Hot Water Systems in Harkaway
The 3806 postcode, covering Harkaway and Berwick and surrounding areas, is home to around 17,781 households. With many households already generating their own clean solar power, many are now looking at how they can make their entire home energy system more efficient, with hot water heating often the logical next step.
With hot water roughly accounting for a quarter of the average home's energy use, switching to an energy-efficient hot water system is one of the biggest opportunities for savings. Across Harkaway and the 3806 area, 3,817 homeowners have already switched from older electric storage and gas hot water systems to solar hot water or air-source heat pump systems that draw on clean, renewable power while also claiming the hot water rebates to reduce their hot water heater system cost. These highly-efficient systems not only help cut energy bills but also reduce carbon emissions and improve overall energy independence.
With Harkaway's climate delivering an average of 4.0 kWh/m² per day, conditions are ideal for hot water systems and hybrid heat pump systems that harness both sunlight and ambient air temperature to heat water efficiently all year round. When paired with existing rooftop solar power or solar batteries, the result is hot water that costs far less to run and is powered by clean, self-generated energy.
Hot Water Ranking
Postcode 3806
18th
State Wide
33rd
Australia Wide
Hot Water Installation Harkaway
Estimated daily energy to heat household water, comparing a resistive electric element with a high-efficiency heat pump. Demand shifts month-to-month using local climate patterns.
Energy Efficient Hot Water & Solar Power Harkaway
* Data from the Bureau of Meteorology. Closest station: N/A.
Solar Powered Hot WaterHarkaway
Illustrates how a typical 6.6 kW rooftop solar system can offset the daytime energy demand of a COP 5 heat pump hot water unit.
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Heat Pump Hot Water Systems for Harkaway
Compare heat pump hot water systems suitable for Harkaway's climate. These energy-efficient systems are designed to work in local temperature conditions and can significantly reduce your hot water energy costs.
Community Hot Water Statistics - Harkaway, 3806
Hot Water Demographics - Harkaway
Based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census (ABS), Harkaway has around 17,781 private dwellings, home to approximately 49,092 people. With an average household size of 2.9 people, and around 50 litres of hot water used per person each day in Australia, Harkaway households use approximately 145 litres of hot water daily, equating to a massive 2.6 million litres of hot water used across the suburb every single day.
Other census insights reinforce Harkaway's suitability for energy-saving improvements like energy-efficient or solar-powered hot water. The Harkaway community is home to 5,167 couple families with children and 853 one-parent families, meaning a large proportion of households face substantial hot water demand. With 7,822 homes owned with a mortgage and 4,893 owned outright, many residents also have the homeownership and growing equity that make switching to efficient hot water systems a practical way to lower expenses.
Harkaway is converting hot water demand to efficient systems faster than many peers, with 21.5% of dwellings already upgraded.
Hot water systems in Harkaway
Across Harkaway and the wider 3806 area, more households are swapping old gas and ageing electric units for modern, energy efficient hot water systems. With an average household size of about 2.9 people and more than 16,000 occupied dwellings, reliable hot water is non‑negotiable – but so are rising energy costs. Many homes here are owned with a mortgage and juggling repayments of around $2,000 a month, so cutting running costs with a smarter hot water system is an easy win.
Harkaway’s climate is ideal for efficient hot water. The local weather station at Narre Warren North records around 14.5 MJ/m² of solar exposure a day on average – roughly 4 kWh/m²/day – which is excellent for both a solar hot water system and a heat pump hot water system. That strong sunlight helps a solar hot water heating system pre‑heat your water and lets a heat pump run more efficiently, especially if you already have rooftop solar. For many families, upgrading from an old gas or resistive electric hot water system to a modern energy efficient hot water system can slash hot water energy use by more than half.
In this part of Victoria, separate houses dominate, often with three or four bedrooms, so there is solid demand for dependable hot water for showers, dishwashers and laundries. Hot water can quietly chew through a quarter of a typical home’s energy use, which is why many Harkaway homeowners are comparing heat pump vs solar hot water, and even looking at solar hot water vs electric hot water to find the most efficient hot water system for their situation. Brands like Rheem heat pump hot water, Sanden heat pump and Rinnai solar hot water are common choices for families chasing low running costs, while systems such as Chromagen solar hot water appeal to those wanting to maximise their solar.
When you look at the numbers, the savings are compelling. In 3806, efficient hot water upgrades are helping households trim hundreds of dollars a year from bills. Typical annual bill savings can look like this:
• Old electric to heat pump hot water installation: $400–$800 per year • Gas to heat pump hot water system: $300–$700 per year • Gas to solar hot water installation: $250–$600 per year • Old electric to modern electric hot water installation with solar: $200–$500 per year
Recent installation data shows how quickly Harkaway has embraced efficient hot water. There have been 3,817 efficient hot water installations (heat pump and solar hot water installation combined) recorded in the postcode, climbing sharply from just a handful in the early 2000s to peak years around 2008–2010 and renewed growth from 2020 onwards. With 297 systems installed in 2021 and more than 220 each year since, it is clear that local households are serious about electrification, lower running costs and moving towards the best hot water system Australia can offer for their needs.
Hot Water Rebates, Tariffs & Savings
The strong growth in efficient hot water in Harkaway is being driven not just by energy prices, but also by generous incentives. Homeowners upgrading to a heat pump hot water system, solar hot water system or efficient electric hot water system can often access a mix of Federal and Victorian hot water rebate programs. Small‑scale Technology Certificates (STCs) effectively discount the upfront hot water system price, while state schemes can add a specific heat pump hot water rebate, solar hot water rebate or even an electric hot water system rebate for eligible homes.
For many Harkaway households, these hot water rebate VIC incentives can trim the heat pump hot water price or solar hot water price by a substantial percentage, cutting payback times to just a few years. Combine rebates with a well‑sized rooftop solar system, timers or solar‑diversion controls, and your energy efficient hot water system can cost very little to run. That is why so many locals are weighing up solar hot water vs electric hot water, or electric hot water vs gas hot water, and planning ahead for solar hot water tank replacement or hot water repair that also upgrades efficiency.
If your current unit is more than 10 years old, running out of hot water, or you are simply tired of big gas bills, now is a good time to explore a hot water upgrade in Harkaway. Whether you are considering Rheem solar hot water, a Sanden heat pump, Rinnai solar hot water, Chromagen solar hot water or another of the best heat pump hot water system options, it pays to talk to experienced local specialists. We can help you compare options, explain hot water system cost and heat pump hot water cost, and guide you through hot water rebate VIC programs so you get the right hot water system for your home. From hot water installation and electric hot water installation through to solar hot water repair and general hot water repair, our trusted local experts are here to help you reduce bills, cut emissions and future‑proof your all‑electric home with efficient hot water Harkaway residents can rely on.