Understanding Traditional Water Heaters
Before we dive into a new hybrid water heater, let’s first start by defining traditional water heaters. These appliances have a large cylindrical storage tank that’s responsible for holding hot water. They can run on electricity, natural gas, or even heating oil, depending on the specific type of water heater you purchase. With fuel-powered water heaters, fuel is burned to create heat to warm up your water. With an electric water heater, electric heating elements are used to warm up water in its tank. Traditional water heaters are typically the most cost-effective and have a lifespan of about 8 to 12 years with proper care and upkeep. All of these units work in the same way to provide hot water for your home. You set a temperature on the thermostat, and the water will constantly reheat to maintain that temperature setting. Whenever you use your hot water, new water is introduced into the tank to be heated to your desired temperature.Understanding Hybrid Water Heaters
While hybrid water heaters can look somewhat similar to traditional ones, they operate much differently. These units have integrated heat pump technology that extracts heat from the air to warm the water inside your water heater. These units require adequate airflow as they pull in the surrounding air to extract heat. Because these units are simply transferring heat instead of creating it, they offer a very high operating efficiency. All hybrid water heaters do come with a backup heating element. This element is responsible for heating up the water in the event that your heat pump is unable to extract enough heat to get your water up to your desired temperature setting.Efficiency Comparison
One of the biggest concerns that many homeowners have when purchasing a new water heater is how efficient it is. The more efficient a unit is, the less money you have to spend on utility bills. When doing a direct comparison of traditional and hybrid water heaters, it becomes exceedingly clear that hybrid models are much more energy efficient. All water heaters have an efficiency rating known as a uniform energy factor, or UEF for short. The higher a water heater’s UEF rating, the more energy efficient it is. Traditional electric water heaters have a UEF rating of around .9. Traditional gas water heaters have a UEF rating of close to .6 to .7 because some of the heat they produce gets carried away in the exhaust ventilation system. Hybrid water heaters have UEF ratings between 3 and 3.5, which is significantly higher. When comparing these different energy ratings, it becomes very clear that hybrid water heaters are around three to four times more efficient than traditional water heaters. This means your water heater bills could be significantly less when you invest in a hybrid water heater for your home. To better understand this, let’s take a look at a quick example. The average household has a 50-gallon traditional electric water heater that uses about 5,000 kWh per year to heat its water. A similar 50-gallon hybrid water heater will only use about 1,500 kWh annually. If the average electricity cost is .15 per kWh, that means the electric water heater would cost you about $675 yearly, while a hybrid water heater of the same size will cost you only $225 annually. That’s a savings of $450 per year with a hybrid model.Lifespan
One other comparison factor that you don’t want to overlook is the lifespan of each unit. Traditional water heaters have a lifespan of about 8 to 12 years. Hybrid water heaters last for between 13 and 15 years. These are just estimated lifespans that are influenced by a number of different factors. Tips for extending the longevity of your water heater are ensuring that it gets annual flushing service and treating any hard water at your home before it comes into contact with your water heater.Upfront Cost
One key factor that many homeowners take into consideration when purchasing a new water heater is the upfront cost. There’s no doubt that traditional water heaters are more budget-friendly than hybrid water heaters. In fact, hybrid units tend to cost about one and a half to two times that of a typical electric water heater of the same tank size. However, many homeowners find they can recoup the upfront cost of their hybrid water heater within a three to five-year period thanks to the energy savings it can provide compared to a traditional electric water heater. One thing to keep in mind is that there are various tax incentives you can take advantage of when you invest in a high-efficiency hybrid water heater, like the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. This tax credit can help you recoup some of the upfront costs of your hybrid water heater.Spacing Requirements
When you compare the size of a 50-gallon electric water heater to that of a 50-gallon hybrid water heater, you’ll notice the latter is much taller. In fact, hybrid water heaters tend to be about 20 inches taller than traditional electric water heaters. This is because the top section houses the compressor for the heat pump component of the hybrid water heater. Because hybrid water heaters are constantly pulling in air to extract heat from it, they require adequate space surrounding them to optimize their airflow process. It’s generally recommended that hybrid water heaters have at least 6 to 12 inches of space surrounding their sides and top to optimize airflow. This is much more than electric water heaters that only require a couple of inches on each side to access their panels and electronics.Making Your Ultimate Decision
When you make your ultimate purchasing decision, it’s important to take your budget, long-term energy bills, and spacing requirements into consideration. In general, those who are very budget-conscious when it comes to the purchase of a water heater will find that an electric water heater is cheaper. It can be the ideal option if you don’t plan on staying in your home for many years or you don’t have a lot of space. A hybrid water heater can be a better option for homeowners who can invest more up front, allowing them to cash in on the long-term energy savings these units provide. This is a good option for homeowners who plan to remain in their home for decades and have adequate space for the installation of this type of unit.Reliable Water Heater Installation Service
Beltway Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing offers reliable water heater installation and other plumbing services for the Hanover, MD area. We can also assist with all your water heater repair, maintenance, and replacement needs. Just contact our office today to book a service appointment with one of our helpful service technicians. Meet the Author
