Live from K/Bis: Cheaper hot water coming this fall
May 2, 2009
Here's a pic (on the right) of GE's hybrid water heater, which uses
heat pump technology to reduce water heating costs by as much as 50
percent. (The pump draws heat from surrounding air.) It's due out this
fall. Engineers have been working on perfecting this system for some
time now, and it looks like they are finally getting it to work. I
haven't visited Rheem's booth yet, but I'm told they have a similar
device coming out. The tax rebates in the stimulus bill make investing
in a new water heater really enticing, too. Footprint is no bigger
than a standard water heater though it's a bit taller. I predict that
this will be a huge seller.
-- Reported by Deb Snoonian
Posted by Jennifer Brite | Categories: Kitchen & Bath | Permalink
(5) Comments
Any of these heat pump type water heaters take heat from the surrounding air. If, in the wintertime say, that air has been heated by a furnace, boiler or some other source then that is what is indirectly supplying the heat to the water heater with some loss of efficiency in the process. Probably cheaper than using electric resistance heating, but it is still a case of “Robbing Peter to pay Paul.” Now in the summer, if the heater is in an air conditioned space, then I guess that the heat pump may reduce the load on the air conditioner by taking some heat from the air to heat the water instead of dumping it out of doors. I have to wonder if the air conditioning and the water heater don’t end up working a cross purposes as the heat pump will work better with warmer air than with cold. If the water heater is in a normally cool cellar space it will lower the temperature of the air even more which may not be desirable. It would be interesting to see some data on how all this works out in actual use.
How do I properly pick between one of the new hybrid/heat-pump water heaters vs. a propane-tankless? I want to be sure to have enough hot water on hand and also pick the better option $value-wise.
How would this work in the basement where its in the 50's in the winter? and not above 60's in the summer?
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