Hybrid Water Heaters

[Norse]

We currently have a gas water heater that needs replacing. We really, really wanted to stay with gas, but due to changes in local codes, we would incur a major and pricey headache in going this route. Electric, bleck. Cheapest to install but will cost us several hundred $ more to run yearly than the gas; not very enviro friendly either. Plumber mentioned a hybrid w/heat pump may be an alternative. Quite pricey to buy and install, but better for the enviro and would cost much less to run than electric. Anybody have one? Any opinions? Thanks.

[Koronin]

Have you checked into the tankless water heaters? A former neighbor's sister has one and loves it. I don't know rather or not it be the same with your codes as getting a new gas one though. I haven't heard of a hybrid w/heat pump.

[Norse]

Due to the way the house is set up we can't go with a tankless.

[tulip]

Electric tank hot water heaters are actually very efficient, more efficient than gas tank hot water heaters. Gas HW heaters need to be vented and lose heat through the venting process. Electric HW heaters are like giant double-walled thermoses. Once the water gets up to the right temperature, it takes very little electricity to keep it there because the new HW heaters are so well insulated.

Stay away from electric on-demand HW heaters, though.

[Koronin]

Sorry that you can't even consider the tankless. I'm also not fond of electric and were we are currently renting is not helping matters. My old house had a gas water heater, this townhouse has an electric one. Actually the townhouse is about 5 years newer than my old house is, but the gas water heater was better than this electric one. We have put a wrap thing on it also. (I'm with you, I'd rather have gas.)

[OakLeaf]

Tulip, I know the electric tankless heaters aren't nearly as efficient as gas, but is there another reason you say to stay away from them?

I ask because for some stupid reason our house was built with a long run from the water heater to the kitchen ... with the pipes next to the exterior walls. It can take three or four minutes of running the tap on full blast to get hot water out of the tap, which is NOT good when you live in an area with a water shortage.

Gas is an option, but there's no gas to the house now, so it would involve a lot of digging and drilling and knocking out walls. We're definitely considering solar, but even if we did, with the way the pipes are, we'd still need to re-heat the water by the time it got to the kitchen.

[laura*]

Tulip, I know the electric tankless heaters aren't nearly as efficient as gas, but is there another reason you say to stay away from them?

She's probably saying that because an electric tankless won't be able to produce enough hot water. An electric tankless may work fine for a kitchen sink or dishwasher, but it won't have the capacity to supply a shower. There's just not enough energy in a residential 240 volt circuit.

[abejita]

They make electric tankless WH that can easily supply a whole house with hot water, including multiple shower and washing machines/dishwashers at the same time.

We love our tankless. We've had it for eight years now with no problems and great savings.