Hot water is one of the largest energy costs in a Perth home. It accounts for up to 30 percent of a typical household energy bill. A heat pump is the most efficient way to bring that cost down. For many homes it can all but eliminate it. Positive Energy Solutions installs iStore heat pump hot water systems across the Perth metropolitan area. We offer both 180 litre and 270 litre sizes.
This page explains why a heat pump is the smart choice for heating water. It shows why Positive Energy Solutions has chosen to install only iStore. It helps you choose between the 180 litre and 270 litre models. It explains how the system works alongside a solar and battery setup.
An iStore heat pump hot water system is a hot water heat pump, not a rooftop panel. A heat pump makes hot water day or night, in any weather. This is why it now outperforms solar hot water for most Perth homes.
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Why Switch to a Heat Pump for Hot Water
A conventional electric storage system heats water with an element. It turns roughly one unit of electricity into one unit of heat. A heat pump works differently. It uses the same technology as a reverse-cycle air conditioner. It draws warmth out of the surrounding air and moves it into the water tank. So it delivers several units of heat for every unit of electricity it draws. In practice, an iStore heat pump uses up to 65 percent less energy than a traditional electric hot water system.
- Much lower running costs. A heat pump moves heat rather than creating it with an element. It does the same job for a fraction of the electricity. This shows up directly on the power bill.
- An upfront rebate. iStore heat pumps are eligible for small-scale technology certificates under the federal renewable energy scheme. These are typically passed on as a discount at the point of sale.
- A cleaner refrigerant. iStore systems use R290, a natural refrigerant with a very low global warming potential. Many alternatives use synthetic refrigerants instead.
- Made for solar homes. A heat pump draws only a small amount of power. It can be timed to run in the middle of the day. So it heats water using surplus solar energy that would otherwise be exported for a few cents.
Why Positive Energy Solutions Installs Only iStore
Positive Energy Solutions has made a deliberate choice to install a single heat pump brand. We do not install a range of alternatives. iStore is a Western Australian company based in Malaga. It offers the strongest local support and parts availability of any renewable hot water product in the Perth market. When the manufacturer, the warranty and the support team are all local, a service call or a warranty claim is handled quickly. Overseas-only brands bring delays.
Focusing on one proven system also means the Positive Energy Solutions installation teams fit it expertly every time. They do not spread knowledge thinly across many products. The result is a cleaner installation, accurate sizing and a system the local experts know inside out.
iStore 180L or 270L: Which Size Suits Your Home
Positive Energy Solutions installs the iStore heat pump in two tank sizes. Both use the same efficient R290 heat pump technology. Both carry the same warranty. The right size comes down to how many people live in the home. It also depends on how much hot water the household uses at once.
| Model | Best suited to | Key details |
|---|---|---|
| iStore 180L | Households of around 2 to 4 people | Compact tank, R290 natural refrigerant, coefficient of performance of 4.37 |
| iStore 270L | Households of around 3 to 6 people | Larger tank for higher demand, R290 natural refrigerant, coefficient of performance of 4.82 |
The coefficient of performance, or COP, is a measure of efficiency. A COP of 4.82 means the system delivers close to five units of heat for every unit of electricity it draws. This is measured at 20 degrees ambient temperature. Positive Energy Solutions sizes the system during the quote. So a household is neither paying for more tank than it needs nor running short on a busy morning.
How an iStore Heat Pump Works
An iStore heat pump uses a fan to draw heat out of the surrounding air. Then it compresses a refrigerant to raise its temperature further. Finally it passes that heat into the water tank through a heat exchanger. A heat pump moves heat rather than generating it with an element. So it heats a full tank for a fraction of the energy a conventional system would use.
A built-in timer lets the household choose when the system runs. Set to operate in the middle of the day, it heats water using solar generation at its peak. It stores that energy as hot water ready for the evening. This is a simple, reliable way to shift a major household load onto your own solar power.
Built for the Perth Climate
Perth is mild and sunny. These conditions are close to ideal for a heat pump. The warmer the surrounding air, the more efficiently a heat pump runs. Perth is warm seasons help the system perform near its rated efficiency for much of the year. The R290 refrigerant also handles a wide temperature range. So performance holds up on cold winter mornings as well as through summer.
Pairs Perfectly With Solar and Battery
A heat pump is one of the best partners for a rooftop solar system. It draws only a small amount of power. When it is timed to run during the middle of the day it uses the surplus solar a home is generating. Rather than drawing from the grid, it uses that energy. Rather than exporting that surplus for a low feed-in rate, the household turns it into hot water from its own solar.
For a home with solar, or solar and a battery, this is one of the simplest ways to lift self-consumption. You get more value from the system. Hot water shifts from being a standing cost to something that approaches nothing. It uses energy that would otherwise leave the property for a few cents.
The Rebate and How It Works
iStore heat pump hot water systems are eligible for small-scale technology certificates under the federal renewable energy scheme. These certificates are typically assigned to the installer and passed on to the customer as an upfront discount. The incentive reduces the purchase price at the point of sale. It does not arrive later as a rebate. The exact value changes with the certificate market and the system installed. Positive Energy Solutions confirms the current discount as part of every quote.
Why Choose Positive Energy Solutions
Positive Energy Solutions is a Perth-based solar, battery and hot water company. We have installation teams based across the Perth metropolitan area. Every installation is completed by our accredited installers and signed off to Positive Energy’s completion standards. It is backed by a 10-year installation workmanship warranty on the installation. This sits on top of the iStore product warranty of 5 years on the tank and refrigeration system.
Positive Energy Solutions is a New Energy Tech Approved Seller and a Small Business member of the State Electricity Commission program. We bring the same system-design rigour to hot water that we apply to solar and battery projects. For a household adding a heat pump alongside solar or a battery, that means one accountable local team across the whole system.
Request Your Quote on an iStore Heat Pump
The best way to know which iStore system suits a home is a tailored quote. You also learn what it will cost after the rebate. The Positive Energy Solutions team will confirm the right tank size. We confirm the available discount. We explain how the system fits with any existing or planned solar and battery setup.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much can a heat pump save on hot water?
An iStore heat pump uses up to 65 percent less energy than a conventional electric hot water system. For a home with solar, timing the system to run in the middle of the day can reduce hot water running costs to close to nothing. It heats the tank using surplus solar energy.
Is the iStore heat pump eligible for a rebate?
Yes. iStore heat pump hot water systems are eligible for small-scale technology certificates under the federal renewable energy scheme. These are usually passed on as an upfront discount at the point of sale. Positive Energy Solutions confirms the current value as part of the quote.
Should I choose the 180 litre or the 270 litre?
As a general guide, the 180 litre model suits households of around two to four people. The 270 litre model suits around three to six people. Actual hot water use varies from home to home. Positive Energy Solutions sizes the system during the quote to match the household.
Can a heat pump run on my solar power?
Yes. A heat pump draws only a small amount of power and includes a timer. It can be set to run in the middle of the day when a rooftop solar system is generating its surplus. This lets the household heat water using your own solar energy. Rather than exporting it at a low feed-in rate, you use it for hot water.
Does a heat pump work through winter in Perth?
Yes. iStore heat pumps use R290 refrigerant. This performs across a wide temperature range. So the system continues to heat water efficiently on cold Perth mornings. A heat pump runs more efficiently in warmer air. So Perth is mild climate suits it well for most of the year.
Do you install across the Perth metro area?
Yes. Positive Energy Solutions has installation teams based across the Perth metropolitan area. Contact the team to confirm availability for a specific suburb.
