iStore Heat Pump Hot Water

In plain terms

How a heat pump works

A conventional electric hot water system heats water the same way a kettle does — it turns electricity straight into heat. A heat pump doesn't make heat, it moves it. A fan pulls in outside air, the unit extracts the warmth already in it, and puts that into the tank. Because it's moving heat rather than creating it, you get several units of heat out for every unit of electricity in.

• A fraction of the running cost

  A heat pump uses roughly a third of the energy of a standard electric storage tank. iStore rates the 270L at a COP of 4.82 at 20°C ambient — close to five units of heat for one unit of electricity.

• Your tank is a battery you already own

  Set it to run in the middle of the day and it soaks up solar you'd otherwise export, storing it as hot water for the evening. It isn't a substitute for a home battery, but if you've got solar it's the cheapest way to start using more of it.

• Smart control

  Wi-Fi ready with app control, so the schedule can be set to match your solar or your tariff, and you can check it's working without going outside.

• Built for the conditions here

  Anti-frost logic for cold Melbourne mornings and an automatic weekly sanitising cycle. Designed for outdoor installation, and about as loud as an outdoor air conditioning unit.

• Natural refrigerant

  Current models run R290, which has a very low global warming impact compared with the synthetic refrigerants used in a lot of older units.

Running costs as published by iStore, July 2024, based on 200 litres a day. What you actually pay depends on your tariff, your household and whether you have solar.

Why this one

Why we install iStore

• A compact option that actually fits

  Plenty of Melbourne homes — terraces, units, tight inner-suburban blocks — have one viable spot for a hot water system and it isn't big. The 180L solves that, and not every brand has an answer for it.

• Australian company, long track record

  iStore has been in the Australian heat pump market a long time, with local support and a large installed base. When something needs a warranty claim in year four, that matters more than the brochure did in year one.

• Honest about the maintenance

  These tanks use a sacrificial anode, which protects the tank from corrosion and needs checking periodically. It's not a flaw — it's how a long-life tank works — but it is real maintenance, and we'd rather you hear it now than in year five.

• Five-year manufacturer warranty

  Comprehensive five-year manufacturer warranty on iStore units.

How we work

How it gets installed

Every heat pump job we do is finished the same way. This is the standard, not the upsell.

• One team, both trades

  A heat pump needs a plumber and an electrician. We coordinate both and work together so the whole job is managed as one — you don't line up separate contractors yourself.

• No sales layer

  You deal directly with the licensed tradespeople doing the work — not a call centre or a commissioned salesperson.

• Sited properly

  A heat pump needs airflow to work. In a tight spot that takes some thought — we work out where it can breathe, where the noise won't bother you or the neighbours, and where it's protected from the worst of the weather.

• Set up to run at the right time

  We set the schedule so it heats on your solar or your cheapest tariff window, not whenever it feels like it. This is where the savings actually come from, and it's the step most often skipped.

• Old unit taken away

  Your old system is removed and recycled responsibly, and all installation rubbish leaves with us. We hand the space back clean.