Energy-saving and dependable

Heat pump hot water systems

The warm climate of Southeast Queensland makes heat pump technology an excellent choice for hot water systems. North Lakes Hot Water specialises in installing and servicing heat pump systems, offering dependable, energy-efficient solutions for residential and commercial properties. Backed by years of experience and a strong focus on sustainability, we supply high-quality hot water systems you can rely on. Serving Brisbane, Moreton Bay, the Sunshine Coast and nearby areas, North Lakes Hot Water is your dependable partner for cost-effective hot water system installation and repairs, including gas and electric options.

Heat pump hot water systems

Heat pump hot water systems have improved a great deal recently, leaving behind the issues that gave them a bad name in Australia. Sadly, many homeowners remain reluctant to reconsider them, even though current units can deliver excellent performance and cut running costs by as much as 75% compared with electric or LPG gas hot water systems. As with any product, build quality is crucial: cheap, unbranded heat pumps commonly suffer reliability problems and short service life due to substandard components. North Lakes Hot Water advises choosing well-known, reputable brands to guarantee long-term efficiency and better value.

Between the mid-2000s and about 2015, many leading hot water manufacturers brought out heat pump models that turned out to be unreliable. At the same time, government rebates encouraged householders to move from conventional electric units to solar or heat pump systems, and regulations began limiting new homes to solar, gas or heat pump hot water systems. The rapid surge in demand prompted rushed product development and poor manufacturing choices, producing systems that frequently failed to perform. North Lakes Hot Water has observed how those early missteps harmed the reputation of heat pump technology, but advances in design and engineering mean today’s heat pump hot water systems are significantly more dependable and efficient.

Roof-mounted thermosyphon solar hot water systems.

Sadly, inferior heat pump units are still being pushed on unwary buyers by businesses more interested in fast turnover than durability. A number of these inexpensive, unbranded imports — including some substandard Chinese-made models — aren’t engineered for Queensland’s conditions. At North Lakes Hot Water we’ve observed the failures these products produce, so we only recommend and supply reputable, proven brands built for long-term performance in our local climate.

Making a smart choice means understanding that cheaper units often use inferior parts. In practice, the cost gap between unbranded heat pump hot water systems and those from established manufacturers is relatively small, especially once you factor in long-term benefits. The reduced electricity bills alone make upgrading from a gas or electric water heater to a heat pump a sensible move when it’s time to replace. North Lakes Hot Water guides homeowners through this change, supplying dependable systems that deliver genuine efficiency and ongoing savings.

Call us on 1300 728 122 for completely impartial, honest advice about what works best and what doesn’t.

North Lakes Hot Water describes heat pump technology in plain terms. Picture a fridge: it cools the interior and expels warmth outside. A heat pump does the reverse to produce hot water, releasing cooler air as it operates. Like feeling warm air from an air conditioner, a heat pump water heater emits cold air while moving captured heat into the tank through plates and pipes integrated into the storage vessel. Its efficiency is impressive — about 1kW of input can achieve what a conventional electric hot water system would need roughly 4kW to deliver. That equates to approximately 75% less energy use, making heat pumps among the most energy‑efficient hot water systems for North Lakes plumber customers considering installation or repairs of gas and electric options.

Heat pump hot water systems from North Lakes Hot Water extract heat from the ambient air and transfer it to warm your water. Often referred to as air-sourced solar hot water systems, they operate on electricity but deliver roughly three times the efficiency of traditional electric element heaters. In suitable conditions they cut energy consumption, lower running costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Paired with solar PV panels they’re especially effective, typically drawing about 1kW of power versus the 3.6kW a standard electric hot water system needs.

How do heat pump systems operate?

North Lakes Hot Water describes heat pumps as operating much like refrigerators and air conditioners. Rather than extracting heat to cool a space, a heat pump moves heat into your hot water. This is achieved using piping that either coils around or sits inside the storage tank. In some designs, water is drawn from the tank and passed over a heating plate before returning, providing steady temperature control. An electric pump circulates refrigerant around the system; the refrigerant captures heat from the ambient air and delivers it directly into the tank’s water.

North Lakes Hot Water explains that heat pumps use a refrigerant that vaporises at low temperatures, enabling them to extract warmth from the air and efficiently transfer it into your hot water system.

North Lakes Hot Water describes how heat pumps operate through a sequence of stages that make them very efficient at heating water. First, a liquid refrigerant flows into an evaporator where it draws heat from the surrounding air and vaporises into a gas. That gas is then squeezed by an electric compressor, raising its temperature so it becomes hotter than the water in the storage tank. The heated gas moves into a condenser, where it transfers its warmth to the water and condenses back into a liquid. The liquid then passes through an expansion valve, which reduces its pressure and cools it before returning to the evaporator to begin the cycle again. Electricity powers the compressor and fan, but unlike conventional electric hot water systems that directly heat water, a heat pump moves heat from the air into the water. This allows it to deliver far more heat energy for the same electrical input. Performance is influenced by ambient air temperature — when the air is warmer than the refrigerant, heat transfer is straightforward. In cooler conditions the efficiency falls, though many modern units are engineered to work in sub-zero temperatures. Some models can even be installed indoors, for example in ventilated garages, with correct clearances and airflow. To keep the evaporator absorbing heat effectively, a constant supply of fresh air is required. An integrated fan draws in air and expels the cooled air back outside. Heat pump water heaters come in two primary configurations. Integrated (compact) units house the compressor and storage tank together in one assembly. Split systems separate the tank and compressor — much like a split air conditioner — and link them with refrigerant lines. As your local North Lakes plumber for hot water systems, North Lakes Hot Water can advise on installation, repairs and whether a gas and electric or heat pump option best suits your home.

Affordable Rates on Leading Brands

North Lakes Hot Water carries five leading hot water system brands in our Brisbane and Sunshine Coast warehouses.

North Lakes Hot Water sources and fits only reputable heat pump brands that are proven to work reliably in Australian conditions and come with solid warranties and dependable after-sales support. Opting for cheap, no-name imports can seem economical at first, but often results in issues when components fail or become unobtainable, forcing you into the expense of an early replacement.

OMNI X – Envirosun HP Plus – Rheem Ambipower – iStore – Reclaim

North Lakes Hot Water outlines the advantages of selecting a heat pump hot water system, emphasising both environmental benefits and long-term cost savings.

North Lakes Hot Water understands that selecting the correct heat pump at the outset is crucial for long-term performance, dependability and value.

Would you like further details about these kinds of hot water systems?

Call North Lakes Hot Water today on 1300 728 122 or after hours on 0413 861 166. We’re a family-owned and operated North Lakes plumber with over 20 years’ specialist experience in hot water systems. Our team delivers professional guidance grounded in practical technical expertise, and leading hot water manufacturers across Australia rely on us to perform service and warranty work. Unlike general plumbers or electricians who can offer unreliable or incorrect advice, we concentrate exclusively on hot water, so you’ll get accurate recommendations and the right installation and repair solutions for gas and electric systems.

At North Lakes Hot Water we don’t deal with blocked drains or gutter cleaning — hot water systems are our specialty.