NEW GE Hybrid Hot Water Heater
I am retrofitting a three unit building which includes a storefront and two apartments. I am considering installing the new GE hybrid electric heat pump water heaters. They are a bIt pricey, however, they would be a good marketing tool. But, are these significantly better than the tankless? Also, is there really any difference between…
I am retrofitting a three unit building which includes a storefront and two apartments. I am considering installing the new GE hybrid electric heat pump water heaters. They are a bIt pricey, however, they would be a good marketing tool. But, are these significantly better than the tankless? Also, is there really any difference between tankless and standard? Most of the blogs/reviews say that the savings are not significant.
Hybrid water heaters take heat from ambient room temperature and release cool air into room. This cool air works against the water heater or against the HVAC. The product is best suited to warm climates.
Reports of savings come from people who run the water heater in hybrid mode without heat elements. Recovery is slow in hybrid which implies low consumption, so why the expensive 50 gallon tank?
Overall, GE added 150 jobs in USA making the hybrid, they claim their product works based on DOE testing procedure, but where are customer testimonials?
Certainly if hybrid owners experienced a sudden $26 per month savings, somebody would be shouting and the internet filled with before-and-after electric bills.
GE is one of the largest corporations in the world, they would never miss opportunity to report an energy breakthrough all over TV. The fact that confusion exists, shows that GE’s product does not perform to promise.
Aristocrat, it takes about 50,000 BTUs of energy to raise the temperature of water 70 degrees at a rate of one gallon per minute.
Point-of-use and tankless water heaters work by passing a boat load of BTUs through a small volume of water as it is being used.
The savings they claim comes from an assumed “seasonal efficiency”, meaning if you don’t use it a lot, it will use less gas compared to a conventional water heater that maintains a large volume of water at a specific temperature regardless of usage.
But if you do use it often, you will use a lot of gas.
Nearly all modern third-party literature comparing the two give the tankless only a negligible edge over the tank type if any at all.
Anyway, that’s not what I was talking about. Look into indirect water heaters for a better way to do this.
Me:
http://www.GatewayPlumbing.com
I’M WITH STEAMMAN, NO WAIT, MASTER PLVMBER, NO WAIT STEAM MAN, NO WAIT……. both are great ways to heat water if ya ask me. I’ve sold and sell both systems. Not one complaint on either. As long as it’s piped right!
@MP
Just curious about the previous statement: The best way to make hot water is with an indirect water heater connected to a good heating boiler.
Seems to me that keeping water hot in a tank 24×7, then carrying it all throughout the house, sometimes up to the 4th floor of a property, isn’t a terribly effective way to use energy.
In contrast, gas water heaters heat water at the source, at the right temperature with less heat dispersion, since the hot water travels less distance.
Am I missing something?
I love it when the two experts get bitchy with each other. 🙂
Fair enough, SteamMan.
Actually MP, the best way to make hot water is with a solar thermal system backed up by a good heating boiler. ;P
It’s not that we want to sell at th point. But space is an issue. Also, any recommendations on the indirect heating?
I just replaced a boiler and asked the plumber about the GE hybrid. He felt they were too new and without a track record. He also cautioned that with all the electronics – parts could be pricey compared to the garden variety AO Smith. Indirect was not an option. I’m happy so far with the AO Smith.
Are you planning to sell the units? If not, I can’t imagine tenants would care how you heat the hot water as long as it’s there when they get in the shower.