Reclaim Energy review

Reclaim Energy Hot Water Heat Pump Reviews

4.8

Based on 25 ratings
Finn Peacock

Finn's Reclaim Energy Hot Water Heat Pumps Review & Verdict

Finn Peacock has been a Chartered Electrical Engineer since 1998, and is ex-CSIRO

Australian firm Reclaim Energy has a good reputation in the heat pump industry, with their CO2 refrigerant approach, high efficiency, and very quiet operation with a 10-year warranty. I installed one on my home a few years back, and it has proven to be a great performer. However, Reclaim systems are rather pricey.

Reclaim Energy Hot Water Heat Pumps: Pros & Cons

  • Australian/Japanese made
  • High Coefficient of Performance (COP)
  • Quiet
  • Uses CO2 as a refrigerant (low Global Warming Potential).
  • Eligible for Federal and some state incentives
  • Compatible with solar systems
  • Pricing at the higher end of the spectrum

About Reclaim Energy

Australian company Reclaim Energy specialises in designing and manufacturing high efficiency and environmentally friendly heat pump hot water systems.

Reclaim Energy Contact Details

Mailing Address: PO Box 627 Byron Bay NSW 2481
Phone: 1300 383 815
Email: [email protected]
Website

Company Info

Reclaim Energy was spun out of Solar Thermal Australia Pty Ltd in 2003. The company was founded by Dr Chris Taylor, who focused on creating innovative sustainable hot water solutions and remains the firm's Managing Director today.

In February 2024, Reclaim launched a partnership with Panasonic to launch a hot water heat pump solution that uses carbon dioxide (CO2) as a refrigerant. While CO2 is a greenhouse gas, other refrigerants have a much bigger impact. For example, the GWP (Global Warming Potential) of CO2 is 1 - as it's the reference gas used to measure the warming effect of other greenhouse gases - while a common refrigerant, R134a, has a GWP of 1,430.

Reclaim Heat Pump Details

Reclaim offers split systems - the tank and compressor are separate - in a variety of configurations. All use CO2 refrigerant, which not only has a small fraction of the GWP of other refrigerants used in heat pump systems, but is also suited to cold weather conditions. 

Reclaim hot water heat pumps have a electric boost function for continuous hot water. For solar owners, the systems are designed to use surplus solar energy generation rather than exporting it to the grid through the use of a smart controller. Electricity consumption is around 1kWh for 100 litres of hot water, and the hot water production rate is 110 L/hr according to the firm. But energy usage and performance will vary based on individual requirements and environmental conditions.

The company says its range has an average Coefficient of Performance (COP) of 5, meaning that for 1 kW of electricity input, they generate approximately 5 kW thermal output.

Reclaim states its products are the quietest systems on the market, with an average noise level of 37dB.  Reclaim's tanks are manufactured in Australia and the heat pump component in Japan.

Among good quality heat pumps in Australia, Reclaim's products sit towards the more expensive end of the market.

Stainless Steel Tank Choices

The stainless steel tanks are suitable for non-hard water areas and are available available in the following sizes:

  • REHP-CO2-160SST (160 litres - tall)
  • REHP-CO2-250SST (250 litres - tall)
  • REHP-CO2-315SST (315 litres - tall)
  • REHP-CO2-315SSQ (315 litres - squat)
  • REHP-CO2-400SST (400 litres - tall)

Glass Lined Enamel Tanks

Reclaim's enamel glass lined tanks are suitable for all water types, including hard water areas:

  • REHP-CO2-160GL (160 litres)
  • REHP-CO2-250GL (250 litres)
  • REHP-CO2-315GL (315 litres)
  • REHP-CO2-400GL (400 litres)

Controllers 

Two controller options are available - v1.1 and v2 (wireless).

v1.1 offers 6 operational modes:

  • 24 hours – Continuous
  • 9 hours (Off-Peak mode 1: 10pm – 7am)
  • 6 hours (Off-Peak mode 2: 12am – 6am)
  • 6 hours (10am – 4pm)
  • Timer (Two-Zones)
  • Remote (One Shot Boost)

As well as the above, the v2 controller offers:

  • Timer (Two-Zones) & Multiple Temperature Control
  • Holiday Mode – one day/time set per week to meet legionella control

Other features of the v2 include automated notifications to the owner and Reclaim's tech team of any errors, real time usage and consumption reporting and an app.

Warranty Information

The warranty varies according to the components and are as follows.

  • Glass-Lined tank: 10 years parts / 2 years labour.
  • Stainless steel tank: 15 years parts / 2 years labour.
  • PCB, PCB display, motor, sensors, reactor, expansion valve coil, water pump and refrigeration components: 7 years parts and labour (non-Wi-Fi) and 10 years parts and labour (Wi-Fi).
  • Reclaim Energy Controller and sensor lead: 7 years parts and labour (non-Wi-Fi) and 10 years parts and labour (Wi-Fi).
  • 850 kPa PTRV valve: 1 years parts and labour.

If you're uncertain if one of these systems is right for you, check out our guide to choosing buying heat pumps, which includes a comparison table where you can see specifications and estimated pricing of heat pumps from various manufacturers side-by-side.

Installer Approved

In 2025 SolarQuotes held its first annual Installer's Choice Award for heat pumps.  We asked installers just one question, "If installing a system on your own house today, what brand's hot water heat pump would you use?"  Reclaim took 3rd place behind iStore and Solahart. 

If you have a Reclaim Energy heat pump hot water system installed, we're keen to read your opinion on it - and other Australians would be too. Submit a review using the button towards the top of this page.
Reclaim Energy is a SolarQuotes approved brand

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Reclaim Energy Reviews (25)

Show Most Relevant reviews from All time

  • 5 star 21
  • 4 star 3
  • 3 star 0
  • 2 star 1
  • 1 star 0

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Installed By

Essential Solar
I absolutely love it. I love having the WIFI and app option where I can set the timers to heat the hot water at the cheapest time, using my excess solar or overnight on cheapest electricity rate if needed. I never realised how bad my old hot water system was till I had this installed. So far it has only used being a CO2 heat pump a maximum of 1.2kw/hr to heat the hot water and that was on a really overcast day and I needed a hot water boost but my average is 0.7kw/hr for a 1 person household. It will probably get higher in winter but it will be much cheaper than gas and definitely much cheaper than 13 to 14kw/hr to heat an electric hot water system the same size. I don't on a good solar day produce that much excess solar, so even though the Reclaim heat pump was more expensive up front installed, their 10 year warranty on all parts and labour for both the glass tank (as long as sacrifice node is checked every 3 years and replaced every 5 years) and compressor and the savings I will make in my Power bills (use Solar Quotes or Solar Choice websites to help with this) it is definitely a great choice. I am absolutely stoked with it. The app let's you the temp of your hot water, set the timers you want, turn the tanks heating off if you are going away, see how much power you are using to heat the water, if the water is currently heating, boost the heating if you want and so much more. And it is highly recommended for colder climates and low humidity areas like where I live. Awesome.

Installed By

Goulburn Solar
Love this hot water service, I've had it for a year now and its rock solid

Installed By

Local Energy Group
Very quiet and efficient

Installed By

RenewCo Solar Sydney
Works around two hours per day using about 3 kWhr energy. Only run out of hot water once when 4YO grandson had a two hour shower and even then, only had to wait 20 min after pressing the "boost" button to have a shower the next morning! Very quiet and can hardly be heard in neighbours yard just 2m away on other side of fence when running (which is only for a few hours during the morning from about 11AM

Installed By

Evo Solar VIC

Installed By

Zeco Australian Energy Solutions North East
So far so good. Heaps of hot water for 4 people and pressure is better for some reason.

Installed By

Smarter Home Solutions

Installed By

Urban Renewables Melbourne
I didn't buy the system from Matt, but was recommended to Wayne Castleman Plumbing and Gas fitting by Scott Tennant. Matt did however complete the electrical installation for the new heat pumps.
Coming from an on-demand gas system, I was highly skeptical of a storage system being able compete, but so far no problems. The wifi and smart app was a little clunky to set-up, but once setup is reliable.

The heat pump was only installed at Christmas, so will be curious to see its performance during a Ballarat winter.

Installed By

Matthew Walsh Electrical
Great heat pump installed by the team as well! Reclaim 400L Stainless Steel

Installed By

Australian Energy Upgrades
The 270 Reclaim Energy tank is located inside the house and heats up in 2 hours during the day. We have used the boost function a couple of times when we have had 6+ people staying in the house. Easy to programme. Very energy efficient.

Installed By

Linked Solar

Installed By

Brightworks Solar
It's early days but so far the operation is floorless, the App is very basic with only output, you have to change any setting on the hand held at the unit.
Very quite, power use as stated, heats twice/day on average.

Installed By

Essential Solar East

Installed By

Green Solar Energy Sydney
Very efficient and easy to run

Installed By

Energy Assist Group Bellarine Single

Installed By

Koala Solar
Heat Pump installed by Soltek - did a great job.

Installed By

Aussie Solar Batteries

Installed By

Ultimate Solar Energy Melbourne
The Reclaim heat pump hot water system has had a very positive impact on our energy bills. The old electric hot water system needed replacement. The timed operation is especially helpful. WE had a small solar system and it provides enough power to run the Reclaim for the short period it needs to. The result is hot water which has gone from 35- 40% of our bill to almost zero cost.
The only observation I would make is that the very tall 315 Litre storage tank is too narrow and too tall. The installation is very good but I opted to add a brace to the wall for safety. You can wobble the tall tank and my brace reflects my concern that even though the piping sort of secures it, I think it should be properly secured with a suitable bracing system.
Opt for the SQUAT tank if you buy this brand!
I’m a bit disappointed that I wasn’t asked what settings I wanted the heat pump to be on. Then when I asked the installer what the actual setting currently were I was told they were set on continuous operation. This wasn’t what I wanted so I asked for them to be changed to daytime operation only. Unfortunately that installer wasn’t able to help me. I’m not sure whose job it was but it didn’t happen. The chap I spoke to was a plumber and, unfortunately the electrician had already left my house before this conversation occurred. It then took me 2 emails to get the paperwork to operate the system, paperwork that surely should have been given to me at the time of installation. I’m not confident to alter the settings and think I should have been consulted, and the settings adjusted, at the time of installation. When I’ve spent as much as I did on this system, I think an induction is not too much to ask or expect. I feel confident that the unit will meet my expectations but the actual installation was a disappointment. Can you help?
It’s fairly early in my use of the heat pump but overall the install went well and it is performing exactly as expected. It is also much quieter than anticipated. Almost silent.
I would have liked the installer to make me aware that it was possible legally to bypass the tempering valve just for kitchen and laundry
I had a Reclaim 400L Stainless Steel system installed today. Very happy with the installation by SDHWS - the workmanship and price was excellent and the guys did everything by the book (including not forgetting the drainage). The unit itself works very well - it took about 4 hours to heat the tank up from stone cold.
Really like the app and the ability to schedule the heating for when I have spare solar electricity to spare, and to be able to boost for a short while if we were to use all the hot water
People aren’t asking the right questions to End Users considering Heat Pumps, it took way too much research for me to realise that I wanted Reclaim. Questions like:
- Is noise important for your HWS location?
- Are you willing to replace the anode every 3-5 years? Or pay someone to do it?
- Would you prefer to pay around 3k for something that needs maintenance and might only last 10 years, or 7k for something that needs no maintenance and might last 30 years?
- Is Australian manufacturing important to you?
Very quiet compared to old Bosch unit
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