The Basics
iStore – Air to Energy systems utilise the latest compressor technology to naturally extract heat energy from the air and store it in the form of hot water for later use. Designed in Australia for Australian conditions, the iStore is one of the most cost-effective dual-purpose storage solutions available.
The iStore utilises refrigeration technology which is an incredibly efficient form of producing heating capacity since the first refrigerant gas was developed way back in 1928. The process is very similar to pumping up a bicycle tyre with a hand held pump; the more compression and pressure when using a bicycle tyre pump, the hotter the pump gets. This is essentially the same process as the iStore’s Hitachi compressor in action – creating heat from compression and transferring the thermal energy around the tank to heat the water inside the fully insulated cylinder.
For Australian households and businesses, the heating of hot water is the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs. The iStore runs at an incredible 400% efficiency, and when synced with Solar Roof Solar Power, the hot water heating costs can be as low as 11 cents per day
The iStore model selection is very flexible and efficient under all circumstances, we recommend the 180L for up to four people in a water conscious household and the 270L for 5 or more. Where household use is very large over short periods we can also configure 2 x 180L units, we call this the Tandem 360L system. Call us and we can discuss your individual needs.
Operation
No – Fully customisable, the iStore incorporates 4 modes to suit every hot water application. From small households to large hot water demands, one iStore can produce over 2,500 litres of hot water in a 24hr period.
Of course – the iStore is not reliant on the sun shining. Extracting energy from the surrounding air, the iStore will provide reliable hot water day and night, all year round.
Compared to conventional gas and electric resistive hot water systems, the iStore surpasses the latest Australian Standards for safety. With an incredibly low power draw when in operation (less than a household kettle), the iStore seamlessly integrates with existing electrical infrastructure in any Australian home or business.
The team behind iStore invested over 10,000 man hours ensuring the compressor would be as quiet as possible, without sacrificing efficiency. The iStore has been independently tested to 46.6dB at 1m. It’s an amazing achievement and we’re proud to say we have one of the quietest systems available on the market.
Of course – checking with your insurance company is the first port of call. iStore recommends that your insurance company is notified and listed on your policy. We also suggest to check whether you have fusion protection in case of power surges.
If your football team stops over after your winning game then the iStore can respond with manual overrides. If you have your unit setup to sip the power from your PV system during the day only but have unexpected high demand you can simply unlock the screen(press and hold the power button for 8 seconds) then wake it up to run immediately(press the power button for one second). Call us and we can discuss intermittent high demands and how best to handle them.
To prevent unwanted changes to the iStore settings the screen will automatically lock after 3 minutes of activity on units sold after early 2020. For older units we recommend manual locking of the screens, to lock the screen simply press and hold the power button for 8 seconds until the padlock symbol appears. To unlock any models press and hold the power button for 8 seconds until the padlock symbol turns off.
The most common reason to see this displayed is visiting the iStore outside of the timer hours set for operation. If you wish to force the iStore to wake up and heat if required simply press the power button once to override the timer. NOTE, if the padlock symbol is displayed on the bottom right hand side of the screen you will need to unlock the screen by pressing and holding the power button for 8 seconds until the symbol turns off. Please see the FAQ on “Why does me screen lock?”.
The clock and date is not required for normal functioning of the iStore, it is only required for operational timers or setting the end of my vacation.
Yes the iStore can be controlled by an off-peak circuit, the inbuilt memories will keep all of your settings for each cycle while the power is off.
Yes – on occasions during high demand there may be need to start the booster during heat cycles or even outside the heat cycles, simply press the booster button for a manual boost. NOTE this is a one-time boost and will not operate during the next heat cycle.
Yes – to comply with stored water regulations the iStore will carry out a weekly anti Legionella cycle.
Yes the iStore has an internal memory so that if there is any loss of power when the power returns it remembers all of the settings and timers you have programmed in.
Performance and Savings
By installing an iStore, you can save up to $1500 per year.
Installing an iStore is the equivalent of removing 4 tonnes worth of CO2 every year!
The best return on investment can be under 2 years when factoring in the replacement / purchase cost of a traditional hot water system.
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!
Installation
The most common installation location is on the ground, located outside the home. Custom solutions for tight / elevated areas can be designed, however please contact an iStore specialist to discuss your needs.
The 270L all-in-one iStore will require approximately 0.7m in width x 2.1m height.
Yes - the iStore can in fact be installed indoors as the refrigerant used is non-flammable and safe to be installed indoors. Provision for adequate fresh air to unit location shall be provided. Contact iStore to discuss your site-specific needs.
Typically, an installation of the iStore will take between 2-3 hours to complete. In almost all installation scenarios you will have hot water again the same evening of installation.
Yes - the iStore is an ideal replacement for existing gas or electric hot water systems. In fact, installing an iStore when replacing existing hot water systems takes about the same time as installing a traditional gas or electric hot water system.
Post Installation
Yes - the iStore is very easy to maintain. After your iStore is installed and commissioned, maintenance required is very minimal.
iStore recommends that a 5 year service be conducted to ensure the system is working at maximum efficiency.
Can’t find the answers you were looking for? Our staff are always happy to help. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team today.