What's the Current Quality on Heat Pump Water Heaters?

semipro said:

These appear to be made in China per Don's post here: https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/anyone-buy-an-airtap-lately.68659/#post-867594

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For the record, my $2k AOSmith is also made in China.

woodgeek said:

The 80 gallon version is only $699. (My 80 gal had a $2100 MSRP).

https://www.gpconservation.com/airgenerate-ati80.html

I get a $300 rebate, so I could get that one for $400 with free shipping. (And no warranty.)

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I was on that site over the winter looking at those HPHW's and they were twice the cost they are now. I wonder why they are selling them so cheap ?

I might reconsider getting an AO smith if I can get a 66 gallon for $499. The Airtap has a stainless steel tank also.

EDIT: From the link woodgeek provided:

It has come to our attention that AirGenerate is no longer providing a manufacturer's warranty on this item. This unfortunate situation gives you the opportunity to purchase a top-of-the-line heat pump water heater at a price that is below our cost! Plus, we at GP Conservation will stand behind the product with our own one-year warranty on the ATI80 and will provide a replacement or refund in the event of product failure. Feel free to call for further details - 503-907-2899.

The AO Smith has a 10 year warranty. Even at almost double the cost I think it would still be worth buying the AO Smith

woodgeek said:

For the record, my $2k AOSmith is also made in China.

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Interesting article about the GE Geospring and how it was originally manufactured in China and now made here cheaper,more reliable and better quality.

Yet this year, something curious and hopeful has begun to happen, something that cannot be explained merely by the ebbing of the Great Recession, and with it the cyclical return of recently laid-off workers. On February 10, Appliance Park opened an all-new assembly line in Building 2—largely dormant for 14 years—to make cutting-edge, low-energy water heaters. It was the first new assembly line at Appliance Park in 55 years—and the water heaters it began making had previously been made for GE in a Chinese contract factory

So a funny thing happened to the GeoSpring on the way from the cheap Chinese factory to the expensive Kentucky factory: The material cost went down. The labor required to make it went down. The quality went up. Even the energy efficiency went up.

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/12/the-insourcing-boom/309166/

Otis B Driftwood said:

In February. Mrs Driftwood would punch me back to 1928 if that happened.

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Get a second DHW heater. We have one in the basement, another on the 3rd floor. When the oil-fired boiler in the basement goes down (once in 4 years), we can still get hot showers in the third floor suite.

My childhood home, we had the Electric HWH in series with the boiler's DHW tank, in a primitive endless hot water scheme. The electric was fed with hot water from the boiler's tank, so it didn't run much, but when we shut the boiler down for summer, we still had hot water. This is how I might set up a HPWH, if I ever go that route.

To the OP: any concern with having a cold basement in winter? Higher likelihood of frozen pipes?

Again, hasn't GE sold off its appliance division to Electrolux?

velvetfoot said:

Also overstated, IMO. It helps some, IMO.

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Depends on your location and basement. I have a 70 pint dehumidifier that runs 24/7/365 or close to it. I can actually watch the electric meter spin...anyway, any dehumidification that comes as the result of heating water is very very valuable.

mithesaint said:

I can actually watch the electric meter spin...anyway, any dehumidification that comes as the result of heating water is very very valuable.

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People joke about wearing out their meter, but we actually did! Mechanical one just stopped one day. Took a month of free electric to have us notice. We have three dehumidifiers, and four HVAC systems, which run quite a bit in summer. A HPWH would save us in summer, less in winter.

Bradford white is now rebuilding /adding on to be, full on us built as well.

Ashful said:

People joke about wearing out their meter, but we actually did! Mechanical one just stopped one day. Took a month of free electric to have us notice. We have three dehumidifiers, and four HVAC systems, which run quite a bit in summer. A HPWH would save us in summer, less in winter.

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Wow. I was actually just joking about the meter. I'm grateful to have my electric bill and not yours!! Although, I imagine your house has a bit for sq ft. and significantly more charm/history.

For those close to CT. Energize CT is giving the $400 rebate instantly on Geosprings at lowes now. You could essentially drive from New York and buy one in CT. Energize CT is subsidized through CT electrical users as a separate charge. Cree led bulbs are also significantly reduced.

I have had mine for 2 years now and its been fine. I have saved a fortune in electrical costs over my former conventional electric tank. 500 watt heat pump vs 4500 watt elements plus it dehumidifies my basement.

I like the dehumidification part but id only use it in the summer ,in winter i need a humidifier around here ,it gets down to 25% humidity and my hot water comes from standby heat from my solid fuel boiler.

I don't know, maybe it makes my basement less humid, but maybe not relatively speaking, since it also cools it off. I have to look more closely at the thermometers and humidimeters (?)

velvetfoot said:

I don't know, maybe it makes my basement less humid, but maybe not relatively speaking, since it also cools it off. I have to look more closely at the thermometers and humidimeters (?)

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If you are pumping water out then you are dehumidifying . Mine pumps out more than 3 gal a day, from the air.

But cooler air holds less water.

Brian26 said:

For those close to CT. Energize CT is giving the $400 rebate instantly on Geosprings at lowes now. You could essentially drive from New York and buy one in CT. Energize CT is subsidized through CT electrical users as a separate charge. Cree led bulbs are also significantly reduced.

I have had mine for 2 years now and its been fine. I have saved a fortune in electrical costs over my former conventional electric tank. 500 watt heat pump vs 4500 watt elements plus it dehumidifies my basement.

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I may or may not have bought one in CT for 799 and then applied for the mass save $750 mail in rebate.

Seasoned Oak said:

I like the dehumidification part but id only use it in the summer ,in winter i need a humidifier around here ,it gets down to 25% humidity and my hot water comes from standby heat from my solid fuel boiler.

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It won't dehumidify in the winter. It would just cool.

woodgeek said:

It won't dehumidify in the winter. It would just cool.

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Exactly. HP will work to bring dew point down to evaporator coil temp. If dew point is already below that temp, as it may be at 25% RH, then no dehumidification will occur. However, if any air exchange between utility room and living space, it will fight your attempts to humidify.

Okay, right now it's 70F/66% upstairs and 61F/74% in the basement. Took a shower a little while ago and the Nyletherm is still running.
Maybe there's a chart I can find somewhere, not sure what it's called, that shows relative vs. absolute humidity, saturation temps, or whatever.
My point is that it might be cooling off the basement more than it would be, since it's already cool down there, and the relative humidity goes up even while moisture is being removed.