 400mm in powder coated aluminium, suited to most single head residential heat pumps.
• Custom cover: made to measure and priced per square metre, with a choice of colour, ideal for twin units, ducted systems and tight or non standard spaces.

For a custom size, send your outdoor unit model and the available wall space, and the team will size the cover and confirm the colour match.

What an aluminium heat pump cover suits

• Residential heat pumps: single head outdoor units on the side wall, deck or courtyard.
• Air conditioner outdoor units: the same cover protects split system AC condensers.
• Coastal homes: salt resistant aluminium where a steel guard would rust.
• New builds and renovations: a colour matched cover that finishes the exterior cleanly.

Heat pump cover FAQs

Will a heat pump cover affect efficiency or void the warranty?
Not if it keeps the manufacturer service clearances clear. A louvred aluminium cover lets the fan discharge freely and the air recirculate, so the unit runs normally. Every major brand sold in NZ supports a correctly sized louvred cover. A sealed box or wrap that chokes airflow is what causes trouble, which is why a louvred cover is the right design.

How much clearance does a heat pump need under a cover?
As a rule, leave at least 100mm to the sides, 300mm above the unit and a clear front for the fan discharge. Always check the clearance figures on your specific model. A made to measure cover is sized to keep those distances.

Can I use the cover on an air conditioner outdoor unit?
Yes. A heat pump cover and an air conditioner cover are the same product. It fits split system AC condensers and heat pump outdoor units alike, as long as the clearances are kept.

Is an aluminium cover better than a steel guard or a fabric cover?
Aluminium does not rust, so it outlasts a steel guard on coastal and damp sites, and it stays put year round unlike a fabric cover that traps moisture. A breathable louvred aluminium cover can stay on through winter without holding damp against the unit.

Do you deliver heat pump covers across NZ?
Yes. Standard and custom covers ship nationwide from our Auckland base. For sizing help, colour matching or a quote on a specific unit, contact the team.

New to heat pump covers? Read our full guide on heat pump cover sizes, materials and installation. The cover sits within our wider aluminium louvre system, which also offers square louvre blades and fusiform blades for screens, fences and pergolas. For a custom size or colour, contact the SD Aluminium team.