The best heat pump brands in Australia.
Will it still heat on a frosty morning?
Look at the government-modelled energy savings first, then the warranty on the tank and the heat pump, how cold it keeps working without the element, and how loud it runs.
33 ranges from 17 brands, scored from manufacturer datasheets. Data checked 7 October 2026.
Top heat pump brands
Rated on their best heat pump hot water, what owners say in reviews, track record and recalls, what Australian installers choose, and local support. Same rules for every brand.
7.5#1Sanden
Eco Plus CO2 heat pumps
Australian office3.7(152)No ACCC recalls1 seriesProducts 8.9Reviews 3.8Track record 10.0Installers & market 6.3Support 7.0
Best series: Eco Plus CO2 8.9
7.3#2Reclaim Energy
CO2 split heat pumps
Australian office4.8(189)No ACCC recalls2 seriesProducts 7.0Reviews 8.5Track record 7.0Installers & market 6.9Support 7.0
Best series: CO2 Split 9.3
7.1#3Haier
Monoblock R290 heat pumps
Australian office4.9(791)No ACCC recalls2 seriesProducts 5.5Reviews 9.3Track record 7.9Installers & market 7.3Support 7.0
Best series: Monoblock 6.9
Every heat pump brand, rated
Pick a brand for its pros and cons, every series it sells, how we rate each one and the datasheets. Got a quote? Search the model code instead.
- SandenAustralian office3.7(152)No ACCC recalls1 seriesBest seriesEco Plus CO27.5
- Reclaim EnergyAustralian office4.8(189)No ACCC recalls2 seriesBest seriesCO2 Split7.3
- HaierAustralian office4.9(791)No ACCC recalls2 seriesBest seriesMonoblock7.1
iStoreAustralian office4.7(261)No ACCC recalls1 seriesBest seriesAir to Energy R2906.8
NeopowerAustralian office5.0(44)No ACCC recalls2 seriesBest seriesBlack Shield6.3
AquatechAustralian office4.8(1,701)No ACCC recalls2 seriesBest seriesDynamic X86.3
Emerald EnergyAustralian office4.3(334)No ACCC recalls3 seriesBest seriesSplit6.2
EnvirosunAustralian office4.5(163)No ACCC recalls3 seriesBest seriesHP Plus M96.0
ApricusAustralian office4.5(34)1 recall on these series1 seriesBest seriesAll-in-One R2905.9
RinnaiAustralian office3.5(429)No ACCC recalls3 seriesBest seriesEnviroflo GR5.9
RheemAustralian office4.4(23)No ACCC recalls3 seriesBest seriesAmbiPower5.7
Stiebel EltronAustralian office4.1(7)No ACCC recalls1 seriesBest seriesSHP-O Plus and Premium5.2
aetherAustralian office5.0(58)No ACCC recalls2 seriesBest seriesaetherX5.2
Omni XAustralian office4.9(10)No ACCC recalls2 seriesBest seriesDuplex Stainless5.0
EcogenicaAustralian office3.3(18)1 recall on other products1 seriesBest seriesR-Series4.6
PowerbayAustralian office5.0(1)No ACCC recalls1 seriesBest seriesGen II4.4
Smart Power TechCompany in liquidation. No one left to honour the warranty.Not rankedDo not buy
Brand ratings combine scores for series on the Clean Energy Regulator register of heat pumps (checked 7 October 2026), using government-modelled savings and manufacturer datasheets, with owner reviews on ProductReview.com.au and SolarQuotes, the 2025 and 2026 SolarQuotes installer votes, years trading in Australia, Australian support and ACCC recalls. Nobody can pay for a rating.
How to choose heat pump hot water.
How big a tank?
Roughly 50 to 60 litres per person. A family of four usually suits 250 to 300 L.
Bigger tanks store more midday solar heat for the evening, so err up if you're timing it to your panels.
Integrated or split?
Integrated units put the heat pump on top of the tank: one box, easier install.
Split systems separate the two, so the noisy part can sit away from bedrooms and the tank can go somewhere sheltered.
R290, CO2 or R134a?
R290 and CO2 are natural refrigerants with tiny climate impact and good cold-weather performance.
R134a is older and being phased down. It works, but usually handles cold mornings less well.
Running it on solar
Set the timer to heat between about 10 am and 3 pm. The tank stores the heat for the evening and morning.
Some units have a solar-soak mode that reads your inverter and runs only when there's surplus.
Rebates on heat pump hot water.
Small-scale technology certificates (STCs)
Every state
Heat pump water heaters earn STCs, applied as a discount by your installer. The number depends on the model and your climate zone.
State hot water programs
VIC, NSW, SA, ACT and more
Victoria's Solar Homes hot water rebate, NSW energy savings certificates, SA's REPS and ACT schemes can stack with STCs. Eligibility depends on your postcode and what you're replacing.
How we score heat pump hot water
Each datasheet value maps to 0 to 10 with the rule below. Your postcode and goals then adjust the weights.
- Energy savings (official)STCs are calculated by the government from tested performance under the Australian Standard: the more energy a heat pump saves against an electric tank, the more it earns. It's the one efficiency figure every brand is measured the same way on.STCs for a Zone 3 installation on the Clean Energy Regulator register, best model in the series: 26 scores 0, 34 scores 10.30%
- WarrantyTanks and heat pump units are covered for different terms. Both matter: a tank leak or a dead compressor is the expensive failure.Average of the cylinder and the refrigeration-system parts warranty, in years: 3 scores 0, 10 or more scores 10.25%
- Cold-weather operationBelow its limit, a heat pump hands over to the electric element and costs as much to run as an old tank.Lowest outdoor temperature the heat pump runs at without the element: 0°C scores 0, -10°C or colder scores 10.15%
- QuietnessHeat pumps often sit near bedrooms or a neighbour's window.Sound pressure at 1 metre: 55 dB(A) scores 0, 37 dB(A) scores 10. Figures quoted at 2 metres have 6 dB added.15%
- RefrigerantNatural refrigerants have almost no climate impact and are what new systems are moving to; older synthetic ones are being phased down.Natural refrigerants R744 (CO2) and R290 score 10; R513a 5; R32 4; R134a 2.15%
Gates first
A series must pass these before it's listed at all.
- Currently on the Clean Energy Regulator register of air source heat pumps, so it earns STCs
- Manufacturer datasheet or brochure on file for the series
Not in the score
- Manufacturer COP figures, because brands test them at different conditions; we show them, but score the government-modelled savings instead
- Price and installation
- Recovery rate and tank size, which depend on your household rather than the product's quality
No manufacturer or installer can pay for a score. Read the full method
Questions about heat pump hot water.
Is a heat pump worth it over gas?
Usually, yes, especially with solar. It uses roughly a third of the electricity of a standard electric tank, and you drop the gas supply charge if hot water was your last gas appliance.
How noisy are they?
Most run between 37 and 50 dB(A) at a metre, about the level of a quiet office to a fridge. Check placement near bedrooms and your neighbours' windows.
Do they work in winter?
Yes, but efficiency drops as it gets colder. In Canberra, Ballarat or Tasmania, check the minimum operating temperature without the element.
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