The flagship Maxa hydronic heat pump — heating, cooling, domestic hot water and chilled potable water from a single Italian-engineered monoblock. Industry-leading heating COP 4.94 with natural R290 refrigerant.
The Maxa i-290 heat pump is an Italian-made R290 monoblock that provides heating, cooling, domestic hot water and chilled water from one outdoor unit, with a heating COP of 4.94 and three chassis sizes from 6 kW to 27 kW. It suits all-electric new builds, cold-climate sites and upgrades of older heat pumps. AHHAC sizes every i-290 from a room-by-room heat-loss calculation and installs it with Maxa's 7-year domestic warranty.
Reviewed by the AHHAC Technical Team — licensed plumbers & hydronic engineers, NSW Lic 262528C.How we write & review
The Maxa i-290 is a market-leading R290 monoblock hydronic heat pump that delivers heating, cooling, domestic hot water and chilled potable water from a single outdoor unit. Designed and manufactured in Italy by Maxa, it brings European hydronic excellence to Australian conditions.
With nominal heating COP of 4.94 (16 kW model) and cooling COP of 3.35 (12 kW model), the i-290 sets the benchmark for energy efficiency. R290 (propane) refrigerant has an ultra-low global warming potential (GWP=3) and zero ozone depletion potential — the most environmentally friendly refrigerant available in commercial heat pumps today.
The Maxa R290 hydronic heat pump range is the only R290 monoblock heat pump on Queensland's Type B Gas Device Register. It has been independently tested and certified for Australian conditions by Vipac Engineers & Scientists, ensuring it performs reliably in our climate extremes.
Available in three chassis sizes covering nominal heating capacity from 6 kW to 27 kW — sized for everything from a compact townhouse to a large commercial property. Suitable for new builds and as a high-efficiency replacement for older heat pumps in retrofits.
Most heat pumps do one or two jobs well. The i-290 does four: it delivers up to 78°C hot water for radiators and showers, chilled water as low as 5°C for cooling, and works seamlessly across heating and cooling seasons. One unit, one network, one set of running costs.
Product photography, lifestyle shots and installation scenarios — exactly how this unit looks and lives in real homes and businesses.
R290 is a sustainable, natural refrigerant. It has an ultra-low global warming potential (GWP=3) and an ozone depletion potential of zero (ODP=0).
A hydronic heat pump is an energy-efficient heating and cooling system that extracts heat from the air and transfers it to water, which is then circulated through a building to provide space heating, cooling, domestic hot water and chilled water.
The Maxa i-290 Inverter Monoblock heat pump delivers industry-leading energy efficiency and performance. This product delivers heating with COP 4.94 (16 kW model) and cooling with COP 3.35 (12 kW model).
Yes. The Maxa R290 heat pumps are monoblock heat pumps that deliver market-leading performance for heating, cooling, domestic hot water and chilled, potable water.
The Maxa R290 hydronic heat pump range is designed to deliver up to 78°C hot water, and as low as 5°C for chilled water.
Yes. The Maxa R290 hydronic heat pump range is the only R290 monoblock heat pump on Queensland's Type B Gas Device Register. It has also been independently tested and certified in Australia for all Australian conditions by Vipac Engineers & Scientists.
Yes. The Maxa i-290 Inverter Monoblock Heat Pump range is designed and manufactured in Italy.
The Maxa i-290 Inverter Monoblock Heat Pump range is covered by a comprehensive 7-year warranty for domestic applications and a comprehensive 5-year warranty for commercial applications. Terms and conditions apply.
Yes. The Maxa R290 hydronic heat pumps integrate into new builds and retrofit into older buildings. It is an ideal replacement for older heat pumps.
Speak to us. We are experts in designing the right solution for your needs. The Maxa i-290 is available in 3 chassis sizes that deliver a nominal heating capacity from 6 kW to 27 kW. Whatever your requirements, we have a range to suit.
Send us your floor plans and project details — we'll come back within 24 hours with a fixed-fee design and quote.
The i-290 is our default for many all-electric homes, but a strong spec sheet doesn't guarantee a good result. Before one goes on a quote, our engineers work through the same checks on every site.
Cold climates are where the i-290 earns its place — it is rated to −25 °C ambient. See how it performed on our Canberra cold-climate heat-pump retrofit and on a Melbourne new-build with Maxa and in-slab underfloor, or read the local design notes on our heat pump hydronic heating Melbourne page.
Commissioning matters as much as the hardware. We fill, purge and pressure-test the system, set the heating curve, register the warranty and walk you through the controls before we leave, then book annual servicing so it keeps running as designed.
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.