It’s hard to believe it’s been 8 years since we installed the very first Bosch inverter-driven (variable speed) heat pump in Phoenix, AZ. Since then, I’ve written several reviews covering the Bosch 1.0, 2.0, Lite, Premium, and even their packaged heat pump systems. So what better time to check in on that original install and see how it’s holding up nearly a decade later in this updated Bosch heat pump review?
I also look back over the last 8 years and share what we think of the brand as a whole after installing well over 1,000 Bosch systems throughout Phoenix AZ. We’ve installed them in Mesa, Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek and probably every other city in the valley I’d guess.
First, Why This is Unbiased
If you’ve never read any of my articles before let’s get something out of the way first: I founded Magic Touch Mechanical in Mesa, AZ over 28-years ago and have always recommended and installed multiple brands. Besides Bosch, we’ve installed Lennox, Goodman, Gree, Trane, American Standard, Amana, Franklin, Mitsubishi, Day & Night (a Carrier brand) and others. In other words, every brand and model will always get an unbiased review, because chances are, we’ve installed it. If we don’t sell it, it’s likely because I wouldn’t put one in my house or my mom’s house. So, if it’s not good enough for me or mom, I’m not going to recommend it to a client.
If the product is reliable, durable, well-built, and the manufacturer provides good service, parts availability & warranty, we’ll install it. We’re not going to put our name on something, or even recommend it if it doesn’t meet all that criteria. Bottom line, this Bosch Heat Pump review is based solely on its own merits & performance over 8 years!
Bosch Heat Pump Review – 8 Years Later
Before the Bosch Premium, the IDS Light or the Variable Speed Package Unit came along, there was Bosch 1.0
Ironically, the first person to introduce me to the Bosch Heat Pump was an Ex Trane employee (a competing manufacturer). I worked very close with him installing the Trane brand for many years and trust and value his opinion. He was now with the HVAC equipment supplier who first brought the Bosch equipment line to the Phoenix market.
Being familiar with Bosch appliances from my years as an appliance technician, I knew they had well-built products. So, I agreed to do my due diligence and take a closer look at the equipment to see if it was something I could recommend to our clients.
Long story short, several of my best technicians, installers, and myself put one of their systems through the paces. We were quite critical of every nook and cranny from a technician, installer, and consumer’s point of view. Ultimately, we all concurred that the unit was well designed, built tough, and impressively quiet so we decided to give them a shot.
But first, it was time to put one to the test with one of our own clients. The true test of a product has to come from someone who sees, hears, and feels it 24/7/365. This is especially true of an HVAC system in Phoenix. It absolutely must perform well on the hottest Arizona days and chilliest winter mornings. A long-time Magic Touch client, ready to replace his AC & heating system, agreed to be our test subject. In exchange for the deal of a lifetime on a new HVAC system, I’ve asked him for a lot of feedback over the years. Recently, I asked him to provide his personal Bosch heat pump review specifically for this article after 8 years of ownership.
He was asked to rank the system on a scale of 1-5 on: Performance, noise level, operating costs & appearance. I also asked him to provide any additional comments homeowners would care about. Here’s what he had to say:
Bosch Heat Pump Customer Review
- Performance: 5 out of 5-Stars
- Sound Levels: 5 out of 5-Stars
- Operating Costs: 5 out of 5-Stars
- Appearance: 4 out of 5-Stars – His exact words: “I mean it’s an air conditioner not a Monet painting Rich, but it still looks pretty good 8-years later.”
- Positive Comments: “The Bosch has been a good choice. The variable speeds make a big difference and there’s noticeably less temperature swing throughout the day than the last unit. It’s much quieter than my old unit which sounded like an airplane. Even though electric rates have gone up, my bills are much lower than before. As you know, I recommended this unit to a friend and he’s happy with it as well.”
- Negative Comments: I do miss the NEST thermostat. It was just easy and while this one isn’t hard to use, I don’t need all its bells and whistles. It would also be nice if the unit outside wasn’t so huge, but I know that’s how they are now.
Notes for my readers (from a technical perspective):
Regarding the NEST thermostat: It’s one of the few thermostats that doesn’t play well with Bosch heat pumps. We do not recommend using the NEST with Bosch (neither does Bosch).
Regarding the size of the condenser (outdoor unit) – yes, they’re all larger nowadays than previous generation components. The larger footprint is partly what allows the much higher efficiency ratings than their predecessors.
Magic Touch’s Test Results of a 8-Year-Old Bosch Heat Pump
In its first year in service, Magic Touch service technicians ran field tests on the unit 4 times (every 90 days). Admittedly that was probably overkill but I wanted to capture and analyze performance data in extreme heat and milder temperatures. Over the years thereafter, we’ve performed routine semi-annual maintenance in the Spring and Fall, as recommended by all manufacturers. Here’s what we found over the last eight years:
- Component Tests: All components are operating according to manufacturer specifications and no component replacements have been required.
- Refrigerant System: Refrigerant levels have not changed and no refrigerant leaks, factory weld issues, or coil issues have been detected.
- Electronics & Circuit Boards: All electronics, PCB’s and wiring have been tested at each visit and no issues have been found.
- Cabinet / Paint / Hardware: No unusual wear has been found. We check for things like fading paint, rust, fastener and screw integrity, and unusual vibrations. I put the word “unusual” in bold as the unit is definitely starting to show it’s age. However, this is to be expected after 8 years in the Arizona elements. Considering the average ‘useful’ life of an AC unit in Phoenix is about 12 years, this unit is looking great for it’s age.
Why 8-Years is an Important Milestone for a Heat Pump
On an A/C with Gas Furnace system, the outdoor AC (condenser) only operates in the summer. The gas furnace works independently in the winter providing heat thereby allowing the AC compressor a winter break. However, a heat pump utilizes the condenser’s compressor for both cooling and heating, so it works year-round.
According to most manufacturers, the average life expectancy of a modern A/C or Heat Pump is approximately 12 years. Can you guess why most come with a 10-year manufacturer parts warranty? Based on the average useful life of a condenser, after 8 years it has used approximately 75% of its life. In ‘human years’, this units is about 60 years old (since our life expectancy averages 80 years).
PRO TIP: People have asked me over the years if they’re better off with an AC/Furnace combination instead of a heat pump. Thinking the entire system will last longer since the AC doesn’t run in the winter. The logic is sound as gas furnaces last much longer than AC or Heat Pump condensers. Unfortunately, unlike the old days, you can no longer replace just the condenser and the indoor coil and keep the old furnace. In most municipalities it’s not even legal anymore as an ‘AHRI certified’ – ‘matched system’* is required.
*AHRI (Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Institute) is a 3rd party organization who certifies the efficiency ratings (SEER, EER, HSPF, etc.) of matched HVAC Systems. A matched system consists of an AC condenser, coil, and furnace for gas systems or HP Condenser & air handler for heat pumps.
Bosch Heat Pump Review After Installing Thousands
With brands like Trane / American Standard, Goodman, Amana, and Mitsubishi we know what to expect since we’ve been installing them for almost 30 years. We’ve been installing Lennox, Fujitsu, Rheem, and a few others for 20-years, so again – we know them inside and out. Frankly, we’ve installed hundreds, if not thousands of almost every major brand, so we know their failure rates, how long they last, even common issues of particular models.
This article is a Bosch Heat Pump Review of only one unit, 8 years after install. So, how do we know it’s not a fluke that this particular one has done very well for the last 8 years?
Well, because of what you get for the price, Bosch heat pump units have been selling like hotcakes for 8 years now. We install over a hundred every year for eight years. After over 1,000 installs, we have a large sampling to go by. By and large, I can comfortably say the Bosch ranks right up there with other ‘premium’ brands.
We monitor equipment failure rates very closely. If we find a product or particular model is unreliable we stop recommending it – period. Of course, I can’t say we’ve never had a problem with any of Bosch units we’ve installed. Show me a brand that never has issues and I’ll never install anything else again! However, the failure rate has been low and comparable to that of any of the brands we recommend. Most importantly, in the cases where we did find a problem, Bosch took care of things as expected.
How Much Does a New Bosch Heat Pump Cost?
Let’s put it this way, compared to every major heat pump brand, Bosch is by far still the best value variable speed heat pump right now. Compared to other variable speed inverter heat pumps on the market, it costs significantly less installed with comparable or better specs. Combined with variable speed rebates from utility programs like SRP Cool Cash, it may even cost less than others 1 or 2 stage heat pumps.
The only brand to beat Bosch’s price (in the variable speed inverter class) in the last few years was Gree’s Flexx model. I even installed one on my moms home in Chandler, AZ – which has been performing well for over 2.5 years. Unfortunately, parts availability and one major design flaw have led me to stop recommending it until they get it sorted out. You can read my review here.*
* I must mention, Gree’s mini split ductless models do not have the issues the Flexx does and are distributed through other networks than the Flexx. I have one in my own home and still recommend them frequently.
