Hybrid Hot Water Heater Versus Tankless

Tankless hot water heaters have been the choice of energy conscious consumers over the past 15 years. The new trend is hybrid hot water heaters that combine tankless technology with a tank. Which is better? I’m vote Hybrid/Heat pump style hot water heaters, especially in warm humid climates. Update: FPL weighs in on the issue and the Heat Pump Hybrid wins with them as well, read more here.

The tankless hot hot water heater is only on when there is a demand for hot water. This saves money over the traditional tank style heater. The old tank style can lose energy from heat loss because the hot water is stored. The disadvantage is that many tankless heaters may need to be installed near the point of use. If a whole house tankless is used, then you have issues with having to run the water to drain the water in the line before you get to the hot water. You can install a recirculating pump to eliminate this lag. However that requires and electric pump and possibly a tank. The tank is what we were trying to avoid with this installation. Another disadvantage is flow rate, many tankless hot water heaters have low flow rates and the tankless heaters with high flow rates that can handle a whole house tend to be very expensive.

The hybrid heat pump hot water heater use electricity to move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly. Therefore, they can be two to three times more energy efficient than conventional electric resistance water heaters. To move the heat, heat pumps work like a refrigerator in reverse.

Heat pump water heaters require installation in locations that remain in the 40º–90ºF (4.4º–32.2ºC) range year-round and provide at least 1,000 cubic feet (28.3 cubic meters) of air space around the water heater. Cool exhaust air can be exhausted to the room or outdoors. Install them in a space with excess heat, such as a laundry room or a garage. The heat pump also dehumidifies the space where it is installed.

The energy costs of a hybrid hot water heater are slightly lower or equal to the tankless style heaters.

If you live in a warm climate, the clear winner is the Hybrid Hot Water Heater (Heat Pump), if you live in a colder climate the tankless would be a great option.

Hybrid Hot Water Heater
1. Low Energy Costs – 80 Gallon Hybrid Est. Costs $151 vs. Traditional $555+ Yearly
2. Cools Your Garage or other installation space, while the Heater is running.
3. Dehumidifies the installation space
4. Has a large tank that can easily fill large roman tubs
5. Wifi Connected
6. Vacation Modes
7. Leak Alerts

Call us 561-869-4497 if you are in Palm Beach, Martin, or St. Lucie County in Florida, and we will be happy to consult with you on your hot water heating needs.