Ecogenica Heat Pump Hot Water Review

Tim's Ecogenica Review

I recommend avoiding Ecogenica units unless they are the only unit you can afford. We need heat pumps to last and there’s too much evidence that these units will not stand the test of time. Too many reviews cite a lack of customer service when things go wrong.

✅ Cost: Ecogenica units are one of the most affordable units on the market

❓ Reliability: The big unknown about such a cheap heat pump is whether it will last. The stated warranty is ok, but it's only as good as the company that is supposed to honour it, and a number of negative reviews cite poor customer service when things go wrong

✅ Refrigerant: Ecogenica heat pumps use propane as the refrigerant

➖ Maintenance: requirements are standard, but should be clearer in the Owners Manual

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Ecogenica is one of the most polarising heat pump hot water units. There are two Ecogenica tribes, both with loud voices. One tribe loves Ecogenica and thinks the units are the most affordable and efficient on the market. The other tribe thinks Ecogenica units are cheap, low-quality units deliberately priced to attract and capitalise on rebates. As with all things at Heat Pump Compare, I’ll cut through this tribalism to provide a balanced opinion.

Ecogenica has both split and all-in-one units. They use propane as the refrigerant, which is one of the best on the market.

A clear positive about Ecogenica units is they are affordable. I have seen the infamous ads for $33 or $99 heat pumps, which are incredibly cheap. I think that’s a positive if it encourages people to install a new heat pump over a gas unit.

The key question for anything so cheap is will it last? To my point above, it’s all well and good choosing a heat pump because it’s so cheap compared to gas, but it needs to last. Otherwise, not only are we faced with a the replacement cost, but we also run the risk of people thinking that heat pumps don't work and they return to gas units.

As I write in $99 Heat Pumps - Good Value or Avoid? the problem is not just the cheap unit but also the cheap installation. A heat pump can only perform as well as it’s installed. With such thin margins, installers need to install units quickly and move on to the next job.

One way to assess reliability is through reviews. Ecogenica units are reviewed under EcoAlliance Dynaheat on Product Review. I’m not sure why there is no “Ecogenica” listing. They score 4.2 out of 5 stars from 652 reviews. It’s a concern that a number of negative reviews are about customer service - people trying to get in touch with Ecogenica but not getting through. It’s also a concern that Eco Alliance receives 2 stars on Product Review, again with many reviewers citing a lack of customer service.

I mentioned above that there is a tribe that has no time for Ecogenica units. I don't think it's so black and white. There are many positive customer stories, the publicly available reviews certainly aren't the worst on the market. It's clear some people have a great experience, and it's equally clear that others don't.

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Ecogenica Specifications

Model	R series
Split/All-in-one	Split & All-in-one
Capacity (L)	215/260/290/330
Tank Material	Glass lined
Tank Protection	Sacrificial anode
Place of Manufacture	China
Product Review Score	4.2 from 652 reviews
Warranty	Heat Pump - 5 yrs Tank - 7 yrs Service - 2 yrs
Time in Market (Unit)	?
Company Founded	?
Noise Level	50 dB
Maintenance	Ensure heat pump remains clean and free from debris Replace anode during 5 year service (maximum of 8 years) Periodic operation of PTR valve Manual mentiones a 5 year service, but doesn't stipulate what is required
Recommended Retail Price (RRP)	$2,000 (est)

At 50dB, the noise rating for units is one of the highest on the market. Whether this is an issue will likely depend on where the unit is installed. If installed down the side of the house, it's unlikely to be an issue (bearing in mind units should be run during the day). If installed in a courtyard, you might need to be more selection
The units are manufactured in China
The warranty is reasonable, depending on the unit you select. The key issue with warranties is whether they will be honoured - a number of negative reviews suggest customer service is poor, so talking to someone when an issue arises might be hard