Comments on: Living With a Heat Pump Water Heater

By: T

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 13:24:49 +0000

Only thing I can say is I have one and it is 6+ years old, and it is starting to show it’s age… I have had service here for it multiple times and am getting to the point where I should probably just replace it. That seems like a short life to me. Yes, I have saved easily a unit cost vs running oil. Would have liked to have not had to fuss with it so much… Also, I would love to have your power rates …

By: Andrew Prather

Andrew Prather — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 13:08:16 +0000

In reply to Allison Bailes.

Mr. Bailes,
While waiting on my hot water to arrive I notice that the pressure at the kitchen faucet is also weak in comparison to a bathroom faucet. It would appear that the lines are smaller at the kitchen. Can those be replaced with larger lines to make a pressure difference? Thanks.
Andy Prather

By: Roy Collver

Roy Collver — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 20:30:13 +0000

What you propose can work but it takes a bit of control logic to make it most efficient and there are downsides of a series piping arrangement. Think through various sequence of operation scenarios to see what makes most sense. The most flexible methods would use the solar thermal panels and the Heat pump as parallel “either/or” heat sources to service the DHW storage tank when it makes the most sense given the conditions. Many, many possibilities are open to you with a parallel arrangement (think off-peak loading of storage tank by heat pump for instance).

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 27 Nov 2022 19:47:48 +0000

What do folks here think about installing a HPWH in series downstream of a solar thermal DHW system to provide hot water heating when the sun is not enough? My Stiebel Eltron solar thermal system provides plenty of hot water during sunny summer days here in western Massachusetts but provides very little during winter. Currently, the oil burner heats the DHW when necessary but I’d like to get off oil. The Rheem HPWH can tolerate a 145° F ambient temperature, so is it safe to assume it can tolerate incoming water of that temperature? I can set the mixing valve on the solar storage tank at 145° F (or whatever is safe) and set the mixing valve on the HPWH to a reasonable 115° F. Has anyone tried using a HPWH in tandem with solar hot water? Any issues I should be aware of in advance?

By: chris diesenbruch

chris diesenbruch — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 20:11:46 +0000

In reply to Riley. I'm in the suburbs of Philly and haven't had any issues with it in my unheated storage room but I pull heat from inside the living space using duct work. They say if the space is large enough if you're pulling and exhausting into the same area you should see a temperature drop of 15° or less

By: Norman Bunn

Norman Bunn — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 20:06:23 +0000

In reply to Riley. Greenville, SC However, mine is in a crawlspace that stays around 65 year round.

By: Riley

Riley — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 19:54:58 +0000

In reply to chris diesenbruch.

Hi Chris,
Im in Nashville TN. House is year 1999/2000 with 125 Amp service (not 200 Amp) coming from the meter.

Electrician told me it wont support adding a 220/240 double 30 breakers for a regular old school electric water heater. And at that time I thought all hybrid heat pump water heaters required double 30 anp 220/240 V breakers.

I did not know about the 220/240 V – 15 amp hybrid heat pump water heaters and of course now Im getting no response from him if my existing 125 Amp service can support adding the needed 220/240 V 15 amp breaker to get the hybrid water heater that has back up electric elements that can run on 15 amp. I think that would be my preference just in case Jan is too cold on some days.

I do think my existing service should be able to support the other 2 options that are 110 V shared or dedicated circuit – IF I can find then for sale anywhere.

By: Riley

Riley — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 19:46:59 +0000

In reply to chris diesenbruch.

Thank you Chris.
My water heater will be installed on the back garage wall that backs up to my crawlspace. There is no floor drain.

I will probably route my condensate line through my tall crawlspace and then discharge it outside as I can use natural slope and gravity for that.

I guess its possible it could freeze at the outdoor part in Jan some nights. Had not thought about that. Hmm.

By: Riley

Riley — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 19:40:23 +0000

In reply to Norman Bunn.

Thank you Norman. Can I ask what part of country you are in?
I checked and Nashville’s average air temp in Jan is 36.5
37 for the 1st 2 weeks and 36 for last 2 weeks.

My garage seems to stay at-least 20 degrees warmer in winter. Yesterday evening the outdoor temp was 32 and my garage was 55.

By: chris diesenbruch

chris diesenbruch — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 16:30:04 +0000

In reply to Riley. I don't know where you're at but I doubt you would need any upgrades at your service line coming in or your meter the upgrades that would be required would be the service wire coming in from the meter to your breaker box and then your breaker box.