Your home’s biggest energy user is your heating and cooling system. No surprise there.
But what about your home’s second-biggest energy user? Is it your refrigerator, clothes washer and dryer, or dishwasher? Nope.
In fact, it actually uses more energy than all of the above combined!
It’s your water heater, which typically accounts for up to 20% of a home’s energy use.
Plus, if it’s 10 years or older, you could be one hot shower away from a costly and inconvenient repair bill — or even leaks and flooding! However, an ENERGY STAR® Certified Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) could be the answer!
Conventional Water Heaters vs. Heat Pump Water Heaters
Conventional electric water heaters heat and store hot water at all times, even if you’re not using it. That’s like constantly heating a meal even when you’re not eating.
A HPWH is different – and smarter. It uses electricity to move heat from one place to another. By only heating warm water when you need it, a HPWH doesn’t waste energy or make you wait. Talk about a win-win-win.
HPWHs are up to 4x more energy efficient than conventional electric heaters and use up to 70% less energy! Those are serious savings.
Is a Heat Pump Water Heater right for you?
First things first, if you have already installed a conventional electric water heater within the past five years, making the switch right now may not be best for your budget.
But if your water heater has hit its tenth birthday or beyond, now might be the time to make the upgrade.
Here are a few things to consider:
Tank Size: HPHWs are a little bigger than conventional water heaters, so if you don’t have the necessary space, you might try a split-system heat pump water heater instead.
Location: Where will your HPWH live? They perform best in spaces that range between 40º–90ºF, so make sure it stays in a place well above freezing.
Air circulation: To get the most out of your HPWH, it needs about 750-1000 cubic feet of air, or about the size of a 10’x10’ room (perfect for a basement or garage). Not possible? Just ask your installer for different setup options.
Access to 240V Electric Outlet: Electric water heaters already use 240V outlets, so you’re good to go there. However, if you’re upgrading from a gas or propane water heater, check with your electrician about a 240V outlet!
Take advantage of major savings!
HPWHs save an average of $315 per year, but the savings don’t stop there! We’re such big fans of HPWH, we’ll help you pay for one with a $500 rebate!
While a HPWH helps you save all year long, they can help you save even more during tax season.
Upgrade to a HPWH and you can apply for a federal tax credit worth $2,000 or 30% of the project cost. That’s not a deduction from your taxable income, but a credit off your tax bill!
How do I upgrade to a Heat Pump Water Heater?
We’re so glad you asked! Find out more about Heat Pump Water Heaters — and how to take advantage of our $500 rebate!