Hot Water Tank Heat Pump Thoughts?

rsingh87 on 21/01/2023 - 14:48
Last edited 21/01/2023 - 15:17 by 1 other user

I was considering getting a hot water tank heat pump heard the Sanden Eco Plus 315 Litre Heat Pump was good?

Currently have instantaneous gas hot water and have 6kwh solar panels on north east/north west so pretty good solar production going to waste. My question is though who long will these things last? as you probably need like 7-10 years to break even? but I have read on product reviews that people are getting an e124 code after 5 years and need to replace its mainboard and or may even need to replace the whole thing making the whole thing pointless from a purely financial standpoint?

Thoughts? Do these things usually last their 15 years they are designed to last for?

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  Switchblade88 on 21/01/2023 - 15:09

  +3

  Products will usually last warranty period +1 day.

  Having said that, heat pumps are basically glorified fridges which usually last for ages.

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  akyeeeahdude on 21/01/2023 - 15:19

  +3

  There were some unreliable heat pump hot water systems when they became mainstream in 2008/9 - my Rheem MPI-325L was one of the models that was plagued with issues but mine was perfect and lasted 11 years before it stopped heating water (water would only be slightly warm). Rheem thought it was likely the circulation pump that died but it was more cost effective, given the age of the HWS, to just buy a new one. I got an Enviroheat 250L supplied and installed for $2499 (all valves changed except the non-return circulation valve) which was the best price I could find at the time in Brisbane, in the middle of winter (not to mention COVID) in 2020. These days, you'll find lower supplied and installed prices come up occasionally - I remember seeing a WA and NSW plumber offering the Enviroheat 250L supplied and installed for $1999 when I got mine done which is a much more fair price considering that 99% of the time, you'll be signing over the STCs to the installer.

  I'd beware of all plumbers though as most seem to want to re-use existing valves and copper pipework - I don't have a big issue with the copper pipework being re-used but when you replace a system, ALL valves should really be replaced at the same time. You can leave the non-return isolation valve, if you want to save $50 - $100 but all the other valves need to be changed and if you look at many of the manufacturer's warranty terms, they also dictate that all system valves are replaced (excluding non-return isolation valve), at the time of install.

  Finally - for many years now, it's only common to expect to get a max of 10 years out of a tank, especially if you live in an area with 'harder water'. Brisbane has very hard water, can't remember about other cities. Other issues can also occur which will may not be cost effective to repair on an older unit - as I mentioned above, circulation pump but also I've heard of some heat pumps having issues emerge with electronics (PCBs) and it being expensive to buy the replacement part and also getting it fitted.

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  JIMB0 on 21/01/2023 - 16:01

  +2

  These are basically a refrigeration unit combined with a storage tank. Both of which many companies have made examples of that last 20+ years, yet no one seems to be able to combine the 2 into one unit that lasts much more than 10 years.

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  payless69 on 21/01/2023 - 17:45

  -5

  The best systems use CO2 as refrigerant.
  Average dumb greenies tell you that CO2 is bad for whatever reason they been talked into. Save the earth, throw a greenie under a bus….
  Plenty of heat coming down from the sun. Plumbers never learned the issues of dis-similar metals. Sadly placing a tank on the roof causes more issues than one benefits.
  Whatever you choose make sure the entire system has a longevity concept including a scheduled maintenance like replacing the sacrificial anode.

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  hasselbladsnapper on 21/01/2023 - 21:16

  Try a German Stiebel Eltron HP, ours has beed going well - so far! circa 6 years. Had a Quantum HP and it lasted circa 3+ years and rusted out (Chinese made).

  Hoping the German's last longer!.