heat pump water heater

[llwr]

Does anyone have one of these? Do you like it? Any maintenance or other issues I should be aware of?

Our current water heater is about 20 yrs old -- way past its expected lifespan. The heat pump water heaters are fairly new and ridiculously expensive ($1500 compared to $300). But, they qualify for a $250 rebate from the state and 30% credit for 2010 taxes and are supposed to save over $200 in electricity per year. So it shouldn't take too long to break even and even come out ahead.

[SleeplessMommy]

do you have access to naturaL gas or just electric? you can get solar hot water for about $10k, which would be great in a sunny area. heat pump hot water is good, though, if solar is too costly.

na

[llwr]

We have natural gas in the house, but not a line to the basement or garage. We're in central Ohio, so it's not super sunny. The heat pump is supposed to work by taking in heat from the surroundings, so it seems like it'd work great in the summer, but I'm not sure about all winter. I've seen hybrids that use the heat pump when it's warm and work like a standard water heater when it's cooler, but they're an extra $1000 and don't seem to be stocked around here.

[Delicateflower]

It would need to be a hybrid in Ohio, they lose efficiency below a certain point and you'd be showering in lukewarm water. I know our heat pump blows just barely warm air when it gets too cold outside.

This is for sir systems, but

When outdoor temperatures fall below 40°F, a less-efficient panel of electric resistance coils, similar to those in your toaster, kicks in to provide indoor heating. This is why air-source heat pumps aren't always very efficient for heating in areas with cold winters. Some units now have gas-fired backup furnaces instead of electric resistance coils, allowing them to operate more efficiently

http://www.energysavers.gov/your_hom.../mytopic=12620

I just found their water heater page
http://www.energysavers.gov/your_hom.../mytopic=12840

I see how you get around it

Heat pump water heaters require installation in locations that remain in the 40º–90ºF (4.4º–32.2ºC) range year-round and provide at least 1,000 cubic feet (28.3 cubic meters) of air space around the water heater.

they must go in basements