Buying a Hybrid Water Heater
Approximately thirty percent of your energy bill is to heat your hot water, and buying a hybrid water heater is helpful for improving that. like a conventional electric hot water heaters except that they have a hot air pump on top of the heater which extracts hot air from the room and uses it to contribute to heating the water. These units average nearly one thousand dollars more than regular electric hot water heaters but they do create daily energy cost savings. Since these units deliver about three hundred dollars in annual energy savings, for the average homeowner, the payback period to recoup the thousand dollars with the energy savings is about three to four years. Here you will learn how to shop for a hybrid water heater.
Warranty
Electric and hybrid hot water heaters are easy to maintain. In purchasing you should look for a warranty of at least twelve years as most of the reputable units offer that. Look for a 2.0 energy factor which makes it a very efficient heating unit. This will make it Energy Star qualified. Make sure that the air filter from the pump is easily accessible for cleaning. It should have a premium resistor anode which will prevent erosion of the heater walls.
Freezing and Overheating
Always buy a unit that has automatic protection against freezing or overheating regardless of what your temperature settings are. There should also be a temperature and pressure relief valve for protection against explosions and fire. The drain valve should be brass or some kind of alloy to make it long lasting. And the temperature setting controls should be easy to use and to understand.
If you are considering a purchase of a hybrid hot water heater, check with your accountant and there has been a federal thirty percent tax credit available. Also, check to see if there are any state or local programs to support such a purchase.
