Frequently Asked Questions
about the Econergy® heat pump water heater (HPWH)
Q. How does the Econergy® heat pump water heater compare with a solar water heating system?
Q. How easy is the Econergy® heat pump water heater to install?
Q. How can I trust your efficiency claims?
Q. What is the expected lifespan of an Econergy heat pump water heater?
Q. How close does the heat pump water heater have to be to the hot water cylinder?
Q. Does the heat pump water heater need a boost element in winter?
Q. Will it make my house colder?
Q. I have an existing hot water cylinder would this need to be changed when installing the Econergy® heat pump water heater?
A. Generally no. As long as the hot water cylinder is post 1988 and in good condition there is no need to replace it. The minimum water pressure should be greater than 50kPa to ensure reliable operation.
Q. How does the Econergy® heat pump water heater compare with a solar water heating system?
A. While solar water heating systems do produce free energy, they can only do this when there is sufficient sunshine. Therefore, they rely heavily on backup or booster systems, which are generally very inefficient. The installed performance of New Zealand solar water heating systems is on average 38% savings per annum (BRANZ:2008). Econergy® has been tested by the University of New South Wales and found to save 69.4% on water heating bills annually in the Auckland Climate. The Econergy® heat pump water heater can work in any weather, day or night without the use of a backup system, right down to -4 deg Celsius. On a yearly basis the Econergy® heat pump water heater will generally outperform an electrically boosted solar water heating system. The Econergy® heat pump water heater efficiency in winter will be considerably higher than a high quality solar system with electric boosting, right when you need it most.
Q. How easy is the Econergy® heat pump water heater to install?
A. The Econergy® heat pump water heater is designed to be easily installed as a retrofit or into a new construction. The system can be coupled to any type of hot water cylinder and there is no need for any bulky roof panels or roof penetrations. The system can be installed either outdoors or hidden away inside your roofspace.
Q. How can I trust your efficiency claims?
Q. What is the expected lifespan of an Econergy Heat Pump Water Heater?
A. About the same as a high quality domestic refrigerator, i.e. 15+ years.
Q. How close does the heat pump water heater have to be to the hot water cylinder?
A. We recommend a distance of less than 6 metres from Econergy® heat pump water heater to the hot water cylinder to ensure best efficiency.
Q. Does the heat pump water heater need a boost element in winter?
A. Generally, no. The heat pump water heater is designed to provide 100% of water heating requirements year round in most North and South Island Climates. We connect your heating element up to the Econergy® heat pump water heater so that in the unlikely event of a exceptionally cold weather (i.e. below -4 deg Celsius) or a problem occurring, the hot water cylinder element will automatically kick in, ensuring you don't go without hot water.
Q. Will it make my house colder?
A. No. All cold air produced by the heat pump water heater is vented outside to a place which will not affect your personal comfort.
Q. Would this product be suitable to replace my old Carrier Hot Shot?
A. Yes we have replaced several Carrier Hot Shot units that have reached the end of their service life. It is normally a straightforward replacement since the piping arrangement from the hot water cylinder to the outdoor unit is the same. Contact us at Econergy for further information, or your local dealer.
Q. Why would I buy an Econergy heat pump water heater over competitors who claim similar savings?
A. Independent test results have demonstrated that Econergy® is the the most efficient domestic heat pump water heater available on the New Zealand market. Manufactured and supported locally using highest quality European components, Full technical support from the New Zealand factory and our site installers, competitive capital and installation costs, retrofit to your hot water cylinder.
