from $4,200
Reclaim CO₂ Split · 160 L glass-lined
Split heat pump · InstalledWhat’s in the price- Supply
- Install
- Tempering valve
- Old unit removed
- Rebate applied
Heat Pump Installation · Pakenham & within 75 km
Split heat pump hot water
A split heat pump puts the compressor outside and the tank against the wall, with a pair of lines between them. It is the better performer on a cold morning and the one with the tank options, because the tank isn't carrying a compressor on its head. It's also the one that needs two spots rather than one, which is the trade.
- CO₂ (R744)Refrigerant
- 160 – 400 LTank sizes
- -10 °C ambientHolds to
- Up to $2,700 offRebate
What you get
What’s in the price.
Compressor outside, tank against the wall, a pair of lines between them. It is the better performer in the cold and the one with the tank options — stainless or glass-lined, 160 to 400 litres — because the tank isn't carrying a compressor on top of it.
CO₂, not R32 or R134a. Reclaim runs CO₂ (R744) where almost everyone else runs a synthetic. It matters here rather than on a spec sheet because CO₂ keeps pulling heat out of the air on a cold Pakenham morning, which is exactly when other heat pumps are working hardest for the least.
Is it right for you
Where split heat pump hot water works, and where it doesn’t.
We’d rather you read this and ring someone else than have us fit the wrong thing and both regret it.
Narrow it down
Which one is right for my home?
How many of you there are, what's there now, and where it lives. Runs in your browser — nothing recorded, nothing sent.
Answer the three and the answer appears here.
How we do it
What happens on a split heat pump hot water install.
- 1
We look at both spots
A split needs somewhere for the tank and somewhere for the compressor with air around it. We walk both before quoting, because finding out on install day is how a job turns into two visits.
- 2
Tank sized on the household
Not on the old tank's size. How many of you there are and when you all shower decides it, and recovery rate matters as much as volume — which is where the Panasonic 6 kW pairing earns its keep.
- 3
Rebate worked out at the quote
The VEU figure depends on what's being replaced. It comes off the quoted price so the number you see is the number you pay.
- 4
Old unit out, new tank in
Drained, disconnected and taken to a metal recycler on the same visit. New tempering valve so the outlets hold at 50 °C.
- 5
Compressor sited and run
Lines run between the two, pressure tested, and the compressor levelled on anti-vibration mounts. Where it goes is a decision we make with you, not for you.
- 6
Timer and solar set
Set to heat on the cheap part of the tariff, or on your solar if you have it. Configured before we leave rather than left on the factory default.
Indicative pricing
What split heat pump hot water costs.
Real numbers. Your final quote depends on site specifics and we confirm it in writing before any work starts.
from $5,100
Reclaim CO₂ Split · 250 L stainless
Split heat pump · InstalledWhat’s in the price- Supply and install with the tempering valve
- A stainless tank with no anode to replace
- Old unit removed and the rebate applied
from $5,700
Reclaim CO₂ Split · 315 L stainless
Split heat pump · InstalledWhat’s in the price- Supply and install with the tempering valve
- A stainless tank sized for four to five people
- Old unit removed and the rebate applied
from $6,400
Reclaim CO₂ Split · 400 L stainless
Split heat pump · InstalledWhat’s in the price- Supply and install with the tempering valve
- The largest stainless tank in the range
- Old unit removed and the rebate applied
All figures are after the VEU rebate for a Victorian owner-occupier at current VEEC prices. The rebate moves with the market, so the quoted number is confirmed in writing on the day.
*Subject to eligibility, site inspection and rebate program changes. Final quote in writing.
The range
See the full split heat pump hot water range.
Models, specs and installed prices, brand by brand.
See the full range →Every model we install — filter by brand, system type or rebate.
Free quote
Quote for split heat pump hot water.
60 seconds, no obligation, replied within 2 business hours. Rebates applied and GST included, so the number you get is the number you pay.
- ✓ Same person quotes as installs
- ✓ Fixed price, confirmed in writing
- ✓ Emergency? Call (03) 5947 8000 instead
Step 1 of 4 · 25% complete
What's the difference between split and all-in-one?
A split has the compressor outside and the tank separate, so the tank can be any size and any material and the compressor can go where it has air. An all-in-one is a single shell — simpler to place, fewer options, and the compressor sits on top of the tank. If you have room for both parts, a split is usually the better system.
Why CO₂ instead of R32 or R290?
CO₂ (R744) is a natural refrigerant with zero global-warming potential, and it holds heating capacity further down the temperature range. On a Melbourne winter morning that's the difference between making hot water and falling back on an element. It's also the reason Reclaim costs more than a budget unit.
Stainless or glass-lined?
Stainless has no sacrificial anode to replace and nothing to rust, so it's the one to pick if you'd rather not think about it again. Glass-lined is cheaper up front and needs the anode checked. On hard or bore water, stainless — and the 2205 duplex tank for the worst of it.
How big a tank do I need?
Roughly: 160–250 L for one or two people, 250–315 L for a family of three or four, 315–400 L for five or more. Recovery rate matters as much as volume though, which is where the Panasonic 6 kW pairing earns its place — a smaller tank that refills fast can beat a bigger one that doesn't.
Will it work with my solar?
Yes, and it's the best pairing on this site. The PV-diverter kit fires the compressor on solar surplus, so the water gets heated on power you'd otherwise export for a few cents. Without the kit you can still just time it for the middle of the day.
How loud is it?
37 dBA at one metre on the Reclaim compressor — quieter than a fridge. It can sit near a bedroom window without being the reason somebody rings us in February.
What's the warranty?
It varies by tank: the stainless tanks carry the longest cover and the glass-lined ones less. We put the exact figure for the model you're quoted in writing rather than quoting a headline number that only applies to the flagship.
What locals say
Reviews from households across the south-east.
4.9 / 5 on Google
★★★★★
Quoted Mon, installed Fri
“Took the old gas Rinnai out, dropped in a Reclaim heat pump, sorted the VEU rebate so it came straight off the price. Bloke on the phone is the bloke on the tools, refreshing.”
JM
Jess M.Pakenham · heat pump install
★★★★★
Rebate handled, didn't lift a finger
“The VEU paperwork looked scary online. They filled it all in, I signed once at the quote and once on the day. Rebate was already in the price. Painless.”
LM
Lauren M.Pakenham · heat pump swap
★★★★★
No surprises on the invoice
“Quote number matched the invoice exactly. No 'we hit unexpected wiring' story at the end. Nice change.”
PS
Priya S.Cranbourne · split install
★★★★★
Split install in half a day
“Bedroom Mitsubishi went in before lunch. Neat pipework, brackets straight, temp checked before they left. Would use again for the lounge.”
AP
Alex P.Cranbourne East · split
★★★★★
Quoted Mon, installed Fri
“Took the old gas Rinnai out, dropped in a Reclaim heat pump, sorted the VEU rebate so it came straight off the price. Bloke on the phone is the bloke on the tools, refreshing.”
JM
Jess M.Pakenham · heat pump install
★★★★★
Rebate handled, didn't lift a finger
“The VEU paperwork looked scary online. They filled it all in, I signed once at the quote and once on the day. Rebate was already in the price. Painless.”
LM
Lauren M.Pakenham · heat pump swap
★★★★★
No surprises on the invoice
“Quote number matched the invoice exactly. No 'we hit unexpected wiring' story at the end. Nice change.”
PS
Priya S.Cranbourne · split install
★★★★★
Split install in half a day
“Bedroom Mitsubishi went in before lunch. Neat pipework, brackets straight, temp checked before they left. Would use again for the lounge.”
AP
Alex P.Cranbourne East · split
★★★★★
Family business, feels it
“Answered the phone myself, quoted the job, showed up to install the job. That trail of trust doesn't exist with most of the bigger mobs anymore.”
TH
Tom H.Narre Warren · heat pump
★★★★★
Emergency sorted Sunday
“Hot water died on a Sunday with three kids in the house. Answered the phone, had a temp loaner running by lunch, new iStore in on Tuesday. That's service.”
SK
Sam K.Berwick · emergency hot water
★★★★★
Follow-up call was a surprise
“A week after install they rang to check the heat pump was running quiet and the app was set up. First tradie who's ever followed up after payment cleared.”
ND
Nick D.Beaconsfield · heat pump
★★★★★
Family business, feels it
“Answered the phone myself, quoted the job, showed up to install the job. That trail of trust doesn't exist with most of the bigger mobs anymore.”
TH
Tom H.Narre Warren · heat pump
★★★★★
Emergency sorted Sunday
“Hot water died on a Sunday with three kids in the house. Answered the phone, had a temp loaner running by lunch, new iStore in on Tuesday. That's service.”
SK
Sam K.Berwick · emergency hot water
★★★★★
Follow-up call was a surprise
“A week after install they rang to check the heat pump was running quiet and the app was set up. First tradie who's ever followed up after payment cleared.”
ND
Nick D.Beaconsfield · heat pump
★★★★★
Actually got up in the roof
“Had three quotes for a ducted system. These guys were the only ones who actually crawled into the roof. Middle of the pack on price but installed cleaner than the others would have.”
DR
Dean R.Officer · ducted retrofit
★★★★★
Cleaned up like nothing happened
“Full ducted retrofit over two days. When they left the roof cavity was tidier than they found it and the driveway had been swept. Small thing but it matters.”
BR
Bianca R.Berwick · ducted install
★★★★★
Explained everything
“Walked me through the Milieu tablet, showed the wife how to use it, showed us the compliance cert. Ten minutes of teaching that other installers just skip.”
MT
Marcus T.Officer · ducted aircon
★★★★★
Actually got up in the roof
“Had three quotes for a ducted system. These guys were the only ones who actually crawled into the roof. Middle of the pack on price but installed cleaner than the others would have.”
DR
Dean R.Officer · ducted retrofit
★★★★★
Cleaned up like nothing happened
“Full ducted retrofit over two days. When they left the roof cavity was tidier than they found it and the driveway had been swept. Small thing but it matters.”
BR
Bianca R.Berwick · ducted install
★★★★★
Explained everything
“Walked me through the Milieu tablet, showed the wife how to use it, showed us the compliance cert. Ten minutes of teaching that other installers just skip.”
MT
Marcus T.Officer · ducted aircon