A heat pump hot water unit is only as good as its installation. We don't want to pay thousands of dollars for a new unit, only to have its performance or longevity compromised because the installer has been sloppy.
In March 2024, Victorian agencies announced they were joining forces to improve heat pump hot water compliance. Solar Victoria, the Essential Services Commission (which administers the Victorian Energy Upgrades program), the Victorian Building Authority, Energy Safe Victoria and WorkSafe will join forces to increase site inspections and audits to ensure heat pump hot water units are being installed safely and properly. The agencies had identified common issues including:
- inadequate insulation to protect the units
- switchboard wiring
- unsafe termination points for pressure relief valves (see drainage below); and
- inappropriately secured water tanks
We of course like to think all installers in our network will only do exemplary work.
Please also see our post $99 Heat Pumps - Good Value or Avoid?, where I critique some of the things that go wrong with an installation.
Below is a checklist of things to look out for in your heat pump hot water installation.
- Unit arrives in an upright position - units are supposed to be kept upright throughout transit - do not accept units that have been lying down horizontally in the back of a van
- Unit looks in good shape - they haven't been knocked about in transit
- Solid base - level on a solid surface like a concrete slab
- Pipework is lagged - "lagged" is jargon for insulated. The performance of your heat pump hot water unit will be significantly affected if the pipework is not insulated. Insufficient or incorrect insulation is probably one of the most common reasons for incorrect installations. The images below are the same unit. On the left the pipework has not been insulated sufficiently. The customer asked the installer to return, with the resulting image on the right.
- Tempering valve - ensure the unit comes equipped with a tempering valve (the tempering valve drops the water, often heated to 60 degrees, to 50 degrees to reduce burns in the home).
- Electrical connection - I like to see units wired on a dedicated line to the switchboard. Some installers may not agree with me on this, as it's clearly quicker to simply plug the unit in to a nearby outlet. I think hard-wiring is best practice as it guarantees the electrical connection to the unit and ensures its continuous operation. Certificates of Electrical Safety are often required as part of installations to claim rebates, so if an electrician is onsite anyway, its best to run the wiring. Do it once, do it right.
Dedicated switch on the left and isolator on the right
- Pipework does not leak - We also need to ensure that pipes are working and connected properly - no leaks!
- Condensate and PTR valve drainage - away from the house, ideally to a nearby drain. The condensate and ptr valve will drip water consistently. It's okay for the pipes to drip towards the ground, but we at least want the pipes pointed away from the house to avoid moisture build up. Many heat pump hot water owners will put buckets under the pipes, collect water and put it on the garden. It's best and preferred if we can connect the pipes to nearby drainage.
- Generally a neat installation - a good installer will keep the installation neat and tidy, with no unnecessary pipes all over the place.
My Efficient Electric Home
I am a big fan of the Facebook Group My Efficient Electric Home. Members of the group will somewhat regularly post a "Rate my installation" photo. A number of the photos in this article are from the group.
For anyone tempted, please don't go fall down the rabbit hole of dissecting these posts. Commenters are way too critical and often have an agenda of promoting another unit or their own installation company. Hopefully this post helps instead.
Summary
I passionately advocate the advantages of heat pump hot water units over gas counterparts. But if gas units last upwards of 15 years, and heat pump hot water units last only 5 years, it's arguably a false economy to need to replace the unit three times as often.
There are two keys to a heat pump hot water unit that lasts. First, choose the right unit, second, ensure it is installed correctly.
I hope this article helps. If you've recently had a unit installed and something doesn't look quite right, call the installer. Send some photos and videos and ask their opinion. Good installers will be respectful and willing to return to patch up any issues.
And of course, feel free to let Heat Pump Compare help connect you with a reputable installer. Our network of installers are pre-vetted and will likely do a great job. They also have a keen interest in keeping us and our customers happy so we keep sending them new customers.
