Gridly
Overview
The Reclaim 315L CO2 is the mid-range model in Reclaim’s Australian lineup - larger than the 250L, smaller than the 400L. For a 4–6 person household in a cold Australian climate or with a large solar PV system, it hits the capacity target that the 250L can’t quite reach while keeping costs below the top-tier 400L.
All the core attributes of the Reclaim range apply here: CO2 refrigerant with genuine cold-weather performance to -15°C and below, the solar boost mode that actively responds to real-time solar generation, the split-system flexibility, and Australian company support.
Why 315L over 250L
A household of four adults averaging 60L of hot water per person per day needs 240L of daily supply. A 250L tank at 90%+ thermal efficiency provides 225L of usable hot water - close to adequate but tight when morning showers run back-to-back. A 315L tank provides 285L of usable water, eliminating the close-call scenarios that frustrate owners of smaller tanks.
For households of 5–6, the 315L is clearly the right size. Two adults and three teenagers with different morning schedules will readily consume 250–280L before the heat pump has time to fully reheat.
Solar integration at larger scale
The 315L tank stores more thermal energy than the 250L. On a large solar PV system (8–13kW), a day of strong generation can produce 40–60kWh of surplus after household consumption. Directing a portion of this into hot water via the Reclaim solar boost mode is practical and economical - the heat pump can absorb 2–3kW for several hours, heating 315L from 45°C to 65°C using essentially free solar electricity.
At a 5 cents/kWh feed-in tariff versus 30 cents/kWh for grid electricity, every kWh absorbed into the hot water tank via solar boost saves approximately 25 cents compared to exporting. For households generating consistent solar surplus, this adds up to $200–$400/year in avoided electricity costs.
Who should buy the Reclaim 315L CO2
The Reclaim 315L CO2 is for households of 4–6 people who are in a cold Australian climate, have a solar PV system, or both. The CO2 cold-weather performance and solar boost mode are the product’s defining advantages over R290 alternatives. For warm-climate buyers without solar, R290 competitors at $2,790–$3,590 provide similar overall performance at significantly lower cost.
