Both are Italian-engineered Maxa hydronic heat pumps, both VIPAC-certified for Australia — but they suit different builds. Here's how the i-290 and i-32V5 compare on refrigerant, COP, output and climate, and how AHHAC chooses between them.
Maxa i-290 vs i-32V5 comes down to climate, refrigerant and sizing. Choose the i-290 if you want one R290 unit that also makes hot water up to 78 °C, you're building in a cold climate (it's rated to −25 °C ambient), or you want the lowest-GWP refrigerant. Choose the i-32V5 if budget and precise sizing matter most — its 11 chassis span 6.1–17.9 kW. AHHAC installs both and sizes from a heat-loss calculation.
Reviewed by the AHHAC Technical Team — licensed plumbers & hydronic engineers, NSW Lic 262528C.How we write & review
ImmergasSimeThermaSkirt™| Maxa i-290 (R290) | Maxa i-32V5 (R32) | |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerant | R290 (GWP 3) | R32 (GWP 675) |
| Functions | Heat · Cool · DHW · Chilled water | Heat · Cool |
| Heating COP | Up to 4.94 | Up to 4.9 |
| Output range | 6 – 27 kW (3 chassis) | 6.1 – 17.9 kW (11 chassis) |
| Hot water max | 78 °C | — |
| Cold-climate rating | −25 °C ambient | −15 °C ambient |
| Sizing granularity | 3 sizes | 11 sizes (tightest fit) |
| AU certification | VIPAC + QLD Type B Gas | VIPAC |
| Best for | All-in-one, low-GWP, cold climate | Budget, precise sizing, heat + cool |
Indicative best-case manufacturer ratings; AHHAC sizes and quotes to your heat-loss calculation.
…you want one unit to do everything (heating, cooling, hot water and chilled water), you're building in a cold climate (Canberra, Blue Mountains, cold Melbourne), or you want the lowest-GWP, most future-proof refrigerant. It's the flagship — highest COP, hot water to 78 °C, rated to −25 °C.
→ Maxa i-290 heat pump…budget is the priority, you need heating and cooling (not on-board hot water), or you want the tightest possible sizing — its 11 chassis sizes from 6.1 to 17.9 kW fit closely to a heat-loss figure, avoiding an oversized unit. Ideal for milder Sydney and Brisbane loads.
→ Maxa i-32V5 heat pumpBecause we carry both, the choice comes down to your build — not our stock. We start with a heat pump hydronic heating heat-loss calculation, then weigh climate (cold sites → i-290), whether you need on-board hot water and chilled water (yes → i-290), budget (tight → i-32V5) and sizing precision (i-32V5's 11 sizes). For a wider view across brands, see our Maxa vs Viessmann vs Immergas comparison, or read the full heat pump hydronic heating guide.
The spec table tells you what each unit can do. In practice, the choice usually becomes obvious once we know a few things about the home. Here's how it typically plays out.
Some things don't change between them. Both are Italian-made, both are VIPAC-certified for Australian conditions, both carry the same 7-year domestic warranty — and both depend on good design. A tightly sized i-32V5 on well-designed underfloor can be every bit as pleasant to live with as an i-290.
If you're still weighing it up, our heat pump hydronic heating Canberra page covers cold-climate design, the Melbourne new-build case study shows a Maxa on in-slab underfloor, and hydronic underfloor heating explains the emitter side of the decision.
Written from on-site experience by the AHHAC Technical Team.
AHHAC's in-house design and service team — licensed plumbers and hydronic engineers (Lic 262528C) who have designed and installed 2,400+ hydronic heating, cooling and hot water systems across Australia since 1998.
We only specify equipment after a heat-loss and system-compatibility check, then supply, install and commission it with our own licensed plumbers to AS/NZS 3500 (plumbing) and AS/NZS 5601 (gas), register the manufacturer warranty and service it for the life of the system.