At Powrhouse, we believe iStore’s heat pump hot water unit is one of the best value units on the market. Below we run the iStore through the four key factors we believe you need to consider about heat pump hot water units, including:

  1. Cost
  2. Reliability/Warranty
  3. Refrigerant
  4. Maintenance

 

 

 

1. iStore Cost

 

A 270L iStore through Powrhouse typically costs around $2,400 fully installed (assuming customers are eligible for all rebates). This price includes a plumber to disconnect and remove the existing unit, an electrician to wire the unit to the switchboard and Powrhouse to coordinate the installation and claim rebates  on your behalf. Installation may cost higher if the unit will be in a new location, if wiring costs extra or if there is no more room on the switchboard.

This price is mid range. It’s a little more expensive than other mid-range units like Aquatech and Haier and considerably lower than the premium units (eg: Sanden, Reclaim). It’s more expensive than what we think are poorer quality units like Emerald, Ecogenica, Enviroheat.

 

2. Reliability and Warranty

 

When analysing reliability, we recommend you consider the following:

  • how long the current unit has been in market
  • reviews and online forums
  • warranty terms
  • the company offering the warranty

We like reviews at Powrhouse because it’s one thing to take our word, or a plumber’s word, but a multitude of reviews are very helpful. We also place greater value on reviews of units that have been operating for a long time. Reviews of units that have been operating for 5 years are more valuable than reviews of units that have been operating for 5 months. We like Product Review and the Facebook Group My Electric Efficient Home.

The iStore currently rates as 4.8 on Product Review. That’s an impressive result. You can’t please everyone and things will go wrong. The Reclaim Unit is widely considered as the Rolls Royce of heat pump hot water units and receives 4.8 (although it’s much more expensive and will be held to a higher standard).

The iStore has a strong 5-year comprehensive warranty. Many other units on the market have a 5-year warranty on the tank and compressor, but only 1 or 2 years labour. This means that if something goes wrong in year 3, you’ll need to pay a plumber to come out to diagnose and fix the unit.

iStore likes to promote that it’s units have more power than similar mid-range units. They suggest that if units have a fixed running life (of say 11,000 operating hours), a bigger compressor will not have to work as hard and will therefore last longer. For me, this thinking is flawed. It’s like saying a Porsche will outlast a Toyota because it has more power. There are other variables that affect the durability of a unit.

One of the weaker points about iStore is previous units used R-134a as the refrigerant in units (see more below). iStore changed to propane in mid 2024 and as such, their propane units have only been on the market for a short period of time. It’s hard to know whether they will continue to perform the same as older units, or whether the new refrigerant will affect reliability. Time will tell.

 

3. Refrigerant

 

The iStore uses Propane (R290) as a refrigerant. Propane has a Global Warming Potential (GWPs) of 3 and is only bettered by Carbon Dioxide as a refrigerant with a Global Warming Potential of 1. iStore units previously used R-134a which has a GWP of 1,430 and is being phased out in Australia.

 

4. Maintenance

 

iStore’s maintenance requirements are in line with better quality units. Here is a summary of what you’ll be required to do:

  • 6 months (owner) – operate the PTR valve, check the watertightness of the water connections and piping, check condensate drain for blockages
  • 5 years (plumber) – service the unit, check anode and replace if necessary, replace the PTR valve, check and clean tempering valve and filters

 

iStore Review Summary

 

Powrhouse is independent. Powrhouse recommends the iStore purely as a result of our thorough research of the heat pump hot water market. The conclusion of this research is we think the iStore is one of the best value units on the market. We are not affiliated with iStore and indeed our recommendations will likely 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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