Ok, so we didn’t install the first HP-50 in America, but we did install the first HP-50 heat pump water heater in Connecticut and quite possibly all of New England. WaterHeatingInfo.com & Bruce Somers Plumbing, together, installed the first HP-50 heat pump in Connecticut on Saturday, Jan/23/2010. This blog will post in detail the installation process with pictures.

HP-50

Other than prices and brief descriptions about HP-50’s, there is not much “real” information about them and nothing like this on the web today. Waterheatinginfo.com is owned, run, and written by real plumbers. So, here is the inside scoop to the newest, most talked about, water heater on the market today . The Rheem HP-50 heat pump water heater.
Two days earlier, we went to pick up the HP-50 from Bender plumbing supply in New Haven, CT. Now, normally picking up a water heater wouldn’t be something worth talking about, but the HP-50 was different. The HP-50 is the first water heater of its kind. The HP-50 is also one of the most efficient water heaters in the world today, by being the first water heater with an integrated heat pump fixed to it. (I wrote a story about the HP-50 about 3 months ago when I first found out about this new, super efficient, electric water heater. To find out how it works read this story.
We went to pick up the HP-50 two days prior to installations, at Bender plumber supply, just to make sure everything was fine. Since this would be the first HP-50 installation in Connecticut, we especially wanted to make sure everything went smoothly.

HP-50 pics

In the first picture, you can see Justin in the fork lift bringing the HP-50 to the truck. You can also see Scott Shore, who is one of our main contacts at Bender, out of his office and next to Bruce’s truck so he could see the first HP-50 being sold. We got a bunch of congrats from the sales and counter guys, as well as being the first company to install one. You can see Jay standing next to the HP-50 in the middle picture. New in the box, the HP-50 is very tall at around 80 inch/6.5 feet tall. Bruce Somers, in the 3rd picture, was making room in his truck so we could pick it up. However, this heater was to tall to fit in his truck and since the HP-50 has sensitive refrigeration mechanisms built into, we did not feel comfortable lying it on its back, as would be fine with traditional water heaters, until we spoke to Rheem factory representatives. This was not a problem as our supplier, Bender plumbing in New Haven, CT, provides free delivery, as many suppliers do for their regular contractor customers, which we are. We set the delivery time on the schedule and had the HP-50 brought back in the supply house.
Saturday comes along and the man from Benders delivers the HP-50 right on time, nine o’clock in the morning, on the dot. So then we’re set to install the first Rheem HP-50 in Connecticut for our new client, Mike from Fairfield County, CT.

HP-50 in box

Installing the HP-50 is pretty straight forward and very similar to installing a traditional electric water heater, but with a few differences.
1. It’s tall, at 75 inches high, plus needs another 12 inches of makeup air space above it. Basically, you’ll need at least a 7.5-8 feet of total height, from the basement floor to the ceiling, to meet the proper installation requirements. The location of the old electric water heater, during our installation, didn’t have enough height for the new HP-50. The result, was that we had to install the HP-50 on the other side of the client’s basement.

2. It condensates.  The heat pump produces some condensation water that needs to go somewhere.  That must be taken into consideration before the installation process.

HP-50 condensation lines

For our installation, we had to move the old water heater location to the other side of the basement, for two important installation reasons. The first, to get the height we needed, and second, for condensation. On deliberation, we put it right next to a sump pump that was in the basement, which was the best place in our case.
You will need to consider the condensation water for the HP-50 before the installation. Most basements will have something usable nearby; a sump pump, floor drain, slop sink, laundry waste line, or if there’s nothing nearby (close enough were gravity can take the water where it needs to go), you can get a condensation pump to pump the water “up & over” to the nearest drain.

HP-50 water lines

Another thing that makes the HP-50 different than other water heaters, is the cold water feed and hot water supply lines that are on the side of the tank, like an indirect water heater. The reason is, the heat pump fan is on top of the HP-50 where the water lines would normally be, the result of this = the lines are on the side. The other reason is the HP-50 is very tall. Its actually a good thing the water heater feeds cold and hot water lines on the side of the tank, due to the fact that a ladder isn’t necessary for the installation process.
If your lucky, you won’t have to do any modifications with your HP-50 installation. Although, if a few are necessary, as there was with our installation, any extra fees like we encountered (electrician to run the eclectic line to the new installation location), the return on investment makes everything still worth it. The HP-50 is so efficient, that in the right conditions, it uses less than half the energy as that of normal electric water heaters.  With the 30%  Federal tax credit this heater is very affordable. It’s almost crazy not to make the investment for this water heater if you live in a state with high electric rates such as CT, CA, NJ, NY, . It comes with a ten year warranty, which is longer than the industry standard 6 year warranty.

HP-50 temp pad

In energy saver mode, the heat pump does all the work, at this time the water heaters heat pump does make some noise, but it’s not to loud. I’d say the HP-50, when operating on energy saver mode, is about as loud as a large freezer, something a bit louder than the refrigerator in your home. The sound is a hum, just like a commercial grade freezer would make.
Note: The HP-50 will not start heating water in the energy saver mode for 45 minutes after a new installation. We found that out the hard way as we stood around the heater wondering what was wrong, because we couldn’t hear the fan on the heat pump kick on. We knew that we installed it correctly, so we waited and tried to call the factory reps, but 45 minutes after the installation, the HP-50 just kicks on by itself. We weren’t sure what to make of it at the time, but the next day an HP-50 rep told us that a 45 minute delay is normal. Surprisingly, we didn’t see this information in the installation manual, possibly because it’s so new that it was left out by mistake.

Prices for the HP-50 varies greatly in different areas of the county. The rock bottom price for the HP-50 is around $1,500. This is the rock bottom, lowest level, discount pricing from a large plumbing supply store with the top level contractor discounts. If you’re just a normal home owner walking in a plumbing store, don’t be surprised to see prices as high as $2,550. These water heaters are extremely rare; plumbing stores don’t even have them in stock. WaterHeaterInfo.com and Bruce Somers plumbing are two of a few companies getting these heaters at reasonable prices.

HP-50 Top cover off

Here’s a picture of Bruce next to the new HP-50 heat pump water heater that he and I installed.

Buyer’s warning and advice. DO NOT BUY a HP-50 online from some shady discount plumbing website, that is nothing more than low prices and dozens of fake testimonies!   Those kinds of sites are fine for buying T-shirts, books, and other small ticket ideas, but HP-50’s are very expensive, and sensitive because the entire thing is filled with brand, spanking new technology. So don’t take the chance with a company you don’t know or looks too good to be true. I don’t think you should take the chance on buying one of these expensive HP-50 water heaters that could have been mishandled. Saving a couple hundred bucks is a great idea if you ask us, but not if it gets damaged in any way, because these heaters are not easily replaceable!
That being said, we do sell HP-50’s for $1,890, as well as offer free and careful delivery for CT residents. Out of state residents will have to come pick it up, as we don’t offer shipping and wouldn’t trust one of these heaters to a shipping company, so please don’t ask us to.

Hopefully this was helpful. If you have any questions about the HP-50 just ask away, we’re always glad to answer any of your questions. If you would like more information about the new Rheem HP-50 electric heat pump hot water heater from Rheem’s official HP-50 website, just click this link.

On behalf of the entire WaterHeatingInfo.com team, thanks for reading.
If you’re interested in having a HP-50 for yourself, go to the contact page and see if we can help you find a trusted installer near you. If you’re in the Fairfield or New Haven county in Connecticut, you’re in luck, because Bruce or I will be over in person in about hour or two.

We provide top quality plumbing information about services, free estimates, installations and repairs on all Rheem, Ruud, Bradford white, State, and A.O. Smith electric, gas, propane, Bock, Thermaflow/Everhot oil fired hot water heaters, Navien, Rheem, Noritz, and Takagi tankless water heaters, Ruud, Bock, and lochinvar oil fired water heaters, SuperStor storage tanks, Peerless, Laars, and Crown tankless coils, and repairs on all hot water heater throughout the state of Connecticut including Bridgeport, CT- Bristol, CT- Cheshire, CT- Danbury,CT- Derby,CT- East Hartford,CT- East Haven,CT- Enfield,CT- Fairfield,CT- Hamden,CT- Hartford,CT- Meriden,CT- Orange,CT- Middletown,CT- Milford,CT- New Britain,CT- New Haven,CT- New London,CT- Norwalk,CT- East Norwalk,CT- Norwich,CT- Putnam,CT- Shelton,CT- Southington,CT- Stamford,CT- Stratford,CT- Southport,CT- Torrington,CT- Wallingford,CT- Watertown,CT- West Hartford,CT- West Haven,CT- Westport,CT- Wethersfield,CT- Willimantic,CT- all shore areas, and surrounding Connecticut areas.

The GE Electric Heat Pump Water Heater lets you save seroius money off your without sacrificing hot water.

GeoSpring™ hybrid water heater   Model #: GEH50DNSRSA

To create the next generation of water heaters, GE rethought every aspect of this appliance from the ground up. The result is an innovative new product that can reduce water heater operating cost up to 62% and save $320 per year.* That adds up to significant savings, and you won’t have to give up a single drop of hot water.

Features and Details
Pull savings out of thin air!

GE heat pump water heater

With advanced heat pump technology combined with traditional electric elements, this new GeoSpring hybrid electric heat pump water heater has been designed with maximum energy efficiency in mind.

The tank portion of this ENERGY STAR® qualified electric water heater includes two electric heating elements, a pressure relief valve, an internal porcelain-lined tank and an anode rod. But what truly sets this product apart is just above the tank.

Did you know that residential electric water heaters are the highest energy users in U.S. households behind air heating and cooling systems? It’s true.

In fact, if you combine the energy consumed by your refrigerator, dishwasher, clothes washer and clothes dryer, these appliances would use less energy than your current standard water heater.

But recent technological advancements and increasing energy prices have pushed water heaters to the forefront of emerging high efficiency, energy-conscious products. And GE is leading the way by developing a solution that offers the same amount of hot water for the entire family, while using significantly less energy than a standard water heater.

Energy Savings
Cut water heating energy usage by up to 62%

The GeoSpring hybrid water heater is ENERGY STAR® qualified

The energy efficient GE hybrid water heater exceeds 2010 ENERGY STAR standards with an energy factor rating (EF) of 2.35 (in Hybrid mode). The energy factor indicates a water heater’s overall energy efficiency based on the amount of hot water produced per unit of fuel consumed over a typical day. The higher the energy factor, the more efficient the water heater will be.

* GeoSpring hybrid electric heat pump water heater – 2.35 EF (in Hybrid mode)
* Standard electric water heater – 0.88 EF

That means a GE electric heat pump water heater:

* Saves approximately $320* per year–that’s $3,200 savings in energy costs over a 10-year period
* Uses less than half the energy compared to a conventional 50-gallon tank water heater
* Operates at 550 watts in eHeat™ mode vs. 4,500 watts in standard electric mode
* Exceeds ENERGY STAR requirement of 2.0 Energy Factor (EF) with a rating of 2.35 EF (in Hybrid mode)

Reduce your carbon footprint

* Operating a GE hybrid water heater instead of a standard 50-gallon electric model could help a U.S. household reduce water heating operating costs by approximately 62%, saving up to $320 annually and $3,200 over a 10-year period based on an electricity cost of 10.65 cents per kWh.
* Operating a GE hybrid water heater instead of a standard 50-gallon electric model could help a U.S. household avoid up to 62% of its CO2 emissions from the US grid associated with water heating.
* If 25% of U.S. households purchasing a new electric water heater in a given year were to choose GE’s hybrid water heater over a standard 50-gallon electric water heater more than 4 billion lbs. of CO2 emissions from the U.S. grid could be avoided annually, equivalent to the annual emissions of more than 360,000 cars on U.S. roads.

*Based on DOE test procedure and comparison of a 50-gallon standard electric tank water heater using 4879 kWh per year vs. the GeoSpring hybrid heat pump water heater using 1856 kWh per year.

- CAPACITY
Unit Capacity 50 Gallons
hide FEATURES – FEATURES
Control Type Integrated
Electronic
20 Character x 4 Line Display
Backlit LCD Display
Service Diagnostics Integrated
Fuel Type Electric
Operating Modes eHeat™ Technology
Hybrid (Factory Default Mode)
High Demand
Standard Electric
Vacation Setting 3 to 90 days
Demand Response Capable 4 Settings
Renewable Air Filter Washable (included)
PreciseTemp +/- 3°F
Temperature Setting 100-140° F Range
Temperature Setting Factory Default 120° F
Condensate Collector Integrated (tubing included)
hide ECONOMICAL / QUIET – ECONOMICAL / QUIET
Operating Sound Level 58 DBA Average
hide APPEARANCE – APPEARANCE
Color Appearance Silver Metallic
Installation Free-Standing
hide WEIGHTS & DIMENSIONS – WEIGHTS & DIMENSIONS
Overall Depth 21 3/4 in
Overall Height 60 1/2 in
Overall Width 21 3/4 in
Approximate Shipping Weight 215 lb
Net Weight (lbs.) 190 lb
Connection Sizes – Hot Water Outlet (MNPT) 3/4″
Connection Sizes – Water Inlet (MNPT) 3/4″

Get installation instructions
hide POWER / RATINGS – POWER / RATINGS
Electrical Circuit Required Dedicated 30 Amp Min.
Electrical Consumption – Lower Element 4,500 Watts – Maximum Heating
550 Watts – Minimum Heating
Electrical Consumption – Upper Element 4,500 Watts – Maximum Heating
550 Watts – Minimum Heating
Electrical Power Required 240 Volts/ 208 Volts (L1, L2, Ground) 60 Hz
Energy Factor (hybrid mode) 2.35
First Hour Rate (FHR) 63 Gallons
Operating Air Temperature Range eHeat™ Mode
Hybrid Mode
High Demand Mode – Above Recommended Range 45° to 120° F
Standard Electric Mode – Standard Recommended Range 32° to 150° F
Operating Water Pressure 20-125 PSI (30-80 PSI recommended)
Voltage 240.0 V
hide WARRANTY – WARRANTY
Parts Warranty Limited 10 year entire appliance
Labor Warranty Limited 1-year entire appliance

Have more questions? Please contact 1-800-626-2005.

Heating water with electricity is the least efficient way to heat water.  Depending on the cost of electricity in your area an electric water heater could cost more than twice what a gas water heater costs to run.  Electric water heaters for a family of 4 could cost over a thousand dollars a year if you live in the NJ, NY,CT, or CA along with other states with high costs of electricity.

Those days could be over for those of us willing to spend a little more up front to save a ton of money over time on our next electric water heater installation.

components of the HP-50

The engineers at Rheem have designed and produced a revolution in electric water heaters the HP-50.   The Rheem HP-50 is a electric water heaters with a heat pump integrated within the heater.   It’s a revolution because it heats water faster, provides more hot water, and uses less energy than any other electric water heater on the market.  (Less than half electricity than normal electric water heater uses )

How it works.

The heat pump on top of the tank works much like a refrigerator in reverse. The heat pump extracts the heat from the surrounding air, intensifies the heat with a compressor, delivers the heat to the water, and exhausts the cooler air.  Because is uses the warm ambient air temperature to do most of the work, it is a very efficient way to heat water.

1. A fan pulls air though the top air filter.
2. Heat in the air is absorbed by eco-friendly refrigerant in side the evaporator coil and cool (dehumidified) air is exhausted.
3. Refrigerant is pumped through a compressor, which increases the temperature.
4. Simultaneously the cooler water from the bottom of the tank is pumped to the top of the appliance, while it circulates through a patented condenser coil.
5. Hot refrigerant transfers its’ heat to the water inside the condenser coil.
6. heated water is returned back to the top of the tank.
7. All function are controlled simultaneously by an advanced circuit board located behind the user touch pal.
8. Condensate drain connection.
9. backup electric heating elements

This is the link to Rheem’s official site about the HP-50 heat pump water heater.

The HP-50 heater looks like a regular electric water heater, and the width is the same as a normal electric water heater, however it is very tall, (75.5 inches) so it might not fit in some basements or places with low ceilings.

Retail these heaters are going for $2,550 w/o tax at plumbing supply stores.
Our discounted price is to you $1,850 w/o tax -  We are offer Free delivery for all of Connecticut on HP-50 water heaters.


Benefits-

Electric Utilities:  The new fully integrated heat pump is the only electric water heater that is Energy Star rated. it also qualifies for federal tax credits.  It has the highest energy factor of any tank-type water heating product and reduces the load on electric utilities.  With additional utility incentives and federal tax credits, it is an affordable investment for homeowners with a payback of less than three yers.

Homeowner benefits:  The Rheem heat pump water heater has over twice the efficiency of standard electric water heaters. If your annual energy cost for hot water is $1,100 you can save as much as $632 per year.  The user- friendly touch pad allows homeowners to select the water temperature range and choose the highest efficiency setting for their hot water demands. The Rheem heat pump water heater is Energy Star rated and qualifies for federal tax credits through December 2010.  Additional state and local incentives/ rebates may also be available.

Contractors benefits:  The Rheem heat pump water heater was designed for easy installation. It installs much like a standard electric water heaters, with the same familiar connections. It’s narrow 21″ diameter helps the contractor place the unit in the right area for highest energy efficiency.

Builders Benefits:  Builder are always looking for products that will set their homes apart form the competition.  The Rheem heat pump water heater offers the highest energy factor of any water heater and will reduce their home owner’s overall cost of ownership. The heat pump water heater’s distaste look and it’s energy performance will attract the interests of today’s savvy consumers.

—–  THE REAL DEAL SAVINGS!!!!!!!

* This water heater qualifies for the energy efficient building property federal tax credit of up to 1,500.  the federal tax credit is limited to 30% of energy efficient building property and cost of installation through 2010, with a total limit of $1,500. Additional state and local utility incentives may also be available. Please consult with your tax advisor for eligibility requirements and amount of tax credits.

We provide top quality plumbing information about services, free estimates, installations and repairs on all Rheem, Ruud, Bradford white, State, and A.O. Smith electric, gas, propane, Bock, Thermaflow/Everhot oil fired hot water heaters, Navien, Rheem, Noritz, and Takagi tankless water heaters, Ruud, Bock, and lochinvar oil fired water heaters, SuperStor storage tanks, Peerless, Laars, and Crown tankless coils, and repairs on all hot water heater throughout the state of Connecticut including Bridgeport, CT- Bristol, CT- Cheshire, CT- Danbury,CT- Derby,CT- East Hartford,CT- East Haven,CT- Enfield,CT- Fairfield,CT- Hamden,CT- Hartford,CT- Meriden,CT- Orange,CT- Middletown,CT- Milford,CT- New Britain,CT- New Haven,CT- New London,CT- Norwalk,CT- East Norwalk,CT- Norwich,CT- Putnam,CT- Shelton,CT- Southington,CT- Stamford,CT- Stratford,CT- Southport,CT- Torrington,CT- Wallingford,CT- Watertown,CT- West Hartford,CT- West Haven,CT- Westport,CT- Wethersfield,CT- Willimantic,CT- all shore areas, and surrounding Connecticut areas.

If you’re interested in another way to save on the energy we have another great idea, add a heat pump to your water heater.  A heat pump can be added to an existing water heater and is more efficient than a typical water heater; in fact, it’s three times more efficient than a gas water heater during the right conditions.  The pump works by pulling in hot air already in your house, and pushing it through the AirTap’s coils which then heats the water in your tank style water heater’s tank.

The AirGenerate AirTap A7, from Beyond Pollution Inc.

The AirTap A7 electric heat pump plugs into an ordinary outlet and sits on top of any tank-style water heater (either gas or electric). Extremely efficient, it heats water to store in the tank mostly by drawing heat from the ambient air; (it can even work in freezing temperatures.)  The tank-style water heater then only needs to boost the water heating rate during periods of exceptionally high load.  This water heater is so efficient (with an energy factor rating of 2.2) that it’s eligible for a $300 federal income tax credit through at least 2010.

–Jim Dulley’s buyer’s guide to heat pump water heaters describes eight different other water heater heat pumps along with the AirTap in detail. The AirTap was his top pick, and is also the only electric water heater included in the GAMA.net listing of water heaters eligible for the federal income tax credit of $300.

Jim Dulley is a mechanical engineer and home-improvement specialist who writes nationally syndicated columns about energy use/ this info was from:   Air-Condition Your House While Heating Your Water for Free, James Dulley, 2007

We provide top quality plumbing information about services, free estimates, installations and repairs on all Rheem, Ruud, Bradford white, State, and A.O. Smith electric, gas, propane, Bock, Thermaflow/Everhot oil fired hot water heaters, Navien, Rheem, Noritz, and Takagi tankless water heaters, Ruud, Bock, and lochinvar oil fired water heaters, SuperStor storage tanks, Peerless, Laars, and Crown tankless coils, Solar water heating installations, and repairs on all hot water heater throughout the state of Connecticut including Bridgeport, CT- Bristol, CT- Cheshire, CT- Danbury,CT- Derby,CT- East Hartford,CT- East Haven,CT- Enfield,CT- Fairfield,CT- Hamden,CT- Hartford,CT- Meriden,CT- Orange,CT- Middletown,CT- Milford,CT- New Britain,CT- New Haven,CT- New London,CT- Norwalk,CT- East Norwalk,CT- Norwich,CT- Putnam,CT- Shelton,CT- Southington,CT- Stamford,CT- Stratford,CT- Southport,CT- Torrington,CT- Wallingford,CT- Watertown,CT- West Hartford,CT- West Haven,CT- Westport,CT- Wethersfield,CT- Willimantic,CT- all shore areas, and surrounding Connecticut areas.

Different Types of Geothermal Heat Pump Systems

There are four basic types of ground loop systems. Three of these—horizontal, vertical, and pond/lake—are closed-loop systems. The fourth type of system is the open-loop option. Which one of these is best depends on the climate, soil conditions, available land, and local installation costs at the site. All of these approaches can be used for residential and commercial building applications.

Closed-Loop Systems  – Horizontal - This type of installation is generally most cost-effective for residential installations, particularly for new construction where sufficient land is available. It requires trenches at least four feet deep. The most common layouts either use two pipes, one buried at six feet, and the other at four feet, or two pipes placed side-by-side at five feet in the ground in a two-foot wide trench. The Slinky™ method of looping pipe allows more pipe in a shorter trench, which cuts down on installation costs and makes horizontal installation possible in areas it would not be with conventional horizontal applications.

Vertical – Large commercial buildings and schools often use vertical systems because the land area required for horizontal loops would be prohibitive. Vertical loops are also used where the soil is too shallow for trenching, and they minimize the disturbance to existing landscaping. For a vertical system, holes (approximately four inches in diameter) are drilled about 20 feet apart and 100–400 feet deep. Into these holes go two pipes that are connected at the bottom with a U-bend to form a loop. The vertical loops are connected with horizontal pipe (i.e., manifold), placed in trenches, and connected to the heat pump in the building.

Pond/Lake – If the site has an adequate water body, this may be the lowest cost option. A supply line pipe is run underground from the building to the water and coiled into circles at least eight feet under the surface to prevent freezing. The coils should only be placed in a water source that meets minimum volume, depth, and quality criteria.

Open-Loop Systems-

Open loop systems are types of systems that uses well or surface body water as the heat exchange fluid that circulates directly through the GHP system. Once it has circulated through the system, the water returns to the ground through the well, a recharge well, or surface discharge. This option is obviously practical only where there is an adequate supply of relatively clean water, and all local codes and regulations regarding groundwater discharge are met.

We provide top quality plumbing information about services, free estimates, installations and repairs on all Rheem, Ruud, Bradford white, State, and A.O. Smith electric, gas, propane, Bock, Thermaflow/Everhot oil fired hot water heaters, Navien, Rheem, Noritz, and Takagi tankless water heaters, Ruud, Bock, and lochinvar oil fired water heaters, SuperStor storage tanks, Peerless, Laars, and Crown tankless coils, Solar water heating installations, and repairs on all hot water heater throughout the state of Connecticut including Bridgeport, CT- Bristol, CT- Cheshire, CT- Danbury,CT- Derby,CT- East Hartford,CT- East Haven,CT- Enfield,CT- Fairfield,CT- Hamden,CT- Hartford,CT- Meriden,CT- Orange,CT- Middletown,CT- Milford,CT- New Britain,CT- New Haven,CT- New London,CT- Norwalk,CT- East Norwalk,CT- Norwich,CT- Putnam,CT- Shelton,CT- Southington,CT- Stamford,CT- Stratford,CT- Southport,CT- Torrington,CT- Wallingford,CT- Watertown,CT- West Hartford,CT- West Haven,CT- Westport,CT- Wethersfield,CT- Willimantic,CT- all shore areas, and surrounding Connecticut areas.

Geothermal Heat Pumps

(sometimes referred to as GeoExchange, earth-coupled, ground-source, or water-source heat pumps) have been in use since the late 1940s. Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) use the constant temperature of the earth as the exchange medium instead of the outside air temperature. This allows the system to reach fairly high efficiencies (300%-600%) on the coldest of winter nights, compared to 175%-250% for air-source heat pumps on cool days.

While many parts of the country experience seasonal temperature extremes—from scorching heat in the summer to sub-zero cold in the winter—a few feet below the earth’s surface the ground remains at a relatively constant temperature. Depending on latitude, ground temperatures range from 45°F (7°C) to 75°F (21°C). Like a cave, this ground temperature is warmer than the air above it during the winter and cooler than the air in the summer. The GHP takes advantage of this by exchanging heat with the earth through a ground heat exchanger.

As with any heat pump, geothermal and water-source heat pumps are able to heat, cool, and, if so equipped, supply the house with hot water. Some models of geothermal systems are available with two-speed compressors and variable fans for more comfort and energy savings. Relative to air-source heat pumps, they are quieter, last longer, need little maintenance, and do not depend on the temperature of the outside air.

A dual-source heat pump combines an air-source heat pump with a geothermal heat pump. These appliances combine the best of both systems. Dual-source heat pumps have higher efficiency ratings than air-source units, but are not as efficient as geothermal units. The main advantage of dual-source systems is that they cost much less to install than a single geothermal unit, and work almost as well.

Even though the installation price of a geothermal system can be several times that of an air-source system of the same heating and cooling capacity, the additional costs are returned to you in energy savings in 5–10 years. System life is estimated at 25 years for the inside components and 50+ years for the ground loop. There are approximately 50,000 geothermal heat pumps installed in the United States each year.

We provide top quality plumbing information about services, free estimates, installations and repairs on all Rheem, Ruud, Bradford white, State, and A.O. Smith electric, gas, propane, Bock, Thermaflow/Everhot oil fired hot water heaters, Navien, Rheem, Noritz, and Takagi tankless water heaters, Ruud, Bock, and lochinvar oil fired water heaters, SuperStor storage tanks, Peerless, Laars, and Crown tankless coils, Solar water heating installations, and repairs on all hot water heater throughout the state of Connecticut including Bridgeport, CT- Bristol, CT- Cheshire, CT- Danbury,CT- Derby,CT- East Hartford,CT- East Haven,CT- Enfield,CT- Fairfield,CT- Hamden,CT- Hartford,CT- Meriden,CT- Orange,CT- Middletown,CT- Milford,CT- New Britain,CT- New Haven,CT- New London,CT- Norwalk,CT- East Norwalk,CT- Norwich,CT- Putnam,CT- Shelton,CT- Southington,CT- Stamford,CT- Stratford,CT- Southport,CT- Torrington,CT- Wallingford,CT- Watertown,CT- West Hartford,CT- West Haven,CT- Westport,CT- Wethersfield,CT- Willimantic,CT- all shore areas, and surrounding Connecticut areas.

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.

Before buying a heat pump water heating system, you also need to consider the following:
1.  Size and first hour rating -  To properly size a storage water heater—including a heat pump water heater with a tank— for your home, use the water heater’s first hour rating (FHR). The first hour rating is the amount of hot water in gallons the heater can supply per hour (starting with a tank full of hot water). It depends on the tank capacity, source of heat (burner or element), and the size of the burner or element. Product literature from a manufacturer may also provide the first hour rating. Look for water heater models with a first hour rating that matches within 1 or 2 gallons of your peak hour demand—the daily peak 1-hour hot water demand for your home.

Exploring Water Heater Options by Fuel Type

Fuel type and its availability in your area may narrow your water heater choices. The following is a list of water heater options by fuel or energy source:

• Electricity

  Widely available in the United States to fuel conventional storage, demand (tankless or instantaneous), and heat pump water heaters. It also can be used with combination water and space heating systems, which include tankless coil and indirect water heaters.

• Fuel oil

  Available in some areas of the United States to fuel conventional storage water heaters, and indirect combination water and space heating systems.

• Geothermal energy

  Available throughout the United States to those who will have or already have a geothermal heat pump system installed in their homes for space heating and cooling. See Heat Pump Water Heaters for more information.

• Natural gas

  Available in many areas of the United States to fuel conventional storage and demand (tankless or instantaneous) water heaters, as well as combination water and space heating systems, which include tankless coil and indirect water heaters.

• Propane

  Available in many areas of the United States to fuel conventional storage and demand (tankless or instantaneous) water heaters, as well as indirect combination water and space heating systems.

• Solar energy

  Available throughout the United States—most abundantly in the Southwest—for solar water heaters.

If you have more than one fuel type available in your area, it’s a good idea to compare fuel costs, especially if you’re building a new home. Even if you’re replacing a water heater, you may find that you’ll save more money in the long run if you use a different fuel or energy source. Contact your utility for current fuel costs or rates.

The type of water heater you choose will also affect your water heating costs. One type of water heater may use a fuel type more efficiently than another type of water heater. For example, an electric heat pump water heater typically is more energy efficient than an electric conventional storage water heater. Also, an electric heat pump water heater might have lower energy costs because of its higher efficiency than a gas-fired conventional storage water heater, even though local natural gas costs might be lower than the electricity rates.

We provide top quality plumbing information about services, free estimates, installations and repairs on all Rheem, Ruud, Bradford white, State, and A.O. Smith electric, gas, propane, Bock, Thermaflow/Everhot oil fired hot water heaters, Navien, Rheem, Noritz, and Takagi tankless water heaters, Ruud, Bock, and lochinvar oil fired water heaters, SuperStor storage tanks, Peerless, Laars, and Crown tankless coils, Solar water heating installations, and repairs on all hot water heater throughout the state of Connecticut including Bridgeport, CT- Bristol, CT- Cheshire, CT- Danbury,CT- Derby,CT- East Hartford,CT- East Haven,CT- Enfield,CT- Fairfield,CT- Hamden,CT- Hartford,CT- Meriden,CT- Orange,CT- Middletown,CT- Milford,CT- New Britain,CT- New Haven,CT- New London,CT- Norwalk,CT- East Norwalk,CT- Norwich,CT- Putnam,CT- Shelton,CT- Southington,CT- Stamford,CT- Stratford,CT- Southport,CT- Torrington,CT- Wallingford,CT- Watertown,CT- West Hartford,CT- West Haven,CT- Westport,CT- Wethersfield,CT- Willimantic,CT- all shore areas, and surrounding Connecticut areas.

Heat Pump Water Heaters

Most homeowners who have heat pumps use them to heat and cool their homes.  But a heat pump also can be used to heat water—either as stand-alone water heating system, or as combination water heating and space conditioning system.

How They Work

Heat pump water heaters use electricity to move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly. Therefore, they can be two to three times more energy efficient than conventional electric resistance water heaters. To move the heat, heat pumps work like a refrigerator in reverse.

While a refrigerator pulls heat from inside a box and dumps it into the surrounding room, a stand-alone air-source heat pump water heater pulls heat from the surrounding air and dumps it—at a higher temperature—into a tank to heat water. You can purchase a stand-alone heat pump water heating system as an integrated unit with a built-in water storage tank and back-up resistance heating elements. You can also retrofit a heat pump to work with an existing conventional storage water heater.

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. Cool exhaust air can be exhausted to the room or outdoors. Install them in a space with excess heat, such as a furnace room. Heat pump water heaters will not operate efficiently in a cold space. They tend to cool the spaces they are in. You can also install an air-source heat pump system that combines heating, cooling, and water heating. These combination systems pull their heat indoors from the outdoor air in the winter and from the indoor air in the summer. Because they remove heat from the air, any type of air-source heat pump system works more efficiently in a warm climate.

Homeowners primarily install geothermal heat pumps—which draw heat from the ground during the winter and from the indoor air during the summer—for heating and cooling their homes. For water heating, you can add a desuperheater to a geothermal heat pump system. A desuperheater is a small, auxiliary heat exchanger that uses superheated gases from the heat pump’s compressor to heat water. This hot water then circulates through a pipe to the home’s storage water heater tank.

Desuperheaters are also available for demand (tankless or instantaneous) water heaters. In the summer, the desuperheater uses the excess heat that would otherwise be expelled to the ground. Therefore, when the geothermal heat pump runs frequently during the summer, it can heat all of your water. During the fall, winter, and spring—when the desuperheater isn’t producing as much excess heat—you’ll need to rely more on your storage or demand water heater to heat the water. Some manufacturers also offer triple-function geothermal heat pump systems, which provide heating, cooling, and hot water. They use a separate heat exchanger to meet all of a household’s hot water needs.

We provide top quality plumbing information about services, free estimates, installations and repairs on all Rheem, Ruud, Bradford white, State, and A.O. Smith electric, gas, propane, Bock, Thermaflow/Everhot oil fired hot water heaters, Navien, Rheem, Noritz, and Takagi tankless water heaters, Ruud, Bock, and lochinvar oil fired water heaters, SuperStor storage tanks, Peerless, Laars, and Crown tankless coils, Solar water heating installations, and repairs on all hot water heater throughout the state of Connecticut including Bridgeport, CT- Bristol, CT- Cheshire, CT- Danbury,CT- Derby,CT- East Hartford,CT- East Haven,CT- Enfield,CT- Fairfield,CT- Hamden,CT- Hartford,CT- Meriden,CT- Orange,CT- Middletown,CT- Milford,CT- New Britain,CT- New Haven,CT- New London,CT- Norwalk,CT- East Norwalk,CT- Norwich,CT- Putnam,CT- Shelton,CT- Southington,CT- Stamford,CT- Stratford,CT- Southport,CT- Torrington,CT- Wallingford,CT- Watertown,CT- West Hartford,CT- West Haven,CT- Westport,CT- Wethersfield,CT- Willimantic,CT- all shore areas, and surrounding Connecticut areas.

State incentives:   http://www.dsireusa.org/index.cfm

Regional / National
Rebate Information:
For more information on energy tax credits, visit: energytaxincentives.org

Local utilities:    Across America local utilities are joining Federal and State Government to offer incentives in the form of rebates for going solar.  Check with your local utility and find out if rebates and financing are available for going solar.   In my area of Connecticut:

Northeast Utilities Service www.nu.com                (860) 665-5000
Regional Water Authority www.rwater.com (203) 735-1888
Groton Utilities www.grotonutilities.com (860) 446-4000
UIL Holdings Corporation www.uil.com/      (203) 499-2000
Norwich Public Utilities www.norwichpublicutilities.com  (860) 887-2555

Federal tax credits info:

http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=US37F&State=Federal&currentpageid=1

For example of a state incentive, SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District),offers a rebate of $1500 to its customers who want to replace their electric water heaters with solar water heaters. SolarRoofs.com is a SMUD approved contractor and participates in this rebate program. SMUD also provides financing for its customers who are making the switch from electric to solar water heaters. SMUD is offering its solar rebate until December 31, 2008 or when funding is depleted.

We provide top quality plumbing information about services, free estimates, installations and repairs on all Rheem, Ruud, Bradford white, State, and A.O. Smith electric, gas, propane, Bock, Thermaflow/Everhot oil fired hot water heaters, Navien, Rheem, Noritz, and Takagi tankless water heaters, Ruud, Bock, and lochinvar oil fired water heaters, SuperStor storage tanks, Peerless, Laars, and Crown tankless coils, Solar water heating installations, and repairs on all hot water heater throughout the state of Connecticut including Bridgeport, CT- Bristol, CT- Cheshire, CT- Danbury,CT- Derby,CT- East Hartford,CT- East Haven,CT- Enfield,CT- Fairfield,CT- Hamden,CT- Hartford,CT- Meriden,CT- Orange,CT- Middletown,CT- Milford,CT- New Britain,CT- New Haven,CT- New London,CT- Norwalk,CT- East Norwalk,CT- Norwich,CT- Putnam,CT- Shelton,CT- Southington,CT- Stamford,CT- Stratford,CT- Southport,CT- Torrington,CT- Wallingford,CT- Watertown,CT- West Hartford,CT- West Haven,CT- Westport,CT- Wethersfield,CT- Willimantic,CT- all shore areas, and surrounding Connecticut areas.