Frequently Asked Questions
- Why install a Sanden Eco heat pump?
- The Sanden Eco is Australia’s most advanced and efficient hot water system. This hot water technology utilises an Australian-made stainless steel tank and a Japanese-made compressor.
- A Sanden Eco heat pump system can save up to 78% of your hot water energy costs rain, hail or shine!
- It is better for the environment. Hot water accounts for around 30% of a household’s energy consumption making it a big contributor to our carbon footprint.
- It increases the value of your home.
- Some homeowners want to get away from gas altogether; the Sanden Eco makes this feasible.
- The Sanden Eco works wonderfully well in conjunction with solar power. It acts as storage, allowing you to use the power you generate rather than feed it back to the power company.
- Do rebates apply to the Sanden Eco Heat Pump?
- Absolutely. In fact, there are multiple schemes like STCs and VEECs providing incentives to install heat pumps. The Sanden Eco (due to its very high efficiency) receives the highest rebate values, which vary from $1100 – $2100 depending on location.
- Schemes have recently expanded to include commercial buildings and council facilities.
- Rebate schemes can be confusing, but NewGen will help make this simple. We can work out the maximum available rebates that can be applied to your particular situation and can offer the rebates as an up-front discount. See our rebate section for details.
- Are they really that quiet?
- Yes. Sanden Eco heat pumps are wonderfully quiet – only 38dB, which is about the sound of a modern refrigerator. Other heat pumps are significantly noisier at 50dB and above.
- Do Sanden Eco heat pumps work in very cold weather?
- Yes. Sanden Eco heat pumps are extremely efficient even in cold climates. They are used in alpine areas in Japan and the coldest regions of Australia. Because of the C02 refrigerant they can still operate efficiently in ambient air temperatures all the way down to -10C (yes minus 10 degrees celsius!)
- Because of its efficiency in very cold weather the Sanden Eco does not require a backup element.
- Can I operate the Sanden Eco on off-peak power?
- Yes. You can control the operating time with your off-peak meter, or use the Sanden Eco’s in-built timer.
- Can I operate the Sanden Eco in conjunction with my solar power?
- Yes. PV solar power owners love the Sanden Eco. We can set the heating time to 11am – 3pm via the Sanden Eco’s in-built timer thereby coming on when your PV solar is most productive.
- Sanden Eco’s power input is only 1kW and usually needs just 1–3 hours to top up heat depending on your family size / number of long-shower loving teenagers.
- Can the Sanden Eco heat pump be installed inside?
- The tank can be installed inside, but for practical reasons it is normally installed outside.
- The heat pump compressor must be installed outside in a well ventilated area. In a confined space it would essentially refrigerate the area and efficiency would suffer greatly.
- What is the maximum distance between the Sanden tank and the Sanden heat pump compressor?
- 4 metres total pipe length with no more than six bends.
- No more than 3 metres height difference between tank and compressor.
- Can Sanden Eco heat pumps work with rain water tanks?
- Yes. Water quality is very important for longevity so filters must be installed that provide adequate protection from particles in the water and some areas may need to have filters to mitigate acidic water.
- Water pressure must be a minimum of 200 kPa to ensure efficient functioning.
- Why Install Solar Hot Water?
- Heating water is very energy intensive. In most Australian households it accounts for around 30% of energy consumed; it’s typically the greatest contributor to our households’ carbon footprint besides our cars.
- With a solar hot water system, you can generate up to 70% free from the sun!
- You’ll save money on your power bill.
- Solar systems last much longer than conventional water heaters.
- Solar hot water increases the value of your home.
- Are there rebates?
- Yes. There are multiple schemes providing extra incentive to install solar hot water. Households may be eligible for a mix of state and federal incentive schemes providing up to $2100 in savings!
- Schemes have recently expanded to include commercial buildings and council facilities.
- NewGen will ensure you receive the maximum benefit from the variety of schemes that can be applied to your particular situation.
- Will I run out of hot water on cloudy days?
- All our systems have either electric or gas back up so you will have hot water even when the sun is not shining. This backup system kicks in automatically and only when needed.
- Which is best, gas or electric boosting?
- Gas is generally the more efficient because it boosts on demand, whereas electric boosting is done via a traditional 3.6kW element which boosts the tank every night.
- If you are generating your electricity through a PV solar system, then a heat pump is a better and more efficient option.
- Evacuated Tube versus Flat Plate systems?
- Evacuated tube systems provide better solar gain year round due to their design and ability to perform strongly even in winter conditions.
- Evacuated tube collectors are light weight and can be orientated further east/west of north and still achieve excellent solar gain compared to flat panel systems.
- Evacuated tube systems are better at coping with frost (they provide solar gain in subzero conditions) and tend to be more durable with much higher warranties in the case of Apricus.
- Flat Plate systems are available in closed-couple versions i.e. roof-mounted tank, which may be necessary if there is nowhere to put a tank at ground level.
- Does my collector have to face north?
- North is best and generally the steeper the pitch the better (around 50 degrees is ideal). However, if the roof pitch is at least 22 degrees it can be installed without a pitching frame. Evacuated tube collectors can be installed on west or east facing roofs – their cylindrical shape means they still achieve excellent solar gain. NewGen recommends up-sizing collectors by 25% if orientated due east or west.
- What about heat pumps?
- Heat pumps are in the solar category although they don’t rely on a collector to absorb energy from the sun. Heat pump water heaters are actually convection solar water heaters that work like your refrigerator – but in reverse. With your fridge, heat is taken out of it while it cools and using convection, is transferred into the air. The Sanden heat pump water heater uses innovative technology to draw the heat from the ambient air.
- A C02 heat pump like the Sanden Eco is typically more efficient than a solar hot water system.
- New generation heat pumps such as the Sanden Eco can save 78% on electricity compared to standard electric hot water systems. They are quiet and due to their high efficiency can be run during 'off peak' only or be timed to run in the middle of the day if you have solar power installed – now we’re talking seriously good efficiency!
- Why install solar power?
- A solar power system (a.k.a. photovoltaic (PV) system) will generate electricity-free energy from the sun.
- Electricity prices are soaring and show no sign of slowing down; with solar power you can save thousands of dollars per year.
- Depending on available roof space and your objectives, your PV system can deliver part of your total electricity needs, all of your needs, or even excess of your needs, which you can sell back to the grid.
- Solar power adds value to your home.
- It’s good for the environment. Solar power systems quickly generate more energy than was required to produce them (embedded energy) and will continue to generate pollution-free power for decades.
- Are there rebates and feed-in tariffs?
- Rebates are still available for both residential and commercial installations however they have been reducing in size in recent years. The rebate reduces the upfront cost of your system, the amount varies depending on the size of the system and the value of the STCs (Small-scale Technology Certificates), which fluctuate with market forces.
- Feed-in tariff refers to the amount you receive when you are exporting your excess power back to the grid at any given time. The premium feed-in tariff was 68C, however, the Victorian Government has recently allowed power companies to offer a very small feed-in rate of just 5C. Rather than giving power away to the electricity companies, solar owners are now highly motivated to use the power during the day with products like the Sanden Eco heat pump and store power with solar batteries.
- How many panels / kW (kilowatts) do I need?
- These days, solar panels typically range anywhere from 180W to 300W so rather than thinking of the number of panels you need it’s better to think of the overall output size of the system. In Melbourne for each kW of panels on your roof you can expect an average output of about 3.6kW hours of power. For example, a 3kW system will produce 10.8kW, which for most households is about two thirds of their electricity needs.
- Roof space, budget and pattern of use are the main factors that need to be considered when thinking of a suitable size. NewGen can guide you through this process.
- Mono-crystalline vs Poly-crystalline panels
- The difference between the two is the way they are manufactured, with mono-crystalline being the more modern technology and generally the more efficient as it produces more watts per square meter. Keep in mind, however, most panel manufacturers still make both types of panels and sometimes their poly-crystalline panels provide greater watts per dollar.
- Should I get a larger inverter?
- Your inverter should closely match the size of your system, so a 3kW panel array works best with a 3kW inverter. A larger inverter might allow for future expansion of panels but it will not increase power output – in fact it will likely do the reverse. Certain solar providers are notorious for up selling over-sized inverters (e.g. 5kW inverter with only a 1.5kW solar array) but the result is often performance loss of around 4% and future upgrades are compromised by a lack of availability of matching panels.
