The Reclaim Eco R290 is probably the best mid-market, Australian-made heat pump hot water unit.
In October 2025, Reclaim launched the Reclaim Eco R290: an all-in-one heat pump hot water unit that costs around $2,000 less than its traditional split heat pumps.
In our Reclaim Eco R290 review, we look at who makes the unit, run it through our framework of four key factors (Cost, Reliability, Refrigerant and Maintenance) and compare it with Reclaim’s split systems as well as other mid-market heat pumps.
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A quick note on Powrhouse to explain why we are well qualified to review heat pump hot water units. We have mapped just about every unit on the market, comparing them across factors like capacity, power, tank recovery, place of manufacture, reviews, refrigerant, warranty and cost (see our “Compare Heat Pump Hot Water Units” page). We install both the Eco R290 and Reclaim’s split systems, but we are independent and this review is our opinion informed by our research.
Who Makes the Reclaim Eco R290?
This is where it pays to know the detail. Reclaim describes the Eco R290 as “designed and manufactured in Australia”, but doesn’t say who makes it. The answer is in the Owner’s Manual: the technical drawings are Dux Manufacturing’s.
The specifications are identical to Dux’s own Ecosmart DHC-series plug-in heat pumps – the same tank capacities, power input, backup element, refrigerant charge and dimensions. In other words, the Eco R290 is a Dux Ecosmart with a Reclaim badge (and, as we’ll see below, a much better warranty).
I don’t see this as a criticism. Most heat pump hot water units are made by third-party manufacturers, and Dux has been an Australian hot water brand since 1915. It makes its water heaters in the Southern Highlands of NSW and is owned by Japanese hot water manufacturer Noritz. But don’t assume the Eco R290 shares the DNA of the split systems that earned Reclaim its reputation.
1. Reclaim Eco R290 Cost
A standard installation of the Reclaim Eco R290 through Powrhouse costs around $3,150 for the 300L and around $2,850 for the 200L (assuming customers are eligible for all rebates, including the Solar Victoria hot water rebate).
The heat pump hot water market has three tiers (fully installed, standard installation):
- Cheap and nasty units generally sell for less than $1,000.
- Good quality mid-market units are available for $1,500 to $3,500.
- Premium units like Reclaim’s split systems and Sanden are installed for upwards of $5,000.
That puts the Eco R290 at the pricier end of the mid-market. The 300L is around $400–$500 more than a Haier Monoblock 330L, an iStore or an Apricus, and around $1,350 more than an Aquatech Dynamic X8.
Because it’s Australian-made, the Eco R290 qualifies for the higher $1,400 Solar Victoria rebate (instead of $1,000). But even with the extra $400, the Eco R290 still costs more than the mid-market units we like most.
It’s also a plug-in unit, so if there’s a suitable power point nearby, we can save the cost of an electrician.
2. Reliability and Warranty
Reliability is probably the most important factor in analysing heat pump hot water units. I like to look at a number of factors:
- how long the current unit has been in market
- reviews and online forums
- warranty terms
- the company offering the warranty
The Eco R290 has only been on the market for around a year, and at the time of writing (November 2026) I couldn’t find any reviews of it on ProductReview.
Don’t be swayed by the Reclaim name here. Reclaim scores an impressive 4.9 from 108 reviews on ProductReview, but those reviews are for its split systems, which are a completely different unit.
The closest thing we have is Dux’s own version. The Dux Ecosmart heat pump scores 2.1 from 6 reviews, with complaints including running out of hot water, noise at night and app issues. To be fair to Dux, that listing covers the previous generation (the DHA series), not the current DHC series the Eco R290 is based on, and six reviews is a tiny sample. But it’s not a track record that lets us call the Eco R290 a proven unit just yet.
I also like to analyse the warranty as a guide to how much confidence the company has in its own product. This is where the Eco R290 shines:
- Tank – 8 years parts and labour
- Refrigeration components (compressor, condenser, evaporator etc.) – 8 years parts and labour
- Other components (sensors, thermostats, valves, heating element and anodes) – 1 year parts and labour
That’s one of the best warranties we’ve seen in the mid-market, and it’s improved since launch, up from 6 years in October 2025.
3. Refrigerant
As the name suggests, the Eco R290 uses Propane (R290) as the refrigerant, rather than the carbon dioxide (R744) used in Reclaim’s split systems. Propane has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 3 and is only bettered by Carbon Dioxide, with a GWP of 1 – no complaints here.
4. Maintenance
The maintenance requirements for the Eco R290 are standard:
- Every 6 months – operate the Pressure and Temperature Relief (PTR) valve (our instructions here) and check the grills and louvres are free of debris. Owners can do this themselves.
- Every 5 years – a licensed tradesperson should replace the PTR valve and both anodes, flush the tank and clean the evaporator (every 3 years in hard water areas).
The Eco R290 uses two sacrificial anodes to protect the tank. I’m not against sacrificial anodes as a flat rule, but I prefer alternatives as I think owners are likely to forget to monitor them. Replacing them is also fiddly – the fan, grills and top enclosure all need to come off – so it’s a job for a plumber.
The big positive: the Owner’s Manual states that the warranty is not conditional on completing the recommended servicing. That’s not something we see in every manual.
Reclaim Eco R290 vs Reclaim Split Systems
For anyone deciding between the two Reclaim options, here are the key differences:
- Design – the Eco R290 is an all-in-one unit, with the heat pump sitting on top of the tank. As I explained in our Reclaim review, the big benefit of a split system is that if the compressor fails, you only replace the compressor, not the whole unit.
- Noise – Reclaim’s split systems are rated at 37 dB and really are whisper quiet. There’s no published noise rating for the Eco R290, and as an all-in-one I wouldn’t expect it to match them. If noise is a priority, the split system is the clear choice.
- Warranty – 8 years on the tank and refrigeration components vs 10 years on the heat pump and up to 15 years on the tank.
- Manufacture – made by Dux in Australia vs an Australian-made tank with a Japanese compressor.
- Cost – around $3,150 for the 300L Eco R290 vs upwards of $5,000 for a split system.
Other Factors
Other factors when considering the Reclaim Eco R290:
- Australian Made – I think the Reclaim Eco R290 is the best Australian-made unit on the market. If supporting Australian manufacturing is a key driver for you, it’s a very strong choice. The Eco R290 sits alongside options like the Rinnai Enviroflo and Rheem Ambiheat. Australian-made doesn’t mean every part is made here though – Solar Victoria requires at least 50% locally made or assembled parts, and Dux says the unit uses a compressor from GMCC, part of China’s Midea Group.
- Sizes – the Eco R290 comes in 200L and 300L, but again it pays to know the detail: the “300L” actually holds 287 litres (Dux sells the same unit as a 285L). The 300L is the more popular choice with our customers. Large households might prefer the Haier Monoblock 330L
- Height – the 300L stands just over 2 metres tall, so it needs to clear eaves and windows. We check this from the photos you send us when we prepare your quote.
- Smart controls – Wi-Fi and app control come as standard, with Eco, Boost and Holiday modes and heating schedules. A handy “Rescue” function runs the backup element on its own if the heat pump fails, so you’re not stuck with cold showers while you wait for a repair.
Reclaim Eco R290 Review Summary
The Reclaim Eco R290 is a solid, Australian-made all-in-one heat pump with the best warranty in the mid-market.
But it isn’t a cheaper version of the split systems that earned Reclaim its reputation. It’s a Dux with a Reclaim badge and a better warranty. It has a short track record, and even with the extra $400 Solar Victoria rebate, it costs more than the mid-market units we like most.
So who is it for? If Australian-made is important to you, the Eco R290 is a great choice and one we’re happy to install. If you’re after the best value, we think the Aquatech Dynamic X8 gives you more for your money. And if you want the whisper-quiet, built-to-last Reclaim experience, it’s worth stretching to a Reclaim split system.
Powrhouse is independent. We recommend units purely as a result of our research of the heat pump hot water market, and our recommendations will change over time as the market evolves.
If you are interested in a quote for a heat pump hot water unit, we’d love to hear from you.
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