iStore Heat Pump Hot Water Review

Tim's iStore Review

iStore has recently undergone a large transition moving the refrigerant they use from R-134a to propane. With a more environmentally friendly refrigerant, there is a lot to like about the new iStore - a strong warranty and a company with a strong track record. The one unknown is reliability - will the new unit be as reliable and well-reviewed as the old unit?

✅ Cost: iStore units are priced at the mid-market and affordable

❓ Reliability: I don’t have a strong view on the reliability of iStores. On one hand, the propane unit is new to market and some may think it’s too early to tell whether it is reliable. On the other hand, the previous unit had great reviews and there’s no reason to think the new unit shouldn’t perform as well. A strong warranty is a good sign

✅ Refrigerant: Propane is one of the best refrigerants on the market

✅ Maintenance: Maintenance requirements are consistent with the better quality units on the market

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iStore is one of the largest players in the heat pump hot water unit market in Australia. iStore deals in a range of products including inverters, batteries, hot water units and pool pumps.

iStore units come in two sizes: 180L (2-4 people) and 270L (4+ people).

Up until 30 June 2024, iStore units solely used R-134a as the refrigerant. R-134a has a global warming potential (GWP) of 1,430 and is in the process of being phased out. For example, heat pump hot water units using R-134a are no longer eligible for 2 of the 3 rebates in Victoria. iStore has since launched a propane (R-290) unit and is rolling it out nationally.

iStore units receive an impressive 4.8 out of 5 stars on Product Review. These reviews are for the R-134a unit and it remains to be seen whether there will be any change in reliability due to the new refrigerant.

One of the clear positives of iStore is the warranty. Whereas many other units have a 5 year warranty on the tank/parts and only 2 year labour warranty, iStore has a 5 year comprehensive warranty. This is great to see and reduces some of the concerns of the new propane unit.

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iStore Specifications

Model	iStore
Split/All-in-one	All-in-one
Capacity (L)	180/270
Tank Material	Glass lined
Tank Protection	Sacrificial anode
Place of Manufacture	China
Product Review Score	4.8 from 106 reviews
Warranty	Heat Pump/Tank/Electrical - 5 yrs Anode/PTR Valve/Consumable Items - 1 yr
Time in Market (Unit)	2024
Company Founded	2009
Noise Level	47 dB
Maintenance	6 months - operate the lever on the PTR valve and ECV if applicable; inspect and clear the condensation line, check for obstructions 5 years (tradesperson) - replace the anode, replace the PTR Valve, flush the unit, check and clean tempering valve filters and operation
Recommended Retail Price (RRP)	$3,500 (est)