Rinnai Enviroflo™ GR Series Hot Water Heat Pump – Efficient Hot Water for NZ Homes

What is the Rinnai Enviroflo Hot Water Heat Pump?

The Rinnai Enviroflo GR Series is an integrated hot water heat pump designed to provide New Zealand households with an energy-efficient alternative to a conventional electric hot water cylinder.

Rather than relying entirely on an electric heating element, the Enviroflo uses heat pump technology to capture thermal energy from the surrounding air and transfer it into the stored water. This allows the system to produce hot water while using considerably less electricity than traditional resistance water heating.

The current Rinnai Enviroflo GR Series is available in 215L, 265L and 280L capacities, providing options for different household sizes and hot water requirements.

For homeowners looking for an affordable entry into heat pump hot water technology in New Zealand, the Enviroflo GR Series combines energy efficiency, smart control and practical everyday performance.

How Does a Rinnai Enviroflo Hot Water Heat Pump Work?

A standard electric hot water cylinder generates heat directly through an electrical resistance element. The Rinnai Enviroflo heat pump water heater works differently.

Using a refrigeration cycle, the system captures naturally occurring thermal energy from the surrounding air. This energy is transferred through the heat exchanger and used to heat the water stored inside the cylinder.

Because the system moves existing heat rather than generating all its heat directly from electricity, significantly less electrical energy can be required to produce hot water. Rinnai rates the current Enviroflo GR Series at a COP of 4.0 for the 215L model and 4.1 for the 265L and 280L models under its specified test conditions. Rinnai NZ

An integrated electric element provides additional hot water capability when required, helping maintain a dependable supply for everyday household use.

Key Features of the Rinnai Enviroflo GR Series

Energy-Efficient Hot Water

Energy efficiency is one of the main reasons homeowners consider replacing a conventional electric hot water cylinder with a heat pump water heater.

The Enviroflo GR Series achieves a COP of up to 4.1 under specified test conditions, meaning the heat pump can deliver substantially more heat energy than the electrical energy consumed by the refrigeration system at those conditions.

Rinnai states that the Enviroflo GR can cut energy usage by up to 70% compared with standard electric storage tanks. Actual household savings will depend on factors including hot water consumption, climate, electricity pricing, operating mode and installation conditions. Rinnai NZ

Three Capacity Options

Choosing the correct hot water cylinder size is important for both comfort and efficiency.

The current Enviroflo GR range provides three options:

• 215L – suitable for approximately 2–4 people
• 265L – suitable for approximately 2–5 people
• 280L – suitable for approximately 2–5 people

This gives homeowners greater flexibility when matching their hot water heat pump to household demand.

R290 Refrigerant

The Rinnai Enviroflo GR Series uses R290 refrigerant, which has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of just 3 according to Rinnai.

R290 provides an efficient refrigeration solution while having a substantially lower GWP than many refrigerants historically used in heating and cooling equipment.

For households considering the environmental impact of their water heating, this complements the lower electricity consumption possible with heat pump technology.

Built-in Wi-Fi Control

The Enviroflo GR Series features built-in Wi-Fi, allowing convenient control of the hot water system.

This provides homeowners with greater flexibility over how their system operates and makes it easier to manage hot water around household requirements.

Solar PV Compatible

For homes with solar electricity generation, the Enviroflo GR Series can also be integrated with grid-tied solar PV using the appropriate interface.

This creates an opportunity to use available solar-generated electricity for water heating and potentially increase the amount of renewable electricity consumed within the home. Rinnai NZ

Quiet Operation

Noise is an important consideration when selecting the location of a heat pump water heater.

The Enviroflo GR Series has a published operating sound level of just 46dB(A).

Correct positioning should still form part of the installation assessment, particularly when the system is located near bedrooms, neighbouring properties or outdoor entertaining areas.

Designed for New Zealand Conditions

New Zealand experiences everything from warm northern summers to sub-zero winter temperatures, making operating range an important consideration when choosing a hot water heat pump.

The Enviroflo GR heat pump is designed to operate in ambient temperatures from -7°C to 45°C and includes an anti-frost function to protect the evaporator in colder conditions.

Multiple Operating Modes

Different households use hot water differently, so the Enviroflo provides several operating options.

The system offers Standard, ECO, Hybrid, Electric and Vacation modes, allowing operation to be adjusted according to household requirements.

It can also use timers to take advantage of off-peak electricity periods where appropriate. Rinnai NZ

Benefits of Installing a Rinnai Enviroflo Heat Pump Water Heater

Moving from a traditional electric hot water cylinder to a Rinnai heat pump hot water system can offer several advantages.

Reduced electricity consumption: Rather than creating all of its heat through electrical resistance, the Enviroflo captures thermal energy from the surrounding air.

Potentially lower water-heating costs: Reduced electricity consumption can translate into lower running costs, although actual savings depend on the household and installation.

R290 technology: The system uses R290 refrigerant with a low GWP of 3.

Smart control: Built-in Wi-Fi provides greater flexibility over system operation.

Solar compatibility: The Enviroflo can be connected with compatible grid-tied solar PV systems using the appropriate interface.

Quiet operation: A published operating sound level of 46dB(A) helps make the system suitable for residential applications.

Flexible sizing: 215L, 265L and 280L options allow the system to be matched more closely to household requirements.

Rinnai Enviroflo vs a Traditional Electric Hot Water Cylinder

The fundamental difference between the two systems is how the water is heated.

A conventional electric cylinder converts electricity directly into heat through an electrical resistance element.

The Rinnai Enviroflo hot water heat pump instead captures heat from the surrounding air and transfers that energy into the stored water. Electricity is still required to operate the compressor, fan and other components, but the system can deliver considerably more heat energy than the electrical energy consumed by the refrigeration system under suitable operating conditions.

The Enviroflo also retains an electric element, providing an additional heating option when required.

For homeowners replacing an older electric cylinder, this combination can provide a practical transition to more energy-efficient water heating.

Rinnai Enviroflo vs Rinnai HydraHeat – What’s the Difference?

Both are Rinnai hot water heat pumps, but they occupy different positions within Rinnai’s NZ range.

Rinnai describes the Enviroflo GR Series as an economical integrated hot water heat pump positioned at an entry-level price point. It provides COP ratings of 4.0–4.1, built-in Wi-Fi, solar PV compatibility and three capacity options. Rinnai NZ

The HydraHeat Integrated is Rinnai’s higher-performance alternative, with a published COP of 4.7 and operation down to -10°C. Rinnai NZ

Which system is more appropriate will depend on factors including household size, location, available budget, hot water consumption and installation requirements.

Is the Rinnai Enviroflo Suitable for My Home?

The Enviroflo GR Series can suit a broad range of New Zealand households, but choosing the right system requires more than simply selecting a cylinder capacity.

Factors to consider include the number of people in the household, daily hot water demand, available installation space, climate, water quality, existing plumbing and electrical infrastructure, and whether solar PV integration is required.

The current models cover households from approximately 2–5 people according to Rinnai’s sizing information, depending on the capacity selected.

Professional sizing is important because both undersizing and unnecessarily oversizing a hot water system can affect the overall customer experience and cost.

Professional Rinnai Enviroflo Installation

Correct installation is an important part of getting the best performance from any heat pump hot water system.

Positioning, gas, plumbing, electrical supply, condensate drainage, water pressure, commissioning and system settings all need to be considered.

PERL Plumbing & PERL Electrical can coordinate the plumbing, gas and electrical requirements for a complete Rinnai Enviroflo installation, providing homeowners with one point of contact for their hot water upgrade.

Our team can assess the existing hot water system, household requirements and installation location before recommending an appropriate solution.

Upgrade Your Hot Water with PERL

If you’re replacing an ageing electric hot water cylinder, building a new home or looking for a more energy-efficient approach to water heating, the Rinnai Enviroflo GR Series Hot Water Heat Pump is worth considering.

PERL Plumbing & PERL Electrical can help with system selection, sizing, plumbing, electrical work, installation and commissioning, providing a complete solution for your hot water heat pump upgrade.

Talk to your local PERL Plumbing or PERL Electrical team about installing a Rinnai Enviroflo Hot Water Heat Pump in your home.

Enviroflo_GR_Series_BROCHURE

Pricing

• 215L – suitable for approximately 2–4 people     FROM* $5,999 inclusive GST
• 265L – suitable for approximately 2–5 people    FROM* $6,299 inclusive GST
• 280L – suitable for approximately 2–5 people    FROM* $6,499 inclusive GST