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Make Your House More Energy Efficient By Switching To A Heat Pump Water Heater

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According to Energy.gov, around 12% of your energy bills are for heating water, and this can add up to a lot of money each year. To achieve a more energy-efficient house, you may want to consider replacing your old hot water heater with a heat pump water heater (HPWH). This is a great way to reduce your energy bills, and here are two things you should know about HPWHs.

What is a HPWH?

A HPWH is a water heating device that runs on electricity and contains a liquid coolant that helps it accomplish its job. A heat pump is designed to pull heat out of the air. This heat is then transferred into the water, and this is how the water in your home is heated when you have this type of system.

As this is done, it tends to cool the room the heat pump is located in because it pulls all the heat out of this room. While this can be a benefit during the summer, it may be more of a nuisance in the winter when it is cold. Another option is to have the contractor design it so it pushes the cold air it creates outside instead of leaving it in your house.

Because a heat pump takes heat from the air, it must be placed in an area of your home that is warm. Typically, the room must be between 40 degrees F to 90 degrees F at all times.

How much can you save?

Switching to a HPWH is a great idea if you want to save money, but buying a heat pump may cost more upfront. According to Energy Star, you could save up to 50% on your expenses for heating water by making this switch.

You should realize, though, that the system will use more electricity during times when there is an extremely high demand for hot water in your house. When too much hot water is needed all at once, the system will not be able to produce enough through extracting heat from the air. When this happens, the system will produce hot water simply by heating it with electricity.

One highlight of a HPWH is that it may have a vacation setting on it. With this, you can shut the heat pump off when you are not at home. This will help you save a lot of money because the system will not make any hot water when no one is around to use it.

To find out if this would be a good upgrade to make in your house, contact an HVAC contractor such as Christian Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. This type of contractor offers water heater installation services and can help you choose the right type for your house.


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