Heat Pump Water Heaters

A water heater is the second biggest electricity user in a home, behind heating and cooling costs. One way to help lower this cost is to install a heat pump water heater. A heat pump water heater can be two to three times more efficient than natural gas or electric water heaters. Let’s think of refrigerators: they draw the heat from the inside and exhaust it through the coils in the back. A heat pump water heater is similar but works in the opposite direction by drawing heat from the surrounding air in and absorbing it by a refrigerant located in the evaporator coil, while exhausting cool, dehumidified air out in the process. 

The warm refrigerant is then pumped through a compressor, heating it more, transferring the heat throughout the tank. Most heat pump water heater units are hybrid units, meaning they have electric coils to heat water inside the tank during high demand times. In addition to heating your water, the HPWH also cools and dehumidifies the area it is located in.  

Water Heaters - NYSERDA

Last updated August 30, 2023