Having installed hundreds of solar hot water systems and many thousands of heat pumps in Victoria and Melbourne, we can confidently say that solar hot water is no longer a viable option for most households and businesses.
Solar hot water systems were once a popular choice for those seeking to reduce their carbon footprint and energy bills, but advancements in technology and changes in the energy market have made them outdated and impractical.
Solar hot water systems are less efficient and reliable than other options. So what is the best option?
For almost every home, a hot water heat pump. It's all-electric, highly efficient, puts nothing on the roof to fail, and pairs perfectly with rooftop solar. We're pulling out old gas-boosted solar hot water systems and fitting heat pumps right across Melbourne every week.
When a solar hot water collector or its controls fail, the system quietly leans on its gas booster to keep the water hot — so you keep paying for gas while the solar side does nothing. Rather than pour money into repairing ageing collectors and roof plumbing, most customers in this position switch straight to a heat pump: nothing on the roof to fail, hot water off gas, and a far simpler system to live with.
Often, yes. Plenty of homes replace a working solar hot water system simply because they're going all-electric and done with gas. If you have a decent solar power system, the case is stronger again: a hot water heat pump can be scheduled to run in the middle of the day on your surplus solar — power you'd otherwise export for very little — turning spare daytime generation into a full tank of hot water for the evening.
Usually more than people expect — a switch can attract up to three separate rebates. An eligible heat pump earns federal STCs every time, taken straight off your price at the point of sale. Where the old solar hot water component is no longer working, the job can also qualify for a Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) rebate. And eligible households can add the Solar Victoria hot water rebate on top. We work out exactly what you qualify for and handle the paperwork.