HEAT PUMP HOT WATER SYSTEMS OFFER EXCEPTIONAL EFFICIENCY

Heat pump hot water heaters have been commonly used in some areas since the early 1990s. That makes them a relatively new technology, and while they may be new to you, the heating and plumbing professionals at Woodfin know them inside and out!

Heat pump water heaters are very efficient because the energy is used to move heat from one place to another rather than to generate the heat directly. In effect, they work like a refrigerator in reverse. Some models come with built-in water tanks called integral units, or as add-ons to existing hot water tanks. A heat pump water heater uses one-third to one-half as much electricity as a conventional electric resistance water heater, and in warm climates they may do even better.

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) set standards for such systems that first took effect April 15, 1991, and the most recent update to that standard took effect January 20, 2004. They have been included in California's Appliance Efficiency Regulations since the early 1990s. They are also included in the April 1, 2008, ENERGY STAR® requirements for water heaters that will take effect until January 1, 2009.

The DOE says this about selecting a heat pump water heater: "Heat pump water heater systems typically have higher initial costs than conventional storage water heaters. However, they have lower operating costs, which can offset their higher purchase and installation prices."

Let Your Home Team show you how a new heat pump hot water system can lower your monthly energy costs, and discuss any rebates, tax credits, and financing available to reduce your installation costs as well!

For more information, review the Energy.gov Heat Pump Water Heaters article.