When it’s time to replace your hot water heater, consider modernizing to an electric heat pump water heater.
What is a heat pump water heater? Heat pump water heaters extract heat from the air and move it into a tank to heat water. Because they transfer heat instead of generating it, they are highly efficient. As a result, heat pump water heaters are up to 3 times more efficient than electric resistance water heaters. Want to learn more, go to https://goclean.masscec.com/clean-energy-solutions/heat-pump-water-heater/ and watch the video from This Old House series.
There are several key benefits to the use of heat pump water heaters:
Energy savings. If you now use an electric resistance water heater, a heat pump water heater will save you money. They are less expensive to run than oil or propane water heaters. Even if you heat your water with gas, a heat pump water heater will probably still save you money but it is dependent on your gas and electric rates.
Little or no greenhouse gas emissions. Switching to a heat pump water heater can contribute in a variety of ways to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. First, you may be switching away from the direct use of fossil fuels to heat your water. Alternatively, if your older water heater was already electric, a heat pump water heater will be more efficient and draw less electricity — which is still beneficial if your electricity is produced by fossil fuels. Finally, the combination of a heat pump water heater with a renewable energy source for your electricity can practically eliminate GHG emissions. Whether you install solar panels on your roof or participate in Harvard’s Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program, renewable electricity is a great addition to your home heating strategy.
Dehumidification. Water heaters are almost always located in basements. Humidity can be a problem in many basements and the heat pump has the added benefit of dehumidifying the space it is in. This reduces the need to run a dehumidifier, saving more energy and money.
Remote Monitoring. Some heat pump water heaters have wifi capability built in. You can monitor performance, change temperature, set the unit to vacation mode, or even receive a text alert on your smartphone if there is a problem with the system.
Leak Detection. Some heat pump water heaters have integrated leak detection. They will sound a local alarm and send you a text message if a leak is detected. The best models can not only detect a leak in the water heater itself, but can also help to detect a leak anywhere in the water supply in your home, and can automatically shut off the cold water input to the water heater to help prevent water damage to your home.
State and Federal Incentives. $750 MassSave rebates available now (subject to change in 2024). Take advantage of the 30% federal tax credit up to $2,000. Check out the Savings calculator from Rewiring America
