What's the difference between Solahart PowerStore® and a heat pump water heater?
Both cut the cost of heating your water, but they work in very different ways. Here's how to tell which one suits your home.
Hot water makes up around 25% of a typical Australian household's energy use, so the right water heater can make a real dent in your bills. Two smart options are the Solahart PowerStore® and the Solahart Atmos® Frost Heat Pump, but they heat water in completely different ways.
In short: PowerStore uses excess power from your solar panels to heat water, while a heat pump uses the warmth in the surrounding air and doesn't need solar at all.
How they work
If you have solar, your panels generate electricity, but any power you don't use immediately is usually exported to the grid for little return. PowerStore solves that by storing your excess solar like a battery, only in the form of hot water. It comes with a Home Energy Management System (HEMS) that watches your usage and uses your spare solar to heat water at the right time.
A heat pump, on the other hand, works like a reverse-cycle air conditioner: it draws heat from the surrounding air and transfers it to the water in your tank, no solar panels required.
Technology
PowerStore uses advanced temperature sensing, a two-stage heating process and triple-blade heating units to capture as much excess solar as possible, with HEMS acting as the "brain" that learns your hot water patterns. You can monitor everything through the Solahart atHome app.
The Atmos® Frost heat pump uses microchannel heat exchanger technology for faster, more efficient heating, plus a 2.4kW backup element for reliable hot water even in very cold conditions, and a user-friendly touchscreen display.
Installation
PowerStore is an efficient replacement for an electric or gas water heater and can be installed indoors or outdoors, ideal if you want to make the most of your rooftop solar. A heat pump easily replaces a conventional electric heater using existing connections, but must be installed outdoors as it draws heat from the air.
Efficiency and savings
Paired with solar, PowerStore could save you a significant amount each year compared with running an electric water heater. The Atmos® Frost heat pump has an average Coefficient of Performance around 4.5, meaning it delivers about 4.5 times more heat energy than the electricity it consumes, and can substantially cut your hot water energy use. Actual savings depend on your climate, usage and the system you're replacing.
Which is right for you?
Ask yourself:
- Do you already have a solar power system (or plan to)?
- Is your home suitable for solar?
- How many people live in your home?
- What's your local climate like? PowerStore relies on solar, while the Atmos® Frost works across a wide temperature range.
Book a free in-home assessment and we'll recommend the best option for your home and budget.