Hybrid Water Heaters: Efficiency, Installation, Savings

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If you&#;re in the market for a new water heater, you may have come across the term &#;hybrid water heater.&#; But what exactly is it, and how does it work? In this blog post, we&#;ll break down the basics of hybrid water heaters, their benefits, and considerations for installation.

What Is A Hybrid Water Heater?

The term &#;hybrid&#; might imply a combination of gas and battery-powered heating, but that&#;s not the case. A hybrid water heater is a fusion of tankless and traditional tank water heating technologies. It features a reservoir to store water, but it doesn&#;t run constantly. Instead, these heaters operate by extracting heat from the surrounding air and using it to warm up the stored water.

How Does A Hybrid Water Heater Work?

A hybrid water heater, often referred to as a &#;heat pump water heater,&#; utilizes the heat from the outside air, much like a regular heat pump. The device draws in air, passing it over an evaporator coil filled with refrigerant. This coil absorbs heat from the air, and a heat exchanger transfers that heat to the water in the tank, providing you with hot water.

You can even opt for an air-source heat pump system that combines space heating and cooling with water heating, making it an efficient choice.

Differences Between Hybrid and Traditional Water Heaters

Traditional water heaters heat water from the bottom, causing heat to rise through the tank. While this method warms the water, a significant amount of heat is lost through the top of the device. On the other hand, tankless water heaters also heat from the bottom, but they lack a reservoir and deliver hot water through copper pipes.

Hybrid water heaters, similar to tankless ones, do not run continuously. However, they feature a tank that can store heated water for household use. The key distinction is that hybrid models absorb heat from the air and transfer it to the water, increasing efficiency.

Hybrid Water Heater Installation

When installing a hybrid water heater, consider the following:

• Ensure the installation location maintains temperatures between 40°F and 90°F year-round.
• Allow for at least 1,000 cubic feet of air space around the heater, with sufficient height.
• Accommodate a condensate drain or pump.
•  Choose a plumber experienced with hybrid water heaters, as this technology is still relatively rare in the market.
•  Opt for a unit with a slightly larger water tank than typically recommended for your household to avoid using the less efficient auxiliary heat mode.
• Select a hybrid water heater with a smart thermostat for energy savings and consistent hot water availability.
• Consider installing the heater in a room with excess heat, like a furnace room, to further enhance efficiency.

Hybrid Water Heater Pros and Cons

Pros:

Energy Efficiency: Hybrid water heaters are approximately four times more efficient than traditional ones, reducing energy costs.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Split system water heater. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Additional resources:
Maximize Comfort: Split HVAC Water Heating Explained!

Environmental-Friendly: They have energy-efficient compressors that lower your home&#;s carbon footprint.

Incentives: Governments and utility companies often offer incentives, such as rebates and tax credits, for adopting this technology.

Cons:

Space Requirement: Hybrid water heaters have a tank, making them unsuitable for homes with limited space.

Climate Dependency: They operate best in mild climates, as they rely on warm outside air.

Electricity Dependency: Homes plumbed for gas appliances may require complex retrofits for installation.

Higher Initial Cost: Hybrid water heaters are pricier upfront, costing around $2,500 or more, with additional installation expenses.

Do Hybrid Water Heaters Run Out of Hot Water?

Unlike tankless water heaters, hybrid models feature a water reservoir, ensuring an adequate supply of hot water under normal circumstances. They also come with electric heating elements for high-demand periods, temporarily switching to auxiliary heat mode when necessary.

How Long Do Hybrid Water Heaters Last?

Hybrid water heaters offer a longer lifespan of 13 to 15 years, compared to 8 to 12 years for traditional electric water heaters. This longevity, coupled with energy savings, makes them a wise investment.

Do Hybrid Water Heaters Work in Winter?

Yes, hybrid water heaters can operate in cold weather, thanks to their electric heating elements. To optimize performance, place the heater in an unconditioned or semi-conditioned space where temperatures remain above 50°F year-round. Consider models meeting Northern Climate Efficiency Specifications for better cold-weather efficiency.

How Noisy Are Hybrid Water Heaters?

Hybrid water heaters generate noise levels between 40 and 80 decibels, with most units falling in the 50-55 decibel range. This noise level is comparable to typical household sounds and should not be bothersome. If noise is a concern, consider installing the heater in an acoustically isolated location.

Is It Worth Getting A Hybrid Water Heater?

Hybrid water heaters are an excellent choice for all-electric homes with sufficient space and mild climates. While the initial cost may be higher, government incentives and utility savings over the unit&#;s longer lifespan make them a cost-effective and environmentally friendly investment.

Ready to make the switch to a hybrid water heater? Contact My Georgia Plumber at 770-592- to explore your options and schedule an installation. Enjoy energy savings, hot water reliability, and a reduced carbon footprint with this innovative technology. Make the smart choice for your home today!

Hybrid water heaters, also known as heat pump water heaters, are gaining a lot of popularity and for good reason. More clients are wanting to be more energy efficient and make smarter investments with their money when it comes to replacing items in their homes, and upgrading your water heater is the perfect opportunity to do so. Did you know that according to energy.gov the average household with an electric water heater spends 25% of their electric bill heating water? The average tank style water heater can cost $400.00-$600.00 per year to operate which is more than the average refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine and dryer combined.  For clients that want to save money on the energy costs of heating water, a hybrid water heater can be an excellent choice.

Pros of a Hybrid Water Heater?

1. Can save up to $.00 in energy costs in the first ten years
2. Can last up to 2X longer than a traditional tank style water heater
3. Improved warranty over a standard tank style water heater
4. Doesn&#;t require upgrades to the electrical system to install
5. Smart App connectivity (RUUD Ultra Series)
6. Leakguard technology (RUUD Ultra Series)

The Cons?

1. Upfront cost
2. Increased size
3. If not used in hybrid mode energy savings are void

The Benefits of a Hybrid Water Heater

Unmatched Energy Efficiency

Hybrid water heaters, when used correctly, are incredibly energy efficient&#; they can save homeowners about $470.00 a year on water heater costs compared to a standard electric water heater! These savings add up quickly and in just the first ten years can pay clients back on their investment with energy savings of around $.00.

Longevity and Warranty

RUUD Hybrid water heaters are built to last and under intensive testing showed that they could last up to twice as long as a standard water heater with proper maintenance, of course this helps compensate for the initial investment of the upgrade and helps the water heater to continue to pay you back on your investment for many years.
RUUD hybrid water heaters come out of the box with an exceptional warranty. A standard electric water heater comes with a 6 year warranty on the tank, a 2 year warranty on the parts and 1 year on the labor. A RUUD hybrid water heater comes with a manufacturer warranty of 10 years on the tank, 10 years on the parts and 1 year on labor.

Hybrid Compared to Electric Tankless Water Heaters

Upgrading an electric water heater for more energy efficiency gives you two options: one is an electric tankless water heater and the other is a hybrid water heater. Electric tankless water heaters are more energy efficient than standard tank style water heaters, but they don&#;t touch the energy efficiency of a hybrid water heater. While a tankless electric water heater runs at about 99% efficiency a hybrid water heater can easily operate at 370% efficiency. The other thing to consider if trying to choose whether to upgrade to a hybrid or a tankless unit is that tankless units require that the electricity be upgraded in order to handle the energy demands of hot water on demand.  Hybrid water heaters do not require any electrical upgrades for installation.

A Smarter Water Heater

The RUUD hybrid water heater is currently the only hybrid water heater on the market that is a smart water heater. The RUUD hybrid water heater comes with an app called Econet. This app allows clients to easily adjust the temperature, track their energy usage and even set the operating mode right from their smartphone. The smart water heater is so advanced that there is an app for our technicians that will connect to the water heater and allow the plumber to review detailed alerts and alarm codes.

The Ecosmart app empowers our clients to set the water heater to one of 5 operating modes to best accommodate your family&#;s needs which can change from day to day. These 5 operating modes allow you to adjust the hybrid water heater to meet your lifestyle from energy saver operating at its most energy efficient all the way to high-demand for those situations that require that your water heats quickly with the use of more energy, even set it on vacation mode right from your .

Leak Detection and Automatic Protection

The RUUD hybrid also comes with an incredible feature called Leakguard, this amazing feature prevents your water heater from flooding your home by sensing if there is any water leaking from the tank and shutting the water heater down while sending you an alert through your smart app. This feature limits water leaks to 20 oz rather than potentially hundreds of gallons of water if the tank should leak while you&#;re not home.

The Cons of a Hybrid Water Heater

The Initial Investment

Let&#;s cover the cons&#; the hybrid almost sounds too good to be true so let&#;s get into the downfalls of a hybrid water heater. The first and most obvious is the upfront upgrade fee. The hybrid water heater, with all of its advanced technology, improved warranty and custom installation, is more than a standard water heater of the same capacity. The initial investment of a hybrid water heater can easily be 40% more than a standard electric water heater.
Like many upgrades that pay you back, they require an upfront initial investment that, over time, pays itself off and then produces a profit (putting money back into your wallet)&#; this is the case with a hybrid water heater. If you plan on staying in your home for the potential lifespan of your water heater, then the investment is absolutely worth it; however, if you&#;re not, then the initial investment won&#;t have an opportunity to pay you back. The initial investment increase typically pays itself off in the first 2 years and then the water heater just continues to save you money on your electric bill.

Increased Size

The size of the hybrid water heater is larger than a standard water heater, so if space is an issue for you a hybrid water heater may not work for your home. The water heater dimensions should absolutely be checked if being installed in small spaces like closets.

Configuration of the Hybrid

The hybrid water heater won&#;t save you a dime if not set correctly. If you leave the water heater in &#;high-demand mode&#;, then energy efficiency isn&#;t that much better than a standard tank; likewise, allowing it to run on 100% electric mode won&#;t allow you the opportunity to benefit from the advanced energy saving technology.

Services in Phoenix & Beyond

When you&#;ve found yourself in need of plumbing services in the Phoenix, Glendale, Scottsdale, or Chandler area, you can trust&#;Robins Plumbing&#;to provide you with prompt and expert care,&#;contact&#;our team today! In addition to our toilet services, we also offer a variety of&#;residential&#;and&#;commercial plumbing services, including:&#;drain cleaning,&#;water heater repair and replacement,&#;sewer camera inspection and locating,&#;backflow prevention,&#;commercial and residential jetting,&#;water treatments, and more. Visit our&#;reviews&#;online to see what others have to say about our local plumbing company!

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