{"id":77816,"date":"2023-08-09T08:44:06","date_gmt":"2023-08-08T23:14:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/?p=77816"},"modified":"2025-12-19T13:06:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T03:36:16","slug":"are-heat-pumps-better","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/are-heat-pumps-better\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Hot Water Heat Pumps All They’re Cracked Up to Be?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"simplified<\/p>\n

Last week, I extolled the virtues of heat pumps, lauding their unparalleled efficiency. As promised, it’s time to investigate why these newfangled appliances might not be as splendid as they seem.<\/p>\n

Strap in as I let off some steam about why using refrigeration technology to heat water just goes against the natural order of things.<\/p>\n

Woke Water Heaters?<\/h2>\n

Before we dive deep, let’s clear the air. Some commenters reckon heat pumps are a ‘woke’ fad. I’m not here to politicise physics. The heat pump hot water hype train is chugging along full steam here in Australia, and it’s true they’ll play a big part in our move to electrification. But we need to consider a few curly issues before chucking these things in every backyard.<\/p>\n

The Appeal of Simplicity in Resistive Hot Water<\/h2>\n

A standard resistive electric unit is a model of simplicity, embodying the KISS principle. Its minimalism is its strength\u2014two key components, an element and a thermostat, constitute the entirety of its makeup. Both are inexpensive, readily available, and understood by electricians and plumbers alike.<\/p>\n

Contrast this with the more complex structure of a refrigerative electric hot water service. This contraption boasts two motors\u2014for the compressor and fan\u2014high-pressure refrigerant, multiple components (pipe joins, welds, condenser, evaporator, TX valve, filter, drier, pressure switches), and a layer of sophisticated electronics. These include temperature sensors, programmable timers, and even external solar controls for enhanced self-sufficiency. The multitude of components adds weight and introduces many potential points of failure.<\/p>\n

\"gas

Instant gas-boosted heat pump. i.e. two complex machines in series. It’s a cheap install of cheap gear. There’s little to like here.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Service Conundrum: Who to Call?<\/h2>\n

Heat pumps aspire to the reliability of fridges. But the increasing complexity and sophistication of heat pumps can lead to serious maintenance issues. When a heat pump malfunctions and customers complain about cold showers, they often consider it a bona fide emergency. Who do you send to fix it ASAP?<\/p>\n

A triple threat tradie skilled in plumbing, electricity, and fridge mechanics is a scarce find. So imagine the operational headache of urgently dispatching three separate vans for three appointments just to diagnose the problem. Additional visits may be needed if special parts have to be ordered. Contrast this with the simplicity of dealing with a resistive unit where every decent plumber or electrician carries a thermostat and element\u2014universal parts that make repairs cheap, fast, and simple.<\/p>\n

\"crimped

An inexperienced plumber totally screwed this refrigerant connection up, twisting the pipe until it was crimped shut. I unwound it, and how it holds gas continues to amaze me.<\/p><\/div>\n

Dissecting Warranty Claims<\/h2>\n

It’s crucial to scrutinise heat pump warranties carefully. While some brands boast about a 10-year warranty, the fine print often reveals a different story\u2014major components may only have five or even two years of coverage. This can lead to unexpected costs if your unit fails and can’t be repaired.<\/p>\n

Poor People Pay Twice<\/h2>\n

Free heat pumps are bloody expensive.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many people fall prey to the allure of subsidised water heaters offered for “free” or at a significantly reduced price, especially when deciding under the duress of cold showers.<\/p>\n

The initial savings can turn sour when the unit fails. Repair costs can exceed the original outlay, and full replacement can run into thousands of dollars\u2014especially as the one-time rebates that made the first unit affordable have already been spent.<\/p>\n

\"\"

“Don’t waste your rebates on junk” Good plumbers are calling out cheap rubbish via social media.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Dark Side of Heat Pumps<\/h2>\n

Not all heat pumps are subpar, but some big brands have been known to disappoint.<\/p>\n

I have it on good authority from three different plumbers that a large water heater company would advise the plumbers they knew units they were selling were crap<\/em> but the customers should be kept in the dark because new models were coming with fewer known problems causing warranty failures.<\/p>\n

It’s scandalous that some units were sold with known issues, on the assumption that if they were good, they would last for years, but if they were lemons, they’d be scrapped.<\/p>\n

This approach has damaged heat pumps’ reputation among customers and tradies. Bad experiences with big-brand heat pumps are a big reason your local plumber often warns you off buying any brand of heat pump.<\/p>\n

Noisy Neighbours: The Audible Annoyance of Heat Pumps<\/h3>\n

Cheap or unmaintained heat pumps create noise, which can lead to disputes in densely populated areas.<\/p>\n

As urban density increases and McMansion footprints expand to the plot’s boundaries, machinery like air conditioners<\/a> are often jammed together in service corridors next to the fence. Not only does this make for noisy living, in some cases a lack of good airflow wrecks the performance of these machines too.<\/p>\n

Heat Pumps Are Killing Solar Hot Water<\/h3>\n

Solar hot water systems<\/a>, once the pioneers of energy efficiency, are now overshadowed by heat pumps<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Solar thermal hot water used to be celebrated for its ability to work without electricity for much of the year. As heat pumps gain traction, solar thermal units have been brought undone by plumbers who don\u2019t want to run plumbing and crane tanks onto the roof. Also, many project homes are technically unable to carry 500kg in four square metres.<\/p>\n

\"Close

In 2008 I helped install this on a roof the salesman said “wasn’t too steep” and ended up buying the house next door years later. She’s still there at 15 years 4 months, and counting<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"

The things you can do with a crane having 9 metres reach. Image credit: Solar Depot<\/p><\/div>\n

The other configuration of solar thermal hot water, a split system with a tank on the ground, did away with a roof-mounted tank but introduced a pump, pipes, sensors, wiring & associated unreliability. Many failed and morphed into plain electric hot water relying on the booster element or a downstream instantaneous gas unit. In both cases, they were expensive to run, and people didn\u2019t realise they were actually broken.<\/p>\n

For all their faults, solar thermal hot water is still a great way to harvest free energy. My old mate Derek loved home brewing because, on a hot day, he could sterilise bottles with \u201cboiling hot\u201d tap water. And like a heat pump or solar electric system, they still attract STC credits. However, if yours needs repair, the tendency for trades to pick the easiest, and let\u2019s not forget the quickest option, means that heat pumps are often the answer.<\/p>\n

Refrigerants Are Often Nasty<\/h3>\n

If we are moving to efficient heat pumps mainly to reduce energy consumption and atmospheric pollution, then we really need to address the refrigerant used. Propane and CO\u00b2 are pretty benign, but fluorinated hydrocarbons<\/span> R134a & R410 have a massive impact. If just 500 grams of R410a escapes, it equates to over a ton of CO\u00b2 equivalent global warming potential.<\/p>\n

The Future of Heat Pumps<\/h2>\n

As we decarbonise the economy addressing many homes’ largest single energy consumer is essential. As we\u2019ve already noted, Australian rooftop solar is the cheapest electricity ever generated and storing that energy in a hot water tank is much cheaper than chemical storage in a battery. Midday is the new off-peak, and electricity network thinking is being turned on its head as a result.<\/p>\n

What worries me is the amount of oil, refrigerants, electronics & other resources we will pour into manufacturing heat pumps. I would be fascinated to hear any hard numbers but considering weight alone, I can see tons of water heaters being smashed out that really should be serviceable, durable, and heirloom quality\u2026 but I have a funny feeling they won\u2019t last.<\/p>\n

If we are going to install millions of heat pumps, let’s install ones that can be maintained over decades, and have trades that know how to repair instead of scrap them when things inevitably go wrong after many years of daily service.<\/p>\n

We’re expanding our installer network, so if you’re keen to get started then enter your postcode here<\/a> and click the HWHP tab on the right.<\/p>\n

What’s Next?<\/h3>\n

While I’ve voiced my concerns about heat pumps, I’m not leaving you in the lurch. Tune in next week when I’ll reveal what I believe is the best solution to the hot water conundrum. Here’s a hint\u2014it’s as timeless as copper.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last week, I extolled the virtues of heat pumps, lauding their unparalleled efficiency. As promised, it’s time to investigate why these newfangled appliances might not be as splendid as they seem.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":77880,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-77816","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-solar-hot-water","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAre Hot Water Heat Pumps All They're Cracked Up to Be?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Unpacking heat pump hype. 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