When you hear the term “hybrid water heater,” you might think of a dual-powered appliance similar to a hybrid car. However, hybrid water heaters do not run on a combination of electricity and gasoline — they are powered by the latest advancement in water heating technology.
Hot water is a luxury most of us overlook until it stops working. We use it to bathe, shower, wash clothes and clean up the dirty dishes after a meal. However, hot water comes at a cost. Did you know that your hot water heater uses about 18 percent of your home’s energy usage? When you think about it, that’s a significant chunk of your energy bill. On average, hybrid water heater systems use less than half the energy consumed by traditional storage water heaters. Not only will it provide you with more hot water, but also save you money on your energy bill. It is estimated that a hybrid water heating system will pay for itself in about three years. After that, you are left with just the monthly (and yearly) savings.
Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heater
While several manufacturers produce hybrid water heaters, one of the most common types integrates heat pump technology similar to that found in your home’s air conditioning and heating system. The heat pump water heater utilizes a heat pump to heat the water to the preset temperature with electricity. It works by extracting the heat from the surrounding atmosphere and using it to heat the stored water. Because of its extreme efficiency, you get plenty of hot water at less than half the cost of traditional systems.
Hybrid Tank Tankless Water Heater
Another type of hybrid water heater gaining popularity combines old technology with the new to provide an endless amount of hot water. These are referred to as a hybrid tank tankless water heater. By integrating point of use or on demand water heating technology with traditional water heater tank systems, these systems produce hot water more than twice as fast as tanked systems alone.
If you are considering converting your traditional hot water system to a more efficient hybrid system, do your homework and investigate the different models and systems available on the market today. The technology used to heat water efficiently varies between manufacturers. You should also hire only licensed plumbing professionals with the experience and knowledge to do the job correctly.
For answers to any of your water heater questions, contact the Pink Plumber today.
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