A water heater is an important part of your home. Not only does it supply your family with hot water for bathing and showering, but it also generates hot water for washing clothes and dishes. Unfortunately, most homeowners take this imperative appliance for granted. In most cases, you will replace an outdated unit with a new traditional model without much thought. Replacing an older unit with a new heat-pump water heater is a smart option that you should consider. Of course, you may not be familiar with this innovative, efficient, and appealing appliance. Use this guide to learn a few interesting facts about the heat-pump water heater.
It Works Like Your Refrigerator
You may not associate a refrigerator with a heat-pump water heater, but they work in a similar manner.
Your refrigerator pulls heat from the interior box and dumps it into the room. This prevents heat from affecting the food inside the fridge. Heat-pump water heaters are connected to your heating and cooling system's heat pump. This allows your water heater to pull heat from the air in the same room before dumping it into the tank at a higher temperature.
To ensure your heat-pump water heater works properly, avoid installing it in a cool space. The water heater should be surrounding by warm air so it is able to pull heat to use when heating the water. The installation location should have a temperature between 40 and 90 degrees all year. Also, make sure there is an estimated 1,000 cubic feet of air space around your heat-pump water heater.
It Conserves Energy and Saves You Money
Traditional systems use energy to heat the water inside your tank. Your heat-pump water heater moves heated air into the tank to create hot water, which saves you a great deal of energy. Conserving energy is a great benefit on its own, since you most likely want to protect the environment. However, conserving energy can also save you a good amount of money.
Determining the exact amount of energy savings will depend on your household's water usage, but a household of four can save an estimated $330 per year in energy costs. This may not seem like large savings, but this can add up to $3,500 in savings over the lifespan of your heat-pump water heater.
It Is Capable of Dehumidifying
As your heat-pump water heater pulls heat out of the air, the pump cools the space surrounding it. This cooling capability also draws out moisture that may be in the room. Here are a few dangers of moisture and humidity in your home.
- Mold, mildew, and algae growth
- Breathing difficulties
- Nasal congestion/drip
- Skin and eye irritations
- Warped wood
- Peeling paint
- Condensation on windows
Removing humidity from the air surrounding your heat-pump water heater improves air quality while reducing your risk of odors, mold growth, medical conditions, and actual damage to your home.
It Adds Appeal and Value to your Home
Since 18 percent of a home's energy usage stems from heating water, buyers will find the addition of your hea- pump water heater very appealing. The added appeal of a heat-pump water heater and other energy-efficient updates will also increase the value of your home. Not only will you be able to attract more potential buyers, but you will also be able to sell your home at a higher price.
Instead of replacing an old water heater with a standard model, opt for an efficient heat-pump water heater. Learning and understanding these four surprising facts will help you make a decision to move toward getting an energy-efficient, affordable, and appealing heat-pump water heater.
