Best Heat Pump Water Heaters

Top Heat Pump Water Heater Reviews

Hybrid water heaters are eligible for federal tax credits

Hybrid water heaters are currently the most energy-efficient electric water heaters available, using less than half as much electricity. Hybrid water heaters, sometimes called heat-pump water heaters, are also the only electric water heaters earning Energy Star certification. The prices for hybrid water heaters may look shocking at first -- from $1,440 to $2,500 -- but they're eligible for the 30 percent federal tax credit plus the state "cash for appliances" rebate as well as other state and local incentives. GE estimates a savings of $3,200 in electricity over the 10-year lifespan of its GeoSpring Hybrid GE H50DNSRSA (*Est. $1,440) -- which means that after the federal rebate you've saved over $2,000 by paying about $1,000.

The hybrid design adds a small heat pump to a regular electric water heater. When used in heat-pump mode, the water is heated using just the heat found in the ambient air -- which can be as low as 45 degrees. This saves a lot of energy but heats the water very slowly. This is fine for small households most of the time, and when more hot water is needed, the hybrid water heater kicks into a different mode, using regular electric water-heating technology. The heat pump puts out cold air as it heats the water, so in a hot climate it can also reduce air-conditioning bills.

Both the Rheem EcoSense 50 HP50ES (*Est. $1,500) and the GE GeoSpring Hybrid GE H50DNSRSA (*Est. $1,440) -- also made by Rheem -- earn good reviews. The editors at Contractor magazine give the Rheem HP50ES water heater a 2009 Editor's Choice award, and as noted earlier, Rheem earns high marks as a brand in the 2007 survey commissioned by Builder Online. Owner-written reviews at HomeDepot.com give high praise to the Rheem EcoSense hybrid, while the GE GeoSpring Hybrid water heater earns equally high praise from owners at Lowes.com and Sears.com.   

Even though the two hybrid water heaters are made by the same company, there are differences between them. A forum discussion at WaterHeaterRescue.com compares the two hybrid water heaters, giving the edge to the GE because the design is considered more efficient and the anode rod is replaceable. The anode rod on the Rheem is not. Also, the energy-factor (EF) ratings on the two models differ: 2.35 for the GE, 2 for the Rheem.

A. O. Smith also makes a hybrid water heater with an EF of 2.3: the 80-gallon A. O. Smith Voltex PHPT-80 (*Est. $2,200). The larger capacity provides a higher FHR of 74, 84 and 76 in heat-pump, hybrid and regular electric modes, respectively.

Still, there are some drawbacks to hybrid water heaters. Their fans can be noisy, though owners say they get used to it. Hybrid water heaters are about the same size as a regular electric water heater, but because they need plenty of air for the heat pump, they do best in a space of at least 100 square feet. In hot climates, it's fine to put one indoors in an air-conditioned space because the heat pump puts out cold air as it heats the water -- doing double duty as an air conditioner. For most users, experts say the best location for a hybrid water heater is in an un-air-conditioned space such as a garage, basement or attic -- as long as the temperature there stays above 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

We didn't find any reports of a hybrid water heater being hooked into an air conditioning duct, but this is an option (*Est. $80) for the AirGenerate AirTap A7 (*Est. $570), a heat pump you can install on top of a regular electric water heater you already have. The AirTap A7 has an EF of 2.2, and plugs into a regular 110-volt circuit. This heat pump add-on earns a favorable review at Fine Homebuilding and high praise at Amazon.com.