Water Heating
Water heating is typically one of the largest uses of natural gas in a home. Heat pump water heaters are an electric alternative to conventional gas and electric resistance water heaters. Instead of burning gas or running current through a heating element, they draw warmth from the surrounding air and move it into the water.
How It Works
A heat pump water heater looks much like the tank you already have, with a compressor unit on top. The system draws heat from the surrounding air and transfers it into the water. Because it moves heat rather than generating heat directly, it can use less electricity than a conventional electric resistance water heater. Heat pump water heaters come in different tank sizes and electrical configurations, including models that run on a standard 120-volt outlet. They require adequate space and airflow and may produce cooler, drier air while operating.
Heat pump water heaters take longer to reheat a full tank than gas units, so they are often sized slightly larger than the tank they replace, and most models include an electric backup element for periods of high demand. They operate at a sound level similar to a refrigerator or dishwasher. Because the tank stores heated water, you can schedule the unit to heat during lower-cost hours on a time-of-use rate or during peak solar production, and a full tank retains usable hot water for more than a day after a power outage.
Things to Keep in Mind
- Check the manufacture date and model on your current water heater. Most gas tank water heaters last 10 to 15 years, and identifying a replacement option before the current unit fails allows time to compare options.
- Check the available space and airflow around your current water heater. A small enclosed closet may need louvered doors or ducting.
- Check the electrical requirements. Some models plug into a standard 120-volt outlet; others need a 240-volt circuit. See Your Electrical Panel.
- If you have solar or a time-of-use rate, ask the installer to set the heating schedule to your lower-cost hours. See Already Have Solar?.
