Ecogenica EG-215F Heat Pump Hot Water System Recall

Australia’s national consumer product safety regulator has published a recall notice for certain Ecogenica EG-215F heat pump hot water systems over an issue related to electrical safety.

The ACC’s Product Safety division published the recall notice on Tuesday, which applies to Ecogenica EG-215F systems where the control panel was installed inside the heat pump unit. Systems where the control panel and display box are installed outside the heat pump are not affected by this recall.

According to the recall notice, those with affected systems run the risk of someone coming into contact with live electrical parts when accessing the control panel to change the settings, with the potential for serious injury or death from electric shock. Owners are advised not attempt to access the control panel.

The Ecogenica EG-215F model number can be located on the compliance plate that is situated on the right-hand side of the heat pump unit.

The units were sold by Eco Alliance Pty Ltd in New South Wales and Victoria between 5 May 2022 and 13 September 2023. How many are affected was not mentioned.

The remedy involves affected Ecogenica EG-215F owners registering their heat pump with Eco Alliance by email ([email protected]) to schedule an authorised technician to repair the unit. A business hours telephone number is also provided: 1300 082 596.

HPHWS Popular In Victoria And New South Wales

A heat pump hot water system (HPHWS) is the most efficient way heat water pretty much anywhere south of Brisbane. They’ve been popular in NSW and Victoria thanks largely to incentives in both states additional to Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) – the same virtual bits of paper that Australia’s solar panel rebate is based on.

In Victoria, a state incentive of around $490 is available for upgrading an inefficient gas hot water heater to HPHWS, or up to $840 when replacing an inefficient electric unit. In New South Wales, additional incentives can range between $400 and $670 when replacing an electric water heater or between $190 and $310 when replacing a gas one.

HPHWS uptake in Victoria and New South Wales has seen more than 104,000 units installed across the two states over a recent 12-month period.

Choosing A Heat Pump Hot Water System

The Ecogenica EG-215F situation appears to be one of the few electrical safety-related recalls listed by Product Safety of a HPHWS in Australia. But that doesn’t mean all installations here are of good quality.

Like anything, there are some great products and some not so great. Price can (but not always) be a bit of a guide, e.g. under $2,000 and you may end up with something noisy, inefficient and unreliable. Installed prices for good quality units range from around $3,000 to $5,000. But a dog’s breakfast can be made of the best HPHWS gear by shoddy installation.

With heat pump popularity only growing, so too are the number of products available here. It can be a puzzle trying to figure out what may be best for your circumstances. One of the challenges is they aren’t (yet) subject to Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and energy rating labels in Australia.

This heat pump hot water system guide by SolarQuotes founder Finn Peacock can clear up some of the confusion. It details how the systems work, and how to buy a good one. The guide covers topics including efficiency, cold weather, noise levels, brands, installation, rebates, cost and more. It also includes a comparison table where you can compare specifications and estimated pricing of a bunch of HPHWS models available in Australia side-by-side.

Original Source: https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/ecogenica-hphws-recall-mb3031/