Residential Heat Pump Water Heaters - hot water for your home.

How does a heat pump water heater work?

A heat pump water heater operates like your home heat pump air conditioner, but instead of heating and cooling air, the E-Tech water heater heats (and in special situations, cools) water. A heap pump water heater is more efficient than the air conditioner because it makes use of virtually 100% of the heat absorbed, consumed and generated by the electrical consumption of the system. Nothing goes to waste with the heat pump water heater. The integral refrigeration system also captures the heat generated by the compressor motor and the refrigeration compression cycle, and adds that to the sensible and latent heat extracted from the surrounding air.

Standard water heaters heat water by converting a fuel source (typically electricity or natural gas) into heat, which is then transferred into the water. This requires the purchase of all of the energy it takes to heat the water. Since no standard water heater is 100% efficient, you actually need to pay for more energy than the water heating requires to make up for the inefficiency.

E-Tech heat pump water heaters work by transferring heat, not creating heat. Heat pumps move energy from someplace it's not needed (in this case, the surrounding air) into the water. The total energy required to heat the water does not change, but you only need to purchase the energy which is needed to move the heat - typically only 20 - 50% of the total energy - saving you up to 80% of energy costs.

Water is circulated through the unit, heated and returned back into the tank of a conventional electric water heater

Want to know more about how heat pump water heaters work?

E-Tech residential water heaters are the perfect addition to many homes. They provide three important benefits:

1. They reduce energy costs
2. They cool and dehumidify the surrounding air
3. They are environmentally friendly.

Hot Water Costs $$$:

The typical residential water heater is second only to the heating and air conditioning system in home energy use. E-Tech high efficiency heat pump water heaters can save 50-80% of your hot water energy cost. Homeowners with high utility costs and high hot water use will save the most, and your geographic area and local energy costs play an important role in how much you can save.

How much can I save?

Most experts expect energy prices to continue to rise. As energy costs go up, the amount of money you save will continue to increase, making today's investment in high efficiency water heating a wise financial decision.

It gets better…Free Air-Conditioning!

Cool, Dehumidified Air

When the heat pump removes energy from the surrounding air, - what happens to the air? It gets colder! The by-product of a heat pump is cool - dehumidified air. This "free" air conditioning is a natural by-product of heat pump operation. This cool air can be used to offset other space cooling loads, reducing air conditioning costs.

Homeowners who install the water heater in their basement are often delightfully surprised at their "new" cool, dry basement. Garage installations have been referred to as "garage coolers". Sometimes the E-Tech water heater can replace a dehumidifier and provide all the needed dehumidification without extra cost. Other times, homeowners vent the cool air to other parts of the home. Wherever the E-Tech water heater is located, the area will get the benefits of cool, dry, dehumidified air.

Environmentally Responsible - "Green" technology

E-Tech high efficiency water heaters are environmentally friendly in several ways;

• They reduce the purchased energy demand for hot water production by 50-80 % by using energy already available in the room.
• They can replace fossil fuel water heaters, eliminating their greenhouse gas emissions.
• They use environmentally friendly, non-ozone depleting refrigerants.

E-Tech high efficiency water heaters can be an important component in new green building designs.

What models are available for my home?

There are two E-Tech high efficiency water heaters designed for home use, the R106k and the R060. They are add-on products to a new or existing electric water heater - and use the water heater tank for storage.

R-106 Heat Pump Water Heater

The R106 is the latest version of the original E-Tech residential heat pump. It is a high capacity machine designed for larger families or those with higher hot water demands. It can provide 250-350 gallons of 125°F water a day. (The average residential customer uses 64 gallons of hot water per day.) It has a recovery rate of 24 gallons per hour at rated conditions.

The R106 integrates into a new or existing electric water heater and storage tank. (We recommend a 40 gallon minimum. Larger is better.) The electric water heater must have operating thermostats and a maximum 4500 Watt heating element, with 208-230 Volt, single phase, and 60 Hertz power. (Most water heaters will meet these requirements.) The electric water heater will provide hot water storage, the tank thermostat will control the operation of the heat pump and the resistive elements provide back up heating or quick recovery in the event of a large hot water draw from the tank.

The R106 is available in two mounting configurations - tank top or horizontal shelf mount.

The R106k is a tank top unit. It is round, and mounts directly on top of the existing electric hot water heater. It is the original E-Tech design and is very compact. It takes up no additional wall or floor space - it only requires adequate clearance above the existing water heater.

The R106h is a rectangular unit which can be wall or shelf mounted. It can be placed up to ____ feet away from the existing electric water heater - which allows it to be placed in another room. It also has an option to allow ducting of the conditioned air.

Installation of the R106 requires knowledge of plumbing and electrical procedures. Qualified, professional installation is recommended.

• R106k - Tank Mount Data Sheet
• R106h - Shelf Mount Data Sheet

R060 "Hot Water Cube"

The newest E-Tech residential unit is the R060 "Hot Water Cube". This is a medium capacity machine designed for the typical 1-4 family home, or where hot water demand is lower. It can provide 150-200 gallons of 125°F water per day - double to triple the average residential need. It has a recovery rate of 10 gallons per hour at rated conditions.

The R060 integrates into a new or existing electric water heater and storage tank (We recommend a 40 gallon minimum. Larger is better.) The electric water heater must have operating thermostats and a maximum 4500 Watt heating element. (Most water heaters will meet these requirements.) The electric water heater will provide hot water storage, the tank thermostat will control the operation of the heat pump and the resistive elements provide back up heating or quick recovery in the event of a large hot water draw from the tank.

The R106h is a cube shaped unit which can be wall or shelf mounted. It can be placed up to ____ feet away from the existing electric water heater - which allows it to be placed in another room. It also has an option to allow ducting of the conditioned air.

The R060 operates on 115V power and can be installed professionally or by the homeowner.

• R060 Data Sheet

Is a heat pump water heater right for me?

There are many excellent applications for an E-Tech high efficiency water heater, but not every application is ideal. If you're interested in one for your home, here are a few things you should consider:

• These are add-on systems. They must be used in conjunction with an electric hot water heater and storage tank. Generally speaking, the bigger the tank the better, but 40 gallons is the recommended minimum. (One or two person households could use a smaller tank.)
  (Why can't I use my gas water heater?)
• Because they remove heat from surrounding air, an adequate air supply must be available. We recommend an area with a minimum of 1,000 cubic feet - less will require excellent ventilation to insure adequate air flow.
  (What happens if there is not enough air flow?)
• These units are designed for use in ambient temperatures of 46°F to 100 degrees.
  (What happens if my location is hotter or colder?)
• The units are not designed to be mounted outdoors, or where the potential for freeze damage exits.

Heat pumps are most cost effective in warm climates, or in areas with high electric or gas rates. The higher the ambient temperature (within the limits above), the higher the humidity and the higher the utility costs - the higher the energy savings.

Optimum locations are typically a utility room, garage or basement. A buffered space where the temperature stays between 46 and 100 degrees F is optimum for efficient operations.

Purchasing an E-Tech high efficiency water heater

If you are a plumbing contractor, HVAC contractor, builder or Energy Management professional click here to request information on purchasing our products for resale.

If you are a homeowner, click here for information on purchasing an E-Tech unit for your home.