How to install a heat pump

Home Owner

Key points

Runing Costs: The running cost of a heat pump is typically about 30% of that of a standard electric hot water system.

Noise: Heat pumps tend to be noisier than other hot water systems. It’s wise to check out specific models before making a purchase and consider placement.

Control: Heat pumps can be set to operate at any time of day. When combined with Solar PV, daytime heating can take advantage of the energy that would otherwise be lost.

Compliance: All heaters need to manage the risk of the health issues of legionnaires’ disease. Your installer can help you choose the best approach for your system.

How does a heat pump work

This is the same process your refrigerator uses to transfer heat from its interior to the outside. Heat pumps operate similarly, capturing heat from the outside and bringing it inside.

What’s fascinating is that heat pumps use only about 30% of the energy required by traditional heating methods to capture heat from the environment.

However, this constant activity comes with noise which can be mittigated much like your refrigerator.

How to choose a reliable installer

Create a Starting List

While Apollo Bay’s remoteness is fantastic, it can make getting services challenging. To begin, create a list of installers who service the area. Here are some suggestions:

  • Known Installers: The following groups service Apollo Bay (this is not a recommendation, just a starting point):

    • Too Hot to handle www.toohottohandle.com.au

    • Winki Energy https://www.winkienergy.com.au/

    • Stewart Air Conditioning and plumbing – stewartair.com.au 0449611323 Supply and install of quality energy efficient heat pump hws and air conditioning products utilising all relevant government rebates.

  • Local Plumbers: Most people have plumbers they trust. While some might be less experienced with heat pumps, most are willing to help. Do your research on their recomendations. There are lots of online resources that rate the various products.

  • SOS Geelong Sustainably (GS) Electric Homes Program: GS performs due diligence and makes the process easier. These events occur annually in September and can be accessed on . Even if the program isn’t running, you can find a list of their suppliers on the website. www.electrichomes.com.au

  • Personal Recommendations: Ask around for recommendations from people who have used installers and are satisfied with the service.

  • Apollo Bay Newsletter: The trade section at the back of the newsletter has a list of plumbers.

Verify their credibility

To ensure the quality of installers, check the following:

  • Reviews: Look up their reviews on various platforms:

  • Google Reviews https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/google

  • Product Review Australia https://www.productreview.com.au/

  • SolarChoice now have a section on heat pumps https://www.solarchoice.net.au/heat-pumps/

Following these steps will help you choose a reliable solar installer for your needs.

What size heat pump do I need?

The appropriate size of a heat pump depends on your water usage. Here are some guidelines:

  • Existing System: What is the size of your current tank-based system?

  • Online: Google hot water heat pump size estimator

Compliance

All hot water services need to manage the risk of Legionnaires’ disease. There are generally two approaches, and you can choose the one that best suits your needs. The installer can set it up during installation.

  1. Minimum Temperature Setting: The temperature can be set to a minimum of 60 degrees Celsius. If you’re comfortable with this, it’s the simplest solution.

  2. (Semi) Weekly Heat Up: The heat pump performs a semi-weekly heat up, typically running at midnight for about four hours once per week. This process can be noisy and may disrupt sleep. Some heat pumps allow you to adjust the schedule by 12 hours, effectively changing AM to PM and vice versa. This adjustment would mean the weekly cycle runs at noon instead of midnight.

How to choose the right products

The information below provides some guidelines but if you want the full story just go to the Solar Choice heat pump page. https://www.solarchoice.net.au/heat-pumps/

The quality of heat pumps can vary widely, much like other marketplace products. Cheaper systems often come with reduced performance. To strike a balance, determine which features are essential to you and how much you’re willing to invest. Consider these factors:

  1. Energy Multiplier: This refers to how much heat is drawn from the environment for every kW hour of energy consumed (Coefficient of Performance, or COP).

  2. Noise Level: Measured in decibels (dB).

The following Solar Choice table lists these figures and many more for common brands https://www.solarquotes.com.au/hot-water/heat-pump/

Additional factors to consider when selecting your heat pump:

  1. Brand Recommendations: Solar Choice four-quadrant map of quality vs. price https://www.solarquotes.com.au/hot-water/heat-pump/#best

  2. Warranties: See the Solar Choice table above.

  3. Inbuilt timer: Allows you to align heating with cheaper energy

  4. Price: See the Solar Choice table above.

  5. Rebates: About $480 in Victoria. See the for full information here You can also calculate the number of STC’s you get which gives you an indication of the rebate here    Also the Vic Gov Solar rebates page here 

  6. By following these guidelines, you can reduce risk and get a heat pump hot water system that meets your needs and offers long-term reliability.

FAQ & more reading

Here are some additional points to consider:

  • Local Experiences: Curious about what others in Apollo Bay think about their heat pump installations? Check out our local stories on the bottom of our home page.

  • Additional Resources: For more information, visit Solar Quotes heat pump page here