View common questions about the performance and savings of iStore products
How confident is iStore in the tanks?
The iStore and iHeat tanks are made in China to our specification, these tanks have been used by us for 18 years in across the country. With 40,000 tanks now installed over this time we have very high confidence level in the performance and longevity of the tanks. Some states have some quite harsh water and others high pressures. Note that all installations require pressure reduction valves to comply with the Australia wide 500kpa limitation for household plumbing fittings which also protects the tank. The iStore tanks have 2 sacrificial anodes, one whole of life and the other a service anode that should be serviced approximately every 3 years depending on your water quality.
Can i claim the Queensland(QLD) – Climate Smart Energy Savers rebate?
Yes the iStore is eligible for this QLD rebate as well as the Federal Government rebate.
From the govt website:-
https://www.qld.gov.au/housing/home-modifications-energy-savings/climate-smart-energy-savers/about
- Solar hot water systems and heat pump hot water systems.
- Solar hot water systems and heat pump hot water systems can receive a discount under the Federal Government’s Small-Scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) scheme and still be eligible for a rebate.
NOTE – there is no Energy Star rating for any heat pump hot water systems in Australia and this is not a requirement for this scheme. The iStore qualifies by the fact it is included in the Federal Scheme.
What star rating does the iStore units have?
The Australian Government department of Energy Rating tests and issues the Star rating for all products. www.energyrating.gov.au states “Solar, heat pump and electric instantaneous water heaters do not have energy efficiency requirements.”
The Federal goverment Clean Energy Regulator(CER) issues certificates that indicate how much energy can be saved in the remaining 8 years of the ERF/ACCU schemes. An iStore can save a household between 24Mw to 25Mw of power(depending on location) in that period and based on these certified results the CER provides incentives to home owners to install this technology.
When compared to electric or gas hot water systems an iStore can easily reduce the energy used by 70%, this figure is certified and used for state based rebates such as those in Victoria and New South Wales.
What is the Coefficient of Performance(COP) for an iStore
Australia has a very wide range of weather conditions and as such the Federal Government Clean Energy Regulator (CER) insists that water heaters like the iStore must be tested in everything from 0 degrees up to over 30 degrees ambient temperatures. During a heat cycle the iStore in fact undergoes a large range of heating as the water entering the tank can be below 10 degrees and the target is 60 degrees.
The iStore achieves an average COP of 4 over the testing required, this means that for every 1kw of electricity consumed that 4kw of heat energy is imparted to the tank water.
What are the advantages of an iStore over traditional solar hot water systems?
Although the solar hot water panels have improved in efficiency over the last 20 years, the problem still remains that a booster is required for the winter months where the clouds obscure the sun. The boosters are simple heating elements typically consuming 2.4kw of electricity for each hour the booster is running. A completely cold 300L rooftop tank will consume over 14kw/hr of electricity to heat the tank to 60 degrees. The second problem is that the improvements in efficiency mean that unless there are 4+ people in the home that the tanks can heat to 99 degrees in summer and have no option but to mechanically dump the hot water to protect the tank from over pressure. The third issue still remains that the solar hot water system is consuming valuable roof space typically on the north aspect of the roof where PV electrical solar panels could be positioned to maximize generation.
Finally with maximum electrical draw from a 270L is just over 1kw/hr with a typical full heat requiring 4kw/h, the iStore has built-in timers which further allows consumers to take advantage of daytime PV solar generation to save even more on running costs.
Is the iStore insulated?
Yes the iStore has over 50mm of insulation to prevent rapid heat loss, in fact the Australian Government has specific compliance testing for heat loss and is considered an essential part of the certification process to obtain government rebates.
Is the technology the same between the 180L and the 270L iStore’s?
Yes the 2 models operate with exactly the same efficient, tried, and proven heating process. The super efficient 180L with a powerful 500W compressor will heat all your hot water or the powerful 900W compressor in our 270L will cover all of your hot water needs for your large and growing family.
Are government incentives and rebates still available?
Yes.
Depending on your residing state in Australia,
customers replacing existing traditional hot water systems may be eligible for $800 to
$3000 off their system cost!
Our products are listed under the IHEAT manufacturing brand and can be found on the CER database for STCs, the Victorian VEEC and VEU registers, the NSW ESC register and the ACT low interest loan schemes.
How long before my system pays itself back?
How long before my system pays itself back should be changed to “Based on 200 litres per day usage (4 people) a household replacing an electric storage or 10 year old gas system could expect a return on investment to be approximately 3 years when factoring in the replacement / purchase cost of a traditional hot water system.
How much pollution can I save?
Installing an iStore is the equivalent of removing 4 tonnes worth of CO2 every year!
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