Electric Water Heater vs Heat Pump
Tankless water heaters
have taken a lot of attention away from traditional water heaters over the
decades. Tankless water heaters are better in terms of energy efficiency, take
up less space, and provide an unlimited supply of hot water. While tankless
heaters have caught the eye of many homeowners, there is another electric
heater on the market that beats the competition: hybrid or heat pump water
heaters. Read on as we compare tankless and hybrid water heaters.
Instantaneous water
heater
Tankless water heaters
run on gas or electricity. They are "on demand" heating options for
water. Why is this happening? Because the unit does not have a tank that heats
up to the desired temperature, it heats the water on demand.
Hybrid heat pump water
heater
Hybrid water heaters draw heat from the air in the tank and use a pump and coil system to heat the
water before supplying it to faucets, showers and other household appliances.
Unlike tankless solutions, hybrids still use a tank to provide hot water to the
home.
Pros and Cons of
Tankless Hot Water Systems
The benefits of tankless
hot water systems are related to energy and space savings, as follows:
1. The unit will not run
out of hot water because it heats on demand instead of being supplied from the
tank.
2. Tankless offers
significant energy cost savings compared to conventional units, but is a good
match for such hybrids.
3. Tankless water
heaters require less space than conventional and hybrid water heaters.
The downsides of
tankless are more focused on the time it takes to heat the water and the
initial cost. The disadvantages of tankless water heaters are:
1. The lag time for
burner activation is 3 to 8 seconds, resulting in a longer time for the water
to heat than typical units.
2. Tankless water
heaters cost more to install than hybrid and conventional water heaters and can
be an extensive project when switching from one unit type to another.
3. Tankless heaters
still require flushing to prevent built-up deposits from compromising the
efficiency of the unit, and can be done as a DIY or by seeking a professional
plumbing service.
Advantages and
Disadvantages of Hybrid Heat Pump Systems
The hybrid system is
unique in that it draws from the air surrounding the unit rather than
generating its own heat. Not generating heat has the following benefits:
1. When used in warm
climates, the operating cost of a hybrid water heater is lower than all other
electric water heaters on the market.
2. Hybrid water heaters
cost less to install than tankless water heaters.
3. Heat pump hybrids
have tax incentives and rebates that can further improve the cost-effectiveness
of installation.
4. Hybrid water heaters,
similar to tankless units, save energy costs in the long run.
Not every aspect of a
hybrid water heater is great. Homeowners in cooler climates don't like a hybrid
because it requires too much energy to take in the cold air and heat it. Other
disadvantages of electric hybrid heat pumps are:
1. The cost of a hybrid
water heater is higher than that of a conventional water heater.
2. Maintenance and
installation include regular cleaning of air filters to maintain efficiency and
reconfiguration of water pipes to prevent pipe damage and leaks.
3. Heat pump water
heaters require 1,000 cubic feet of space to operate, which may not be an
option for residents with limited space for hot water installations.
Which water heater
should you choose?
When considering space,
tankless solutions trump hybrid solutions. In warm climates, hybrid units can
extract and heat water from the air using very little energy. In addition, both
systems are more energy efficient than conventional water heaters and last
longer. The first choice for homeowners and plumbers, hybrid water heaters challenge tankless water heaters with similar energy efficiency and benefits.
Please take your
situation into consideration and choose the best type of water heater for your
home and household needs.