
Hot water heat pumps deliver 4× the efficiency of electric resistance — the smartest move you can make on a hot water replacement today.
A hot water heat pump runs a small refrigerant cycle that extracts heat from outside air and dumps it into your hot water tank. Modern units (Rheem AmbiHeat, Sanden, Reclaim, Apricus, Stiebel Eltron) achieve COP 3.5–4.5.
Replacing an old electric storage system with a heat pump typically saves $800–$1,400/year and qualifies for STC rebates worth $1,000–$2,000.
Air-source for almost all residential hot water — lower install cost, COP 3.5–4.5, simple installation. Ground-source only makes sense as an add-on if you already have a geothermal heating system installed.
Modern hot water heat pumps run under 50dB at the outdoor unit — quieter than a domestic fridge. The indoor tank is silent. Outdoor unit can sit beside a wall without annoying you or neighbours.
Tank: 10 years (Rheem AmbiHeat, Sanden, Reclaim). Compressor: 5–7 years. Whole-system labour: 1–5 years depending on brand. We register all warranties on your behalf at install.