The GE GeoSpring heat-pump water heater.
Since we posted our review of the GE GeoSpring electric heat-pump water heater ($1,700 without installation) we've received several queries from readers about whether the GeoSpring and other heat-pump water heaters, like the Rheem HP50RH, will produce similar savings when installed in cold climates or cold spaces in a home. Here are some details. Based on our preliminary tests in a room with an ambient temperature of 65° to 70°F, the GE GeoSpring electric heat pump water heater has produced energy savings of at least 50 percent compared with a standard GE 50-gallon electric water heater.
An evaporator unit on top of the GeoSpring draws in ambient heat from the surrounding air. That heat is transferred to the water in the tank through condenser coils that spiral around the heater's tank. That's where the savings come in. But when the ambient air isn't warm enough, the heat pump can't keep up to heat the water sufficiently, so a pair of traditional electric heating elements kick in.
"It's right that in cooler locations, a hybrid heat-pump water heater might not save as much energy," says John Galeotafiore, associate director of home improvement in our Technical Division. "Many homes in the Southeast and Southwest have their water heaters in a garage or closet where the ambient temperature is likely to be higher than 70°F, and savings from a heat-pump water heater will be maximized. But in the Northeast, water heaters will typically be installed in an unheated basement that may get cool in the winter, cutting down on savings."
Galeotafiore notes that even in the northern United States, the water heater is likely to be in the same room or area as the home's boiler or furnace and that a heat-pump heater would benefit from the heat being delivered from the heating system appliance. (A final point from our tech team: If a heat-pump water is installed in a space that you heat, the heating system for that space might need to overcome the cooling effect the water heater can have on the space.)
If you're considering a hybrid heat-pump water heater, be sure to read the information about installation placement and ambient temperature from manufacturers, such as these details from
GE and
Rheem.
We're currently conducting further tests of the GeoSpring and the Rheem HP50RH in a space with lower ambient temperatures to see what impact that has on energy savings.
Note that the GeoSpring, HP50RH, and other water heaters qualify for a
30 percent federal tax credit, a
cash for appliances rebate in several states, and
other government and utility incentives.
Essential information: See our
free buyer's guide to storage-tank and tankless water heaters and swap opinions on different technologies and specific models in our
water heaters forum.
