Heat-pump specialists in Blenheim are surprised by a fire early on Friday morning believed to have been started by one of the heating units.
Problems with heat pumps were rare, they said.
The Blenheim Volunteer Fire Brigade was called to a house in Weld St at 3am on Friday.
Meryl and Peter Pentchev were woken by a smoke alarm and saw flames coming from their heat pump in the living room.
The Fire Service is investigating the cause of the fire.
Martella Airconditioning and Refrigeration sales engineer Pete Wilkinson said heat pumps were "fundamentally very safe" and he doubted the fire started in the unit.
Cuddon refrigeration and airconditioning manager Neville Patchett said he did not recall any major problems with heat pumps in 20 years.
Some had thermal cutouts, which acted like a fuse, when the heat pump reached a specified temperature, he said.
Mr Wilkinson said heat pumps were just like any electrical appliance.
"It could easily have been a vacuum cleaner or a stereo on standby [that went on fire]. "The best thing is that these people had a smoke alarm," he said.
Meanwhile, Mr and Mrs Pentchev had been staying with her parents, George and Molly Wastney, in Blenheim, since the fire.
Mrs Pentchev said it was too soon to say when they would be allowed back in their house, but she expected it would take months.
Insurance assessors had arrived on Friday afternoon.
"We have had a lot of support from the community, for which we are very grateful. Blenheim is a very caring place."
Mr Wilkinson said heat pumps were becoming increasingly popular during the past few years. His company was installing an average of two heat pumps a day during winter.
It was becoming more common for unlicensed people to install the heating systems in homes, but it was important that the work be done by a properly trained technician, he said.
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