Swap your electric hot water tank for a heat pump

An old electric storage tank is usually one of the biggest power users in the house. It heats water with an element, the same way a kettle does, and it does it over and over to keep the tank hot. A heat pump does the same job by pulling warmth out of the air instead, so it uses a fraction of the electricity for the same hot water.

Swapping electric for a heat pump is the most common job we do, and it's usually the simplest because the water connections are already there.

When it makes sense to swap

• Your electric tank is getting on in years, leaking or rusting at the base
• Your power bills have crept up and hot water is a big part of it
• You've got rooftop solar and want to use more of it during the day
• You'd rather plan the change now than react when the old tank fails

Replacing an electric storage system is also the situation the federal STC discount is designed for, which takes a good chunk off the price of an eligible heat pump. Have a look at our WA rebate guide for how it works.

What the swap involves

We disconnect and remove the old tank, set a proper base for the heat pump, connect the water with new tempering and relief valves, and sort the drainage for the condensate. Most heat pumps run on a standard circuit, but some homes need a little electrical work, which we arrange through a licensed electrician and include in the one price.

We'll also set the timer. If you've got solar, we set the heat pump to run through the middle of the day so you're heating water with your own power instead of buying it from the grid.

Plan it, don't panic

The best time to swap is before the old tank gives up. When a tank fails on a Sunday night, most people grab whatever like-for-like unit they can get installed fastest. Planning the change means you get the right size, the right spot and the STC discount sorted properly, without a week of cold showers.