Many Americans take hot water for granted and assume that it will always be readily available. We use it for bathing, cooking, washing, and cleaning to enhance our comfort and well-being. If you’re installing a new water heater at your home, you might be looking for ways to save energy, spend less on utilities, and lower your carbon footprint. Below, we’ll compare heat pump water heaters and storage tanks to see which one wins on efficiency.
What Are Heat Pump Water Heaters?
Heat pump water heaters are a type of tank water heater that uses a refrigerant-based heat pump, like an HVAC heat pump or refrigerator, to produce hot water for your home. They work by applying the principles of heat transfer to raise the temperature of water, using a relatively small amount of energy to run a compressor, evaporator, and condenser that extracts heat from the air and transfer it to the water in the tank. Heat pump water heaters can operate as standalone systems or as part of an existing heat pump you use for climate control. Water heaters that are connected to HVAC heat pumps use part of the total captured energy to heat water for home use, while standalone heat pump water heaters use a small, self-contained heat pump that is dedicated to producing hot water.
What Makes Heat Pump Water Heaters Efficient?
Since they move heat instead of burning fuel to create heat, heat pump water heaters can use up to 70% less energy to operate than a gas or electric storage tank water heater. This means that heat pump hot water heaters are more efficient than their fuel-powered counterparts, cost less to operate than conventional storage tank water heaters, and can reduce your carbon footprint.
Another Benefit of Heat Pump Water Heaters: Better Indoor Air Quality
Heat pump water heaters help preserve and enhance your indoor air quality because they don’t need to burn fuel to work. This means that they run clean, without releasing pollutants like nitrogen oxides into your home. If you or your family has asthma or other respiratory ailments, using natural gas to heat water in your home could make breathing more difficult and eventually harm your health.
Limitations of Heat Pump Water Heaters
For many homeowners, heat pump water heaters offer an attractive way to save energy while maintaining a high level of performance, but they do have some limitations. These water heaters tend to be more expensive up front, and they can be noisy to run. The units need warm air to operate properly, and they will not work well if the temperature drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Installing a heat pump water heater in a warm area that is separated from your living space, like a basement or utility room, will optimize its functionality and efficiency.
Another factor to consider is recovery time. The process of using a heat pump to raise water temperature can be slower than heating water directly, so most heat pump water heaters are manufactured as hybrid equipment that uses an electric element to heat water quickly when demand is high. They also tend to be larger than conventional water heaters to meet an average household’s peak-hour needs, when the consumption of hot water is greatest.
What Are Storage Tank Water Heaters?
Storage water heaters are stand-alone systems that can be powered by a variety of energy sources, but the most popular models are powered by natural gas or electricity. These units keep water in an insulated tank and heat it directly with burners or heating elements. The tanks have thermostats that regulate the water temperature. Despite being insulated, the water that sits in a gas- or electric-powered storage water heater tank will cool down over time, so it usually needs consistent or periodic heating to maintain its preferred heat level.
What Makes Storage Tank Water Heaters Relatively Less Efficient?
The energy factor (EF) of a conventional storage water heater is usually below 0.95, which means that it wastes at least 5% of the energy it uses to provide heat. As people use the hot water from a standard storage tank, the heater will burn more gas or use more electricity to heat new, cooler water flowing into the tank. The more active your water heater is, the more energy it will use and the more expensive it will be to operate.
Gas- and electric-powered storage water heaters are popular because they usually have low upfront purchase and installation costs, and they can heat water quickly. Unfortunately, they can waste energy, cost more money to run over time than more sustainable alternatives, and have a greater negative impact on the environment. If you’re using a gas-powered storage tank water heater, you may also be unwittingly releasing toxic pollutants into your home.
Comparing Heat Pump Water Heaters to Storage Tanks
As you may recognize, heat pump water heaters are more efficient than conventional storage tank water heaters, using up to 3 times less energy and providing significant cost savings. Using a heat pump water heater will reduce your energy consumption, which can help you save hundreds of dollars on utility bills every year. Heat pump water heaters also reduce the use of fossil fuels, which lowers greenhouse gas emissions and pollution levels. Conventional storage water heaters use nonrenewable energy and contribute to the release of harmful chemicals into the air and water that can harm human health over time.
Choosing the Right Water Heater for Your Household
If you’re selecting a new water heater for your home, you’ll need to consider your household’s specific needs. When you’re looking for a water heater that provides superior energy efficiency and cost savings over time, a heat pump water heater will be a great option. Sized right, these heaters will provide you with a steady, dependable supply of hot water while they help you save money and reduce your impact on the environment. Also, consider your climate. Heat pump water heaters perform best in climates with consistently warm ambient temperatures because the atmosphere serves as their heat source.
Although the initial cost of a heat pump water heater may seem daunting, keep in mind that you can recoup your investment over time. To make your new water heater more affordable, you may be able to take advantage of rebates, grants, or government subsidies that support the adoption of energy-saving appliances. Look for a federal tax credit that will make a new water heater easier to pay for that fits your budget.
Save Money and Support the Environment With a Heat Pump Water Heater
When you need a new heat pump water heater or tankless water heater, Woodward Heating Air Plumbing can help you find the right type and model to suit your needs. We install, repair, and maintain all kinds of water heaters, and we also offer a wide range of professional home HVAC and plumbing services in Salem, OR. Call us today to learn more about new advancements in water heating technology and find the unit that will best suit your home.
