To address Silicon Valley’s air pollution caused by fossil fuels, transitioning to efficient, electric equipment is increasingly important. One of the changes you can make in your home to improve air quality and community emissions is the installation of an electric heat pump water heater — an efficient and cost-effective way to heat water.
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Benefits of Heat Pump Water Heaters
A heat pump water heater is an energy-efficient appliance that uses electricity to heat water. Unlike traditional water heaters that generate heat through gas combustion or electric resistance, heat pump water heaters transfer heat from the air to heat the water. This process enables them to be two to three times more energy-efficient than conventional water heaters.
Heat pump water heaters operate using a refrigeration cycle, similar to how a refrigerator works but in reverse. They extract heat from the surrounding air and transfer it to the water in the tank. This process involves three main components: the evaporator, compressor, and condenser.
The cost of a Heat Pump Water Heater can vary significantly based on the model and installation requirements. F65 to 80 gallon water heater tank is recommended, with an average cost ranging from $1,800 to $2,800. Additional installation costs, including labor and permitting fees, can add between $4,300 to $6,500 when replacing a gas water heater. The average total project costs for customers in the SVCE service area are around $5,000 to $7,000. We recommend getting several quotes from licensed contractors—the SVCE Assisted Home Upgrades tool can help you request free quotes from multiple contractors.
There are many available rebates and incentives that help bring the cost down to being at parity with gas water heaters. The long-term savings on energy bills make them an even more cost-effective option, especially when paired with the E-ELEC rate or EV-2 rate for electricity discounts. Increase savings by adopting best practices like setting your heat pump to run during off-peak hours when electricity rates are low. Heat pump users can expect to save approximately $200 or more annually.
From do-it-yourself to done-for-you, Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) offers rebates and services you need to upgrade your home with high-efficiency electric appliances. You can receive up to $3,000 in SVCE rebates for a heat pump water heater, which are fully stackable with other available federal, state, and local incentives.
Option 1: DIY or Contractor Installation. If you already have a contractor or prefer to install a heat pump water heater yourself, reserve your rebate and claim your reimbursement through the SVCE Home Rebates program.
Option 2: Need Help Finding a Contractor or Quotes? If you need assistance in finding a contractor and stacking rebates, use the free SVCE Assisted Home Upgrades tool. This free service allows you to request project quotes from multiple contractors and apply for all eligible rebates with a single application—all in one convenient place.
Option 3: Emergency Replacement. Broken water heater and need an emergency replacement? Services such as the SVCE Emergency Water Heater Replacement Program offers support for those in urgent need of a new water heating solution. Instead of a standard replacement, SVCE will help you upgrade to an energy-efficient heat pump water heater.
Heat pump water heaters can be installed in various locations, including garages, laundry rooms, and utility closets. However, they require sufficient space and airflow to operate efficiently. For optimal performance, they should ideally be placed in areas with a temperature range of 40°F to 90°F. Additionally, as the heat pump operates, it expels cold air, which can enhance comfort in the surrounding space during warmer months.
When selecting a heat pump water heater, consider the following factors:
Replacing the combustion of fossil gas (primarily methane) with clean electricity for your water heater removes a major source of dangerous and unhealthy Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) from your home and surrounding environment.
With SVCE providing clean electricity for your home, switching to a heat pump water heater cuts nearly 50% of your home’s overall emissions.
Imagine enjoying a nice hot shower, all while saving money and energy! By trading in your outdated gas water heater for an efficient electric model, you can get up to $3,000 cash back in the process. Be sure to explore your Home Upgrade options and connect with qualified contractors in your area to ensure a smooth installation process.
Discover the benefits of going electric, explore available incentives, and get personalized advice for your home or determining your future EV. Our team is here to help, free of charge, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. PT (excluding holidays). Chat Now or call (833) 243-.
This is Part II of an expert best practices web guide to Heat Pump Water Heaters published by the ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction program. Read Part I of the guide.
To ensure efficient operation, a Heat Pump Water Heater should be installed in a sufficiently large room, or be properly vented. Manufacturers typically require access to a minimum of 450 or 700 cubic feet of free air space where the water heater is installed, along with ample space to allow installation and service. An 8-ft by 12-ft room with an 8-ft ceiling, for example, provides sufficient volume. The installation location relative to other parts of the home (hot water uses and living areas) will affect efficiency and may impact residents’ comfort.
Be sure to consult the manufacturer’s installation guide for recommendations specific to your model.
Heat Pump Water Heaters have a fan and compressor, both of which can make a modest amount of noise when the Heat Pump Water Heater is heating water. Heat Pump Water Heaters that meet ENERGY STAR Version 5.0 product specifications emit sound levels less than 55 dBA—about the level of a background conversation. (NOTE: 55 dBA is also the maximum sound rating level allowed by the ENERGY STAR NextGen program for HPWHs installed in occupiable space.)
Sound levels vary among products. Some Heat Pump Water Heaters have sound pressure ratings of 45 dBA—about the level of a quiet dishwasher—and even softer-sounding products are in development.
Avoid locating a Heat Pump Water Heater next to rooms where sound levels are more important to comfort, such as bedrooms and living areas. To further reduce the impact of noise, consider additional sound insulation for the installation room.
Heat Pump Water Heaters exhaust air that has been cooled and dried. Avoid locating an Heat Pump Water Heater near areas where residents will be sensitive to cooler air temperatures. Infrequently occupied spaces where temperature variations are less likely to be bothersome—like hallways, garages, and utility rooms—are good choices. Locations with waste heat available also serve as excellent locations. In some areas, the cooler and drier air can be a benefit, for example, in a laundry room or near a home gym.
The local climate will often determine best locations to install a Heat Pump Water Heater. Be sure to consult the manufacturer’s installation guide for recommendations specific to your model and follow applicable local codes.
In some homes or dwelling units, it is necessary to plan for the Heat Pump Water Heater to be placed in a confined space, such as a small mechanical closet. If the Heat Pump Water Heater must be installed in closets adjacent to rooms that are frequently occupied, vent the cooler exhaust air through a duct or transfer grille into an area where temperature is not an issue.
Refer to manufacturer requirements for minimum requirements for the amount of air needed, and choose one of the following options to achieve proper airflow.
Best practice is to provide a total minimum net-free area of 240 square inches or greater, with both high and low openings to allow air to circulate. This can be done through a fully louvered door, using both high and low transfer grilles, or a high transfer grille and a ¾”door undercut.
For active venting, ducts must be short, unrestricted, and as straight as possible. Design ducting to vent exhaust air into a location where a cool air stream will have minimal impact on occupant comfort. Only duct to the outside if located in a warm climate and ducting both the inlet and outlet. Refer to manufacturer guidance for duct sizing and maximum distance requirements.
DO NOT:
Follow the local plumbing code’s minimum first-hour rating (FHR) requirements and manufacturer recommendations for tank sizing. For maximum efficiency, upsize the tank over the standard practice used for electric resistance or fossil fuel-fired water heaters. Heat Pump Water Heaters typically come with auxiliary resistance elements that can run to meet periods of high water demand when the unit is set to Hybrid Mode. Resistance operation is less efficient than running the heat pump alone. Upsizing the tank will minimize inefficient resistance heating, allowing the heat pump to do the majority of the water-heating work. The ENERGY STAR NextGen program requires minimum rated tank volumes based on the number of bedrooms, as shown in the table below.
Take Size Tip #2: Upsize the tank if the occupants are likely to have high hot water draw periods, such as a household with teenage children or occupants with a preference for baths.
1 to 1.5
2 to 2.5
3 to 3.5
Number of Bedrooms1
2
3
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2
3
4
5
3
4
5
6
FHR per Uniform Plumbing Code38
49
49
49
62
62
74
62
74
74
74
ENERGY STAR NextGen Minimum Tank Size36
45
59
45
59
72
72
59
72
72
72
There is no one-size-fits all application option for heat pump water heaters in multifamily buildings. There are several design features that must be considered when planning to apply Heat Pump Water Heaters in multifamily buildings. The architect and mechanical designer must engage early in the design process to account for these needs.
The best system for a specific building will depend on a variety of factors including climate, number of units, type and size of units, number of floors, presence of a parking garage, roof access, balcony presence/absence, and interior or exterior corridors. Heat Pump Water Heaters are most effectively integrated into multifamily buildings if considered from day one of the design process.
There are two primary domestic hot water system types for multifamily buildings: in-unit serving one dwelling unit per water heater or a central system serving all or part of the building. In-unit Heat Pump Water Heaters are typically located in a closet within the apartment or just outside it. A variation on this approach is using a single 80-gallon Heat Pump Water Heater to service two to four dwelling units.
Central systems heat and store hot water in a central location, such as a mechanical room, and use a recirculation loop to distribute the hot water. Unlike in-unit Heat Pump Water Heaters, with central systems there is no need to figure out how to keep the cool exhaust air from impacting occupant comfort. A downside to central systems is that they must pump water long distances, resulting in energy losses of 30 to 50%.
Due to the smaller size of most apartments, for in-unit Heat Pump Water Heaters, exhausting cool air into the living space can potentially cause comfort problems, especially in heating dominated climates. One solution to prevent comfort issues is to locate the Heat Pump Water Heater in a (properly ventilated) closet off the corridor where heat can be harvested and cool air rejected. If the Heat Pump Water Heater is accessed from the corridor, code will typically require fire-rated assemblies between the Heat Pump Water Heater closet and the dwelling unit. These fire-rated assemblies will have the benefit of providing of additional sound proofing between the unit and the water heater.
When a heat pump water heater is actively operating (in heat pump mode), it generally is providing 2,500 to 5,000 Btus/hr of cooling. This will nominally increase the amount of heating needed for the space, and decrease the required cooling. Designers should account for this additional cool air when sizing heating and cooling systems when multiple Heat Pump Water Heaters reject cold air to the same space (e.g., a corridor).