Airify

Keeping everyone’s indoor air clean and healthy is the main aim of a new mobile heat pump cleaning business, that covers from Whangaparāoa to Mangawhai.

Airify Rodney owner Tom Watson says most people don’t realise that their heat pump units need to be cleaned and serviced once a year, not only to keep them running efficiently, but to prevent people breathing in contaminated air in their home or business.

“A lot of people don’t realise that mould can grow in heat pumps, and it could be making them sick,” he says. “Heat pump filters are designed to protect the machines, not people.”

Watson says an unmaintained heat pump can cause respiratory and other health issues, as well as causing the unit to work harder to maintain its temperature, using more electricity and pushing up power bills.

Airify will inspect, clean and sanitise every part of indoor and outdoor heat pump units, using a flush system to get rid of dust, dirt, mould and any other contaminants.

Tom has lived in the Wellsford, Warkworth and Kaipara area all his life and, after 15 years as a builder, was looking for a career change. He says making sure heat pumps are kept clean and healthy, as well as compliant with the latest healthy homes standards, fitted the bill.

“I wanted to do something that would still help the community, but that maybe wasn’t quite so labour intensive as building,” he says. “A lot of people still don’t seem to know how important it is to keep their heat pumps clean and serviced, and the air they’re breathing healthy.”