So, the old solar hot water system at home has been installed for more than 12 years, I think, and the storage tank (on the ground level, not on the roof) has started leaking and is beyond repair.
The first hot water service people who came and looked at it recommended we just use a heat pump system next time. The roof based systems apparently have to be installed with a crane now, and aren't really economical compared to heat pumps. They quoted a 270 ltr heat pump, with removal of all the old system, for $3,700 or so.
I thought it was probably worth getting another quote, just in case, and my wife suggested a company that I presume came high on her Google search. One of those businesses with 7 day a week emergency service, and a van painted up as a mobile advertisement.
They turned up a short time ago, recommended a heat pump of the same size, and quoted it at $13,500!
I had told them of the first quote. They said they had not heard of the brand before, and they mainly recommend Rheem, which is, of course, a famous brand. They claimed not to understand how the first quote could be so cheap. "Be wary that they aren't a dodgy outfit" I was told.
After they left, I searched on the internet (which I supposed I should have done first) and found one site which quoted the cost of installing a Rheem 270 heat pump at $4,000. (The brand the other plumbers quoted was there too, for about $3,000.)
I also read a review of the cheaper brand that indicated it was fine. Made in China, of course.
So, I think I might have identified which of the two businesses was the "dodgy outfit", and it wasn't the second one...
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