Heat Pump Hot Water Narre Warren

How a heat pump works

A heat pump hot water system works like a reverse fridge. A fan draws in outside air, a refrigerant absorbs its heat, and a compressor concentrates that heat into the water tank. Because it moves heat rather than making it, a heat pump uses far less electricity than a standard electric element to heat the same water. Many models can be timed to run during the middle of the day, when rooftop solar is producing, so much of your hot water is heated for free.

Is a heat pump right for your Narre Warren home?

Heat pumps suit most households in Narre Warren. They work well in our climate, including cold winter mornings, although the recovery rate slows when it is very cold. The main things to plan are placement, noise and the electrical supply. The unit needs open air around it, ideally not right outside a bedroom window or against a neighbour's fence, because the compressor makes a low hum similar to an air conditioner. It needs a suitable power circuit, which may mean an electrician's visit. And it needs a level base and space for a tank that is often larger than an old gas unit.

If you are replacing a gas storage unit on the side path, the heat pump can often go in the same spot. If you are going all-electric, we can cap the gas supply to the old unit at the same time.

Rebates and paperwork

Heat pump installations in Victoria may be eligible for government rebates and for certificates under national and state energy schemes, which are usually taken as a discount at the time of purchase. Eligibility depends on the product, your property and the program rules at the time. We explain what currently applies and make sure the installation and paperwork meet the requirements.

Installation

We remove the old unit, set the heat pump on a level base, connect cold and hot water with the required valves, fit or check the tempering valve, and connect the condensate drain so water does not pool against the house. After the electrician connects the power, we commission the unit, set the timer for your solar or tariff, and show you how it works. We lodge the plumbing compliance certificate when finished.

Narre Warren soil and pipes

Most of Narre Warren sits on grey and yellow clay that holds water through winter and cracks open in a dry February. Pipes laid in it move a little every season. On the streets built in the 1970s and 1980s that means earthenware sewer joints that have shifted and let roots in. On the 1990s and 2000s estates south of the Princes Highway it usually means PVC lines that have sagged where the trench was backfilled, leaving a dip that collects grease and wipes. Up in Narre Warren North the blocks are bigger and the runs are longer, often to a septic system or a pump. We bring that local knowledge to every job, and we use a camera to confirm what is happening underground rather than guessing at it.

From your call to the finished job