Stiebel Eltron has a long track record. The company was founded in 1924 and they have been active in the heat pump hot water market and heat pump technology for a long time. Once upon a time, it was considered one of the leading heat pumps on the market.
But the competition has improved dramatically and Stiebel Eltron appears to have stagnated. More affordable units have improved considerably and more expensive units prove to be more reliable.
I review Stiebel Eltron heat pumps below and run them through my framework for analysing heat pump hot water units (Cost, Reliability, Refrigerant, Maintenance). In my opinion, there are more affordable options that also appear to be more reliable.
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A quick note on Powrhouse to explain why we are well placed to review heat pump hot water units. We have mapped just about every unit on the market, comparing them across a variety of the factors like capacity, power, tank recovery, place of manufacture, reviews, refrigerant, warranty and cost. Please see our “Compare Heat Pump Hot Water Units” spreadsheet to see our research. We are independent and this review is our opinion informed by our research.
1. Cost
Stiebel Eltron units are priced in the mid-to-upper end of the heat pump hot water market. We don’t distribute or install Stiebels, so I don’t know the exact pricing, but my research suggests they are around $3,500 to $4,000 installed (assuming the customer is eligible for the Solar Victoria hot water rebate). This is around $1,500 to $2,000 dearer than the more affordable units I like (Aquatech and Haier Monoblock), but significantly cheaper than Reclaims which will likely cost upwards of $5,000.
2. Reliability
Stiebel Eltron offers their SHP Plus and SHP Premium heat pump hot water units. These units have been on the market since mid 2025. Previously, Stiebel Eltron promoted and sold their WWK range of heat pumps.
The SHP range comes in 200L and 300L sizes.
Given the SHP range is relatively new, it’s hard to tell whether it’s reliable. There isn’t much data available.
The reviews of the previous range, however, are concerning. It’s one thing to take my word, or a plumber’s word on the best heat pump hot water unit, but I encourage people to look at reviews as a source of ‘wisdom of the crowds.’ The reviews for the WWK range are not good. They score 3.1 from 96 reviews on Product Review and it looks even worse if you sort by “Newest Reviews” – most of the new reviews are negative.
Perhaps this is why they launched a new range?
The SHP range comes with a 7-year warranty on the cylinder and condenser, 5 years on the refrigeration system, evaporator, valves, associated pipe work and electrical componentry and 1 year on the TPR valve.
3. Refrigerant
The new SHP range uses R290 (Propane) as the refrigerant. This is in line with the rest of the units on the mid-market.
4. Maintenance
The maintenance requirements for Stiebel Eltron units are standard.
Other Factors
Other factors when considering the Stiebel Eltron heat pumps:
- Noise – operates at 47dB, which is standard
- Place of Manufacture – the units are manufactured in Slovakia.
Stiebel Eltron Heat Pump Review Summary
I can’t make a case for Stiebel Eltron units – I think there are more reliable options that are also cheaper. There are clear reliability concerns with Stiebels.
I think customers are better placed opting for more affordable options like Aquatech or Haier Monoblock. Both of these options are cheaper, appear to be more reliable and have a better warranty. The other alternative is paying for a top of line Reclaim knowing you’re getting the best unit on the market.
If you are interested in a quote for a heat pump hot water unit and/or you would like to discuss your options, we’d love to hear from you.
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