Anyone have a heat pump water heater like the ao smith? Is it worth the extra cost? I get them at cost something like 1100$ or so. I have an electric 50 gallon tank now if I were to convert to propane it would be about the same for a power venter and a little more for a tank less but I try not to use propane.
I work for a gas and electric utility and have learned quite a bit about them. I personally work on the gas side so I have nothing to do with people switching or am incentives if they do. My utility has a 450$ rebate if you get one which brings down the cost to typical electric water heater. Check usually comes within 8 weeks after utility inspection. They go on sale for 999 for the 50 gallon. About ever two weeks at so keep checking. I also got a 10 year warranty from lowes which supposedly is a free repair or replacement for 10 year which includes labor. There is a computer in these that tracks when you typically use water so that made me nervous. For me I figured it was a 2 year payback but thay was when oil was at 3$ a gallon. I also had 7 gallon tank on our boiler so temp changed throughout the shower, this is no more.
I installed mine 2 years ago, and have installed 2 others, one being an A O Smith. In talking with people on how happy I've been with mine 5 additional people I know switched to them. All but the one have been GE's. My FIL hate GE so he got the AO Smith. Theye are supposedly a little more efficient than the GE. They have side ports for the water instead of the top like the GE so installation was a little different.
The cool dry air that these units put off is awesome. My basement is not wet at all and never had to run dehumidifiers but it's much nicer now. I wish I could have it in my living room, I would never need an air conditioner. I let the condensate drain into a 5 gallons bucket and dump it ever week. Not the best method but I didn't want to tap into my sewer line.
I only run my unit approx 6 months out of the year but it has been flawless so far. Two units that I recomended had issues. My wife's grandparents tank burst and 1 unit was bad from the factory. Idk how or why the tank issue happened but they had propane heater before and had no issues. Both sure if they have an expansion tank as I didn't install theirs. Too old of a house and didn't want to do the wiring.
I haven't noticed an increase in electric since using but it's only two people taking showers. I have plenty of hot water. When company came over which was 4 showers back to back, I turned it on high demand which allows for both heat pump and electric element and had no issues.
The guy I worked with says he switched from an on demand natural gas unit to this and saved money. My FIL was looking into solar and me being me I attended all the meetings to sort out their BS and ask what they push for water heaters. They all said heat pump and stopped installing solar bc of cost and efficiency.
Hope that cover most of it. If you have any other questions let me know.
