Joolca HOTTAP
- ✓ Verified company
- Award Winner 2023
- +4 more
515 reviews · Statistics
- See all reviewer photos
Joolca HOTTAP is a ProductReview.com.au Awards Winner for 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019 and 2018. Learn more
Amazing and worth every cent!!
HOTTAP V2 Outing KitWe live off grid. No running water and solar. We are in our third year here and for the first year and half did the old heat water on the stove for a shower. We purchased the Hottap a year and a half ago and what a game changer!!! We made it into an indoor shower. I need to now get the nomad kit for the kitchen! I will recommend Joolca to everyone! After having it this long I’ve had questions and they do respond by email usually the same day but since they are not within the US that don’t bother me. Their support people are wonderful!! The hott
... Read moreap has never let me down! The temp reaches 120 and will remain at a constant temperature wherever it is set. I am more than happy with this product and look forward to my next purchase which will hopefully soon be the hot tub!!Purchased in for $419.
- Household Size: 3 person(s)
- Smells of Gas: No
A dream come true.
HOTTAP V2 Nomad KitThe Joolca HOTTAP kit works like a dream. Great packaging, easy to follow instructions (LPG fitting got a bit confusing due to lack of up-to-date bottles from LPG supplier). Easy to put together and transport. I use mine outdoors in place of conventional hot water service. Instant hot water when I want it, where I want it. FABULOUS!
Purchased in .
- Household Size: 1 person(s)
- Smells of Gas: No
BEWARE Bait & Switch Tactics
HOTTAP V2 Essentials KitI requested a demo unit for a potential large volume order (up to 60 units). There was potential for repeat business. I added the full Ensuite accessories online. My cart total was over $1400 but I didn't provide my MC. I was waiting to see if they would offer a discount. A few days later, I got an email. [Name Removed], a member of marketing team, kindly adjusted the balance $500 but when I went to finalize the order, they rescinded the offer. When I contacted Support about it, they just said "sorry it was a system glitch, how's $20 off." Th
... Read moreey told me it upset multiple customers and even resulted in cancelled orders and returned merchandise bought sought no resolution. In my line of work, we honor written bids. In the Corporate world we would call this a false start. Very poor customer care experience. If this is any indication of how they treat clients, I want no part of it.
I didn't receive an offer for 15% off my next order. The counter was a measly $20 off.
How about 20% for all the confusion. I'm giving you a chance to make it right. Show me I'm a valued customer and you really mean it.
... Read more It's one thing to admit an error, quite another to say "too bad so sad". Feels disingenuous.
Senbloodysastional
HOTTAP V2 Essentials KitGreat product, well made, simple and easy to use, hot water wherever you want!
Purchased in for $399.
- Household Size: 5 person(s)
- Smells of Gas: No
Find out how Joolca HOTTAP compares to other Gas Continuous Hot Water Systems
Know better, choose better.
Great Camping Set up
HOTTAP V2 Nomad KitGreat product, easy to set up and use. Pump used very little battery as well. Only complaint is the top in the screws on the stands that screw into the hot water service came off and I had to glue it back on.
Purchased in for $879.
- Household Size: 4 person(s)
- Smells of Gas: No
Temp bathroom
HOTTAP V2 Essentials KitThe whole system works very well, with the hotwater being as close to instant as one could ask for, very happy with it, but be prepared to wait for it to turn up, nearly 2 months for us. Mine is hooked up to our mains pressure at home as a temp shower while our bathroom is being renovated. We set it up inside a 3m x3m gazebo, on concrete under a roofed area.
Purchased in for $399.
- Household Size: 2 person(s)
- Smells of Gas: No
What a piece of JUNK
HOTTAP V1I would not recommend to anyone, more issues than a cheaper [Content Removed] option, batteries last about 3 weeks at around 10$ to 15$ water had to be turned down to LOWEST setting to work, goes through gas every 3 weeks at 30$, that constant hassel of this piece of [Content Removed], just went on and on, no one to help with any form of complaint. NEVER EVER AGAIN, cheaper kings product, now we have hot water that flows and hasn't gone through batteries or gas for 8 weeks.
Purchased in at Bunnings Warehouse for $289.
- Household Size: 1 person(s)
- Smells of Gas: Yes
Hi Gary,
I'm sorry to hear that you've had such a negative experience with our HOTTAP and our customer support. I can see that you've listed a few issues, and I'd like to address the things that you'
... Read moreve mentioned and come up with a resolution for you.It's in the bin.
And do not need to put anymore time or effort into proving my point, your product has created that many issues for me and now I write a review your there to help, way to late for that
POOR TEMP
HOTTAP V1In 18 months of ownership, have never been able to get temp above 38c and thats on the lowest water flow (3.5l at shower head) and highest temp, using domestic water source. I thought this was normal till I recently saw a utube review and realised mine is not heating anywhere near what it should be. Going to give smartek ago, hopefully I will have better luck there.
Hi Glenn,
I'm very sorry for the inconvenience you've had with your HOTTAP V1. I understand that having hot showers is very important, and I'd like to help make things right for you.
... Read more When it comes to heating, there are a few factors that could affect the performance of your HOTTAP: 1. Ambient Water Temperatures: The temperature of water entering the HOTTAP. 2. Water Flow Rate: The rate at which water is flowing through the HOTTAP. You mentioned a flow rate of 3.5L on low flow; ideally, it should be closer to 2.5L. 3. Gas Flow: The amount of gas being fed into the burners. From what you've mentioned, it seems that the water flow rate may be the reason that your HOTTAP isn't getting as hot as you'd like. Adjusting the flow rate could significantly improve the temperature output. To get this resolved for you: - I can send you a step-by-step guide to adjust the water flow rate yourself. - Alternatively, you can send your HOTTAP to us, and we'll take care of the adjustment for you. If you could send an email to support@joolca.com.au with the subject line "ATTN EMRE - PR GLENN M" I'll personally make sure that this gets sorted for you. Looking forward to helping you enjoy the warm showers you deserve! Warm regards, Emre
30 day money back guarantee has conditions
HOTTAP V2 Nomad KitIf you buy the product via Anaconda and IF you want to return it as the Joolca 30 day money back guarantee (even if you have used it - which the guarantee says this is OK) I found that Anaconda will not support the 30 day money back guarantee and Joolca will not support is as they did not sell it directly - but I could not find anywhere where this is noted
Very disappointing to be let down when I bought in good faith after reading the Joolca website.
Life should be about doing what you say you will do and being trusted
Hi Chris,
I'm very sorry for the confusion regarding our 30-day money-back guarantee, and I'd like to provide more clarity on our policy.
... Read more Our intention is always to provide transparent and reliable information. Our 30-day money-back guarantee applies to purchases made directly from our website. We have this information listed on our Returns Information Page, a returns article, and on our main policy page. All pages state that returns for refunds can only be made if purchased from our website. Unfortunately, we cannot process a refund for you as we do not have your payment. To seek a refund, you would have to go to the store you purchased from and check their policy (each store has a different returns policy). Here are the links below: https://www.joolca.com.au/pages/returns-information#:~:text=We%20have%20a%2030%2Dday,pay%20the%20return%20shipping%2C%20too! https://support.joolca.com/hc/en-us/articles/219913948-Returns-Information https://www.joolca.com.au/pages/returns I am very sorry for any misunderstanding. I understand how important trust and clarity are when shopping, and we do strive to make our policies clear for everyone. Warm regards, EmreFind out how Joolca HOTTAP compares to other Gas Continuous Hot Water Systems
Know better, choose better.
Perfect product, really couldn’t do without it now
HOTTAP V2 Nomad KitGreat product, perfect for what we needed for really great stuff
Purchased in .
- Household Size: 2 person(s)
- Smells of Gas: No
Brilliant hot water unit
HOTTAP V2 Outing KitGreat quality made product, contains everything needed to have instant hot water Easy to use and fast set up
Consistent hot water temperature without fluctuation
Great water pressure and consistency
- Smells of Gas: No
A fart will blow it out
HOTTAP V2 Essentials KitWe bought this unit late last year with hopes of it being decent, premium price for a premium brand right? Wrong. We've had no end of trouble.
The unit will light and at times stay on for up to a few minutes. Sometimes it only stays lit for 15-20 seconds. Definitely worse in any wind over 2km/h (which is really nothing). It's not hitting the temp sensor threshold as usually it cuts out at 38-40c, but sometimes cooler than that.
We have tried;
- Multiple gas bottles
- Mains pressure water and two different 12v pumps
- two joolca supplied gas regulators and hoses
- one my own supplied regulator
- multiple sets of batteries
Purchased in .
Hi Chris,
I'm very sorry to hear that you've been experiencing flameouts with your HOTTAP unit, and I can understand that this would be a frustrating experience. It's clear that you have invested tim
... Read moree in trying to get the HOTTAP unit to work consistently, and I appreciate the effort you've made.Hi Emre, apologies for the delayed response but we've been off grid and are only in town on occasion.
My partner Megan has been following up with one of your customers team leaders, Andrew. I'd implo
... Read morere you to follow up with him as this has been an ongoing issue for months now.Hi Chris,
Sorry for the late response here and thank you for the extra information. I've had a look through Megan's correspondence with us and I can see that you and Megan have put in some time to tr
... Read moreoubleshoot your HOTTAP to get it working without flameouts without much success. I appreciate that you've tried all of our troubleshooting, but it's disappointing that it didn't work to resolve the flameouts you have been experiencing. I know how important reliable hot water is, especially when you're off-grid and I'm sorry that your HOTTAP did not meet these expectations when you were using it.Find out how Joolca HOTTAP compares to other Gas Continuous Hot Water Systems
Know better, choose better.
Art Studio Hot Water - Brilliant!
HOTTAP V2 Nomad KitI absolutely adore the Joolca hot water service! As a glass artist working in a tin shed, I had been limited to cold water for far too long. When I started considering the expenses involved in installing a conventional hot water system, I was taken aback by the high costs. However, my search for an alternative ended when I discovered the Joolca. It provided the perfect solution I had been hoping for—a reliable source of hot water without the exorbitant installation expenses.
Setting up the Joolca outside on my mud sink has been an absolute game-changer. The convenience and efficiency it brings to my glass studio are truly remarkable. Now, I can indulge in the luxury of washing glass with hot water.
Purchased in .
- Smells of Gas: No
HOTTAP changed our road-trip experience!!
HOTTAP V2 Outing KitAbsolutely obsessed with our Hottap! Used it on our road trip from QLD to SA and was a game changer to have a fresh hot shower every day. Highlight of the trip was a hot shower pumped from the icy river at Mt Kosciuszko’s National Park!!
Purchased in for $554.
- Smells of Gas: No
Can’t wait to give it a try!
HOTTAP V2 Nomad KitIt’s still in the box. Just waiting for the Melbourne camping weather to put it to the test. I am thinking about sending one to my son in Texas he’d love it.
Purchased in .
- Household Size: 3 person(s)
- Smells of Gas: No
Questions & Answers
I live in Tasmania and used my Joolca Hottap for the first time and it will barley get hot is there anything I can do to fix this.
yep they are pretty much useless down south, if your water temp is like mine around 9c, at best you will get 38c from your hot tap, and it will deliver that at approx 3.5l a minute, i am pretty sure u can urinate faster than that. they certainly don't perform to spec.
Hi James,
Thank you for the questions and I'm sorry to hear that your HOTTAP isn't giving you hot enough water. There are definitely a few things we can try to get your water temp warmer:
1. Set the water dial to "low"
2. Set the gas dial to "high"
3. Recirculating water - this is done by running the water through the HOTTAP and into a container, then using that same water (which will be warmer now) through the HOTTAP again.
I hope these suggestions help!
Kind regards,
Emre
The water dial was set to low and the gas set to high and was barley warm and i shouldn't have to run it all in to something else thru the hot tap again makes it a hour excercise just to have a shower I know of other friend with different brand and dont have these problems theirs runs really hot
Hi James,
Thanks for getting back to me, and I can understand that you would like hotter showers. I want to share information on how the HOTTAP (and similar hot water systems) heat water, and potential solutions for you so you can get those hot showers in cooler climates.
When it comes to heating water, the HOTTAP will heat incoming water by 35°C on minimum water flow and maximum gas.
The variables that influence how hot the water gets are:
- Incoming water temperature
- Water flow through the HOTTAP
- Gas flow
The government sets a limit on how much gas can flow through portable water heaters like the HOTTAP and other similar systems, and we can't change this to make it higher. Your best bet is to leave your gas dial on "high," which is what you've been doing.
One thing we can check for is if there is debris inside your HOTTAPs gas fitting. This could restrict gas flow into your HOTTAP's burners, so be sure to check and clean out any debris you may find.
The final two variables are the incoming water temperature and water flow.
If warmer water enters the HOTTAP, it will produce hotter water. Recirculation is a common method to achieve warmer temperatures with cooler water, which is why I mentioned this.
Regarding water flow, if you have set it to "low" flow and still want warmer temperatures, we can adjust the water flow on your HOTTAP internally. We've got an article on this, scroll down to the section "Further adjusting the water flow rate:"
https://support.joolca.com/hc/en-us/articles/5498475380751-The-water-is-too-cold-I-want-hotter-water-#:~:text=Re%2Dcirculating%20water,to%20re%2Dcirculate%20your%20water.
You mentioned that your friend has a different portable hot water system that gets warmer. The reasons they may have been able to get warmer temperatures are that their incoming water temperature was higher, their water flow was lower, or a combination of both.
If you give the flow rate adjustment a try, I'm certain you'll be getting much hotter water from your HOTTAP!
That being said, if you feel that your HOTTAP isn't heating to the capacity (35c+) on low water flow and high gas flow, please reach out to our support team and they will definitely get this resolved for you, James.
I hope the above helps.
Warm regards,
Emre
My joolca hot tap has been running perfect for 5 years , now it is either boiling hot or cold , I've adjusted the water flow to suit and gas flow seems good . My question is : Does the thermostat eventually fail and can I replace it ?
Hi Dave, thanks for reaching out and I'm sorry to hear about the issue you're having with your HOTTAP. The thermostats do not usually fail over time. The HOTTAP does have a safety cut-off at 50C. It sounds like your HOTTAP may be hitting 50C+, which then turns off the burners automatically. This would explain why your HOTTAP would be very hot, and then very cold. This is most likely due to ambient water temps being warm (as we're approaching the summer months), a water blockage, or if you've set your HOTTAP's dials to low water and high gas.
There are a few things we can do to get this resolved for you:
1. Check the mesh water filter inside HOTTAP. To do this, unscrew the blue water fitting on your HOTTAP and look inside the brass inlet pipe. There should be a mesh filter in there, if there is debris, clear it out.
2. You may need to adjust the dials to get a good temp. If you're finding your HOTTAP reaching past 50C, then you'll need to either adjust the water flow dial higher or the gas dial lower.
Let me know how you go!
Kind regards,
Emre
Brand new Joolca V2. Just doing a test run before camping in 2 days time.
House tap water connection, very good pressure.
All connected, no clicking (piezo operation ), at all when operating the shower on switch. 'Flame not lit' Led on panel flashes the whole time.
Tried brand new batteries, but obviously with the Flame not lit LED flashing, its not batteries, but tried anyway
Just in case it was gas bottle related I tried 3 different gas bottles of varying gas levels - no difference in the LEDs or operation regardless of whether gas is turned on or off...
The fact that nothing changes whether gas is on or off leans me to thinking no gas getting to unit ???
Anyone help ??
Hey Scott,
I'm sorry to hear that your HOTTAP isn't igniting and I'm also sorry that I couldn't get to your question sooner before your trip. I hope you still had a great trip, and we'll get your HOTTAP sorted so that you'll have hot showers for your future camping.
You mentioned a few things here (piezo not working, HOTTAP not igniting) and it would be best to get a video of the issue to give you the most accurate steps forward. Could you please email support@joolca.com.au with a video? Once we've got the video we'll be able to offer you some accurate steps forward.
That being said, I do have a few steps to try in this article: https://support.joolca.com/hc/en-us/articles/5377296656015-HOTTAP-won-t-ignite
1. Change batteries (you said you did this, would it be possible to change to another new pair? If the batteries are flat, they will turn the LED monitor on, but not trigger the HOTTAP ignition process).
2. Purge your gas line
I hope the above helps. If they don't, please send that video to the email and we'll look after you.
Warm regards,
Emre
Get an answer from our members and Joolca representatives
Details
Features:
- The Joolca HOTTAP is a portable hot water kit with a 27,000-BTU burner that’ll give you a steaming shower even in winter, with just the flick of a switch.
- You can choose the exact temperature you want with an intuitive dial.
- It’s easy to set up: simply connect the water in, connect the water out, connect the gas, and you’re good to go.
- The HOTTAP comes with a modular showerhead that you can use handheld or put into a ceiling-mounted shower.
- A single gas tank offers over 15 hours of run time.
- If you choose the Nomad Kit, you also get a faucet attachment that you can use with a sink.
Points of praise:
- Most reviewers found that the Joolca HOTTAP almost instantly provided hot water, with some saying it took as little as 5 seconds to reach the desired temperature.
- They also enjoyed the water pressure, saying that it made for a warming, comforting shower experience.
- According to reviewers, the portable hot water kit is easy to set up.
 |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Gas Continuous Hot Water Systems | Gas Continuous Hot Water Systems | Gas Continuous Hot Water Systems | Gas Continuous Hot Water Systems |
| Price (RRP) | $649 | $399 | $549 | |
| Gas Type | LPG | LPG | LPG | |
| Flow Rate | 6 L/min | 6 L/min | 6 L/min | |
| Manufacturer Warranty | 2 year(s) | 2 year(s) | 2 year(s) |
Extra Information
ProductReview.com.au has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence our content moderation policies in any way, though ProductReview.com.au may earn commissions for products/services purchased via affiliate links.
Hi Ken,
I understand that you are disappointed about the discount code issue, and I’m very sorry for the frustration it has caused you. I'd like to provide context regarding this issue.
... Read more This discount code was created as a promotion as a one-time use code, but due to a technical mistake, it remained active and was made public, resulting in many orders being put through at a high discount. Unfortunately, honouring such a large discount on so many orders would not be sustainable for us and would have had an impact on our business, so we made the tough call to cancel and refund these orders, including yours. To address this, we sent an email to everyone affected explaining what had happened and offered a 15% discount on their next order if they wanted to place one. Whilst this isn't the same as the original $500 discount, for a larger order (such as the large amount you'd like to purchase), this discount would provide more savings. That said, we do realise that this issue affected a lot of customers, and we are very sorry for this. We have learnt from this mistake and we will do better moving forward. Warm regards, Emre