Everyday hot water
Choose a heat pump system matched to your household’s routines and hot water demand.
A practical guide for your home
Two upgrades.
A smarter start
to going electric.
Hot water. Heating. Cooling. Start with the systems you use every day, and build an upgrade plan that makes sense for your home.
Your home. Your next step.
01 Heat pump hot water02 Reverse-cycle comfort
Why these two?
Start with the systems
you rely on most.
Heating, cooling and hot water are major energy uses in Australian homes. If you’re planning to replace an ageing gas appliance, they’re a useful place to begin.
You can make the switch in stages. The best first step depends on what you have now, how you use your home and your budget.
Further reading: Australian Government’s electrification guide
Year-round comfort
Use reverse-cycle air conditioning to heat in winter and cool in summer.
A plan at your pace
Prioritise the next appliance, then build towards the rest of your all-electric home.
The idea behind both
Move heat. Use it where you need it.
Both technologies use a heat pump to transfer heat. One warms your water; the other manages the temperature of your rooms.
Your everyday essential
Hot water,
with a heat pump.
A heat pump captures heat from the surrounding air and transfers it into water stored in a tank. It uses less electricity than a conventional electric resistance water heater.
Explore heat pump hot water
Two configurations.
The right fit for your space.
Integrated
The heat pump and tank are combined in one unit.
Split
The heat pump and storage tank are separate components.
What matters when choosing
- Your hot water habits. Occupancy, shower routines and peak demand help determine capacity and recovery needs.
- The installation location. Allow for access, airflow and noise around bedrooms and neighbouring homes.
- Your local climate. Choose a model suited to Victorian conditions and follow its installation requirements.
- When it runs. Suitable controls can help align heating with your routine and, if you have it, daytime solar generation.
Learn more: Hot water technology · Planning a heat pump
Comfort through the seasons
One system.
Heating & cooling.
A reverse-cycle air conditioner is a heat pump too. In winter it moves heat from outside into your home. In summer it moves heat from indoors to outside.
Explore heating & cooling
Choose for the rooms
you actually use.
01
Single split system
A practical option for an individual room or an open living area.
02
Multiple splits or multi-split
Consider separate spaces and how independently you want to control them.
03
Refrigerated ducted
A whole-home option where the layout, installation access and zoning suit.
Good sizing starts with your home.
Room size, insulation, windows and climate affect demand. An installer should assess these before recommending capacity. Sealing draughts and improving insulation can help reduce the load.
Further reading: YourHome’s heating and cooling guide
The visual guide
See the bigger picture.
Explore Trent’s presentation for a visual walkthrough of system types, sizing and what to expect from installation.
11-slide presentation
Use Back and Next to move through the presentation. The key ideas are also explained in the guide above and below.
Presentation snapshot supplied by All Electric Homes. Any savings, rebate or installation examples in the slides depend on the home, eligibility and project scope. Confirm current details in your quote.
A plan for your home
You don’t have to
do everything at once.
A clear plan helps you choose the next upgrade before an appliance fails. Start with what matters to your household and make each step work towards the bigger picture.
- 01
Take stock
List your gas appliances, their condition and the rooms or routines you want to improve.
- 02
Find the right fit
Have your home assessed for system sizing, location, electrical capacity and installation access.
- 03
Agree the scope
Get a written quote covering equipment, included work, extra costs and any eligible incentives.
- 04
Install & understand
Confirm timing, then learn the controls, care requirements and warranty details at handover.
Keep the final gas connection in the plan.
Replacing a gas appliance does not automatically close your gas account. Once your last gas appliance is gone, speak with your retailer about disconnection options, charges and stopping ongoing supply fees.
Planning resources: Installation and quotes · Staged upgrades and gas disconnection
Good questions to ask
Before you
make the switch.
Every home is different.
Here are a few useful starting points.
Do I need solar before upgrading?
No. Heat pumps and reverse-cycle systems can run on grid electricity. Rooftop solar can complement them. Where suitable controls are available, daytime hot water scheduling may help you use more of your own solar generation.
Which upgrade should I do first?
Consider appliance condition, how much you use it, comfort priorities and your budget. If a heater or hot water system is nearing replacement, plan its electric alternative early. There is no single sequence that suits every home.
How do I know what size I need?
For hot water, capacity and recovery should suit occupancy and peak demand. For heating and cooling, room layout and insulation matter as well as floor area. Ask for a recommendation based on an assessment of your home.
Can I reuse my existing heating ducts?
That needs a site assessment. The condition, layout and suitability of the existing ductwork must be checked for the proposed system. Ask the installer to explain any required duct changes in the quote.
What will happen on installation day?
The scope may include removing old equipment, plumbing and electrical connections, installing the new system and commissioning it. Confirm timing, access and any interruption to hot water or power before the work starts.
Are rebates or discounts available?
Eligibility depends on the program, household, property, product and installer. Check current requirements before relying on an incentive, and ask for the amount and conditions to be shown clearly in your quote.
From the presentation
A little more
detail.
Explore the systems and terms mentioned in the slides.
The whole-home ecosystem
Home electrification can bring together rooftop solar PV, battery storage, an electric vehicle (EV) and EV charging, induction cooking, heat pump hot water and reverse-cycle heating and cooling. Insulation and draught proofing help reduce heating and cooling demand.
For homes in Melbourne and across Victoria, replacing gas ducted heating, a gas wall furnace, a space heater or gas hot water can be part of a staged plan. Changes in household gas use and running costs depend on the appliances replaced, usage and energy tariffs.
Single-head, multi-head and ducted split systems
HVAC means heating, ventilation and air conditioning. The presentation focuses on reverse-cycle heating and cooling. A single-head split system connects one indoor unit to one outdoor unit; a multi-head or multi-split system connects multiple indoor units to one outdoor unit.
Ducted reverse-cycle air conditioning, also called a ducted split system or refrigerated ducted system, distributes conditioned air through ducts. Zoning and the home’s layout affect suitability. The presentation also shows ceiling cassette and floor-mounted systems, including Mitsubishi Electric examples. One wall-mounted split primarily serves its room or connected open-plan area; separate rooms may need another configuration.
AquaPlus, Reclaim Energy and refrigerants
The presentation compares an AquaPlus all-in-one heat pump with a Reclaim Energy split heat pump. An all-in-one system integrates the heat pump and storage tank; a split system has separate components. A split system may allow an indoor tank where its manufacturer’s requirements and the site permit.
R290 and carbon dioxide, also called CO₂ or R744, are refrigerants used to transfer heat in the examples shown. Confirm the refrigerant, equipment specifications, tank location and operating limits for the selected model.
Capacity, recovery and cold-weather performance
Air conditioner heating and cooling capacity in kilowatts (kW) differs from electricity consumption. Room size, ceiling height, insulation, windows, sun, shading and room use inform a room-by-room assessment. Oversizing is not a substitute for choosing the right capacity. Outdoor-unit placement also needs suitable airflow, noise separation, service access and pipe-run length.
For hot water, compare tank capacity in litres and recovery speed against shower timing, baths, long showers, peak demand and future occupancy. Stored hot water is finite, so the system and heating schedule need to suit demand.
Heat pumps can extract heat from cold outdoor air, but performance and recovery time vary with temperature and model. Ask for the manufacturer’s rated operating range and a system suited to local winter conditions.
Installation, commissioning and handover
A back-to-back split system installation places indoor and outdoor units on opposite sides of the same wall. Multi-head and ducted installations may involve longer refrigeration pipework, roof or floor access, or removal of old gas ducting and heaters. Ask about the electrician and refrigeration mechanic, and a licensed plumber if gas removal is involved.
Heat pump hot water installation involves a licensed plumber and electrician, service isolation, old-system removal, plumbing and electrical connections, testing, commissioning and handover. The installer assesses circuit requirements, including any dedicated circuit or switchboard work needed. Confirm timing, dust, noise, service interruptions, warranties and service support in the quote.
STCs, VEU and Solar Victoria rebates
Three programs to check are federal Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) discounts and Solar Victoria’s hot water rebate. Eligible heat pump water heaters may qualify for STCs; VEU includes approved hot water and heating and cooling upgrades. Each program has different requirements.
Check household, property, existing-appliance, product and installer eligibility. Confirm any approval needed before installation, who handles certificate paperwork and which incentives are included in the quote. Do not assume every offer can be combined.
Federal STCs · Victorian Energy Upgrades · Solar Victoria hot water rebate
Your next step
Let’s find the right
starting point for your home.
Tell us about your current systems, your priorities and what you’d like to improve.
