Good show, indeed. But they are sponsored, and the don't always make that clear. This is probably a sponsored video. And he should have checked the outlet water temperature of the old heater before drawing a conclusion. And maybe verified that the shower's mixing valve is working correctly.
Many manufacturers make a tempering valve that allows you to increase the temperature of the water heater and safely mix it at the outlet to deliver more hot water with a smaller tank ….
Making the water heater work harder is not a long term solution. The second shower might have enough hot water but the first person gets scalded. Second that shortens the life of the water heater and increases the energy usage. Four hundred dollars less energy per years, $500 rebate and tax credit.
Big fan of Richard, but I put one of these in my mom's house the the installation instructions clearly call for a flexible (PEX or Braided Stainless ) connection for the water lines since the heat pump vibrates.
"What?! No Sharkbite?! What a hack job!" I'm kidding. If I ever saw Richard roll up to my house to replace my water heater, I would be humbled to be in the presence of greatness.
Richard is old talent. I would much rather new talent do stuff like this. I personally help friends of mine when they do a remodel or a new build with electrical, but i help with other trades aswell to lower their costs. You have to be sharp and progressive. I dont even look at the original blue prints for the electrical when i walk in. I just start doing my own thing. Never had a call back saying "we needed another outlet here" when the cost is going to be 50x more than it was in the rough in stage
Installed the 40g version this fall when power bills were climbing, it was one of our highest energy guzzlers in the house. After install, power consumption for the month dropped 300kwh. Upgrade will pay for itself in electrical savings very fast and over the life it will save enough beyond that to pay for the next unit as well. Great systems and can't wait until the summer heat has it working even more efficient.
@@stevehousley8375 B/c it varies. Mine was about 1800 for the unit delivered to my door. Another $600 on install. $2400 but I will get a $800 tax credit. I also got $150 from the power company. No state rebates. It will vary a lot by location when it comes to labor and incentives.
@@KoiBoy6 i just installed mine with new expansion tank and everything else new it was less than $800, yes I know that I installed it myself but I’m able to do that.
We have an older version of that water heater, 5 years and still going strong. Lowered our electricity bill noticeably when we put it in (although I don’t remember the exact amount).
anode rods wear out on all water heaters depending on water use and hardness or acidity of water. I will believe those electric anode rods when i see one actually work for twice as long as a regular anode in same kind of water heater I think when you go to claim warranty because the water heater failed, they will be either out of business or will prorate it so you get 50 bucks.@@jaycahow4667
Is there a gas + electric version? About to replace our 13-year old water heater. The heatpump is a good idea, especially since it would extract the heat from the tiny closet where the gas boiler also lives.
I think my first effort would have been turning up the thermostat on the water heater. If you're starting off with hotter water you're going to use less of it during the shower. It's a new shower so it's got a mixing valve so you shouldn't get scalded. Obviously if they have small children that might not work but it's where I would start. That said what he did may have been the best answer overall because there might be things that weren't in the show that we aren't aware of
you could also put in a mixing valve at the tank to get 110 degree hot water so you don't get burned at faucets with two handles and then hot water lasts a lot longer
J installed a 60 gallon hybrid heat pump water heater 3 years ago. It replaced an electric water heater which had failed. Rather than replacing the electric water heater the previous owner decided to get the domestic hot water directly from the boiler. This was an expensive way to get our not water. The hybrid heat pump water heater has worked very well and has always worked on tge heat pump mode. The only downside is the cool air it produces which is dumped into the mechanical room where it is located. We received a very substantial rebate for the purchase of the new water heater which made the final price comparable to an electric water heater of the same size. Added benefit of the hybrid heat pump water heater is it helps dehumidifier the mechanical room during warmer months.
I understand there are now three heat sources but by your math how is an extra 7 gallons of water going to help? That should only add just under 3 more minutes of shower time, or did I miss something? That seems like a big expense for so little return. Although I understand it'll pay off eventually but not many have such upfront finances to get started.
The new heater will be able to replenish the hot water at a faster rate because of both the heat pump and the electrical heating elements. It won't heat water as fast as it's being used but from experience, it will probably replenish half of it's capacity with continuous use. So realistically, they'll probably get a good 70-75 gallons of hot water before it starts to run cold.
It will add a couple extra minuets, but the benefit is the new insulation plus the more efficient heating source will allow it to reheat the tank faster, not to mention lowering the use of electricity in the process.
the heat pump part takes a long time to heat the water so if it has to kick in the heating elements frequently then that great savings is not going to be that much in winter your basement will be a refrigerator after it sucks all the extra heat from room, I think the heat pump water heaters makes sense in warm climates like Florida where you want to cool room anyway and dehumidify.
Hot water heater has a reduction in costs, but up here in cold Canada your heater will be running more to offset the heat your taking for the hot water heater as that room now will be significantly colder all year round. Still a great show, and they have remained the same today as they were 30 years ago...................and this is good, stay humble.
@@multipotentialite - But then it's an entirely electric hot water heater and those things suck hydro and skyrocket your bills. No thanks, i'll keep my natural gas unit...........It costs pennies to run, and when the hydro goes out I still have hot water. A dual fuel HP/Natural gas might be a better option, as the cooling effect will help the ac in the summer and gas is cheaper to run through the winter.
I have this same water heater and I like it alot. The dehumidifying effect during the summer months is really beneficial. I also definitely noticed a difference in energy consumption. However, I do change it to full electric mode during cold winter months. The thing is like running an air conditioner in my basement and that is about as fun as you can imagine it might be.
There are other issues if its not reaching its 1st hour rating. Most likely the upper element had failed. My 40gallon AO Smith delivers more than 40 gallons before temperature loss.
100% agree technology connections has a video explaining this for anyone interested but that heater should be delivering at least 45-55 gallons before losing its heat. It also would have been wise to adjust the temperature higher if possible before opting for replacement considering plumbers are so expensive
usually the lower fails first but you're right, it's definitely not working. And I don't use ONLY hot either because I don't like to get scalded to death in my shower
Great video Richard! Would one of these work where the water heater is in a closet like space instead of a mechanical room? Looks like it would need air flow in a big enough area for the heat pump to work.
I have a 40 gallon electric tank with two elements and it works well for two people, it’s quite, simple and works. My previous tank that was in the house when we bought it was a 50 gallon gas water heater that was 12 years old, gas has a faster recovery but uses non renewable energy.
majority of electricity is made by non-renewable energy some pretty dirty like coal slowly being replaced by gas it is becoming largest use for generating electricity
the heat pump part takes a long time to heat the water so if it has to kick in the heating elements frequently then that great savings is not going to be that much. in winter your basement will be a refrigerator after it sucks all the extra heat from room, I think the heat pump water heaters makes sense in warm climates like Florida where you want to cool room anyway and dehumidify.
I mean as long as the teflon doesn't unwrap, it doesn't matter which way you wrap it cause it will serve the same purpose. The reason you do it clockwise is because it goes with the thread and how you twist it to screw it in, so it'll never unravel as you are screwing it in. It's just easier and fail-safe method if you do it clockwise (with the thread)
I’d like to know the decibel rating and the first hour rating for this compared to the silent electric heater. Most people probably don’t know how loud hybrid water heaters are compared to what they’re replacing
I like the thought. I would have tried a 2.0 if I was used to 2.5. Got a 1.8 in my shower. A $15 fix instead $2500. I wanted on in my basement, but could not get one short enough to fit. Stayed with gas.
@@donc-m4900 - these heat pump water heaters end up taller, that’s sometimes a show stopper in older homes where there isn’t enough height for one of these - just like you found out.
@@donc-m4900yeah the height is a challenge for some. The cost savings pay for itself usually in just a few years - the yellow sticker usage is based on rates lower in New England often by half.
all depends on how it gets used if you use lots of water then the heating elements kick in, and your savings is gone that sticker is for mostly the heat pump heating water.@@ntsecrets
@ntsecrets I use an portable ac/dehumidifier in the basement already, so I would have saved even more. But someone made a serial staircase to the basement, in the corner with maybe 5 feet clearance. Can't tip it cause it hit the outside wall. It would be able to stand up if it could have gotten down there.
For upsizing, check the 1st hour rating requirement for the house, it's based off of number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Heat pump wayer heaters are a lot more efficient if you duct the exhaust to the exterior, the comdensor will work twice as hard trying to heat the extremely cold air its sucking in from the exhaust. Also you'd want a bonding jumper on your metal water lines for shock protection.
Great video, but measuring the capacity of the previous tank confused me. Richard used the 70% rule and claimed that a 40 gallon tank really only provides 30 gallons of hot water, but the “first hour capacity” of tank type water heaters is usually 20% more than the tanks size. So a 40 gallon tank would actually provide almost 50 gallons of hot water in the first hour of use once the tank is completely heated. Also, that’s assuming the water is being used at 120 degrees. No one showers at that temperature. If you mix cold water to decrease the temperature to normal showering temps, you’ll gain even more capacity. Furthermore, if you raised the thermostat temp to 130*F, you’d gain even more. To save the customer a lot of money, he could have installed a TMV and ran the heater at 160*F, then mixed it down to 120*F, upping the capacity of a 40 gallon tank substantially.
The problem with that is that the energy loss of a tank type water heater increases exponentially with the increase in temperature. You're taking an already energy intensive resistance electric water heater making it even more expensive to run. The solution shown here is easily the cheaper long term solution.
Do your research before buying a heat pump water heater. I had a GE and later an AO Smith hybrid heat pump water heaters. Both failed in the refrigerant system within I year. Hopefully, there is a trouble free hybrid water heater out there.
You can turn the tank up to a higher temperature and not have to use the full 2.5gpm. You can set it to B or C and turn it on to a setting in the middle where you get the perfect water and not run out using 100% hot tank water.
Wondering what happened to This Old House and Ask This Old House? Difficult to find new episodes on my cable network and when they do show up they are on the Magnolia network with commercials. Did you get kicked off PBS? Did you decide to get off PBS?
@@donovanlewis3053 also a competent homeowner can install this hybrid unit whereas a tank to tankless swap would require either a bigger gas line or upsized wiring.
Warm water is less dense than cold water. That is why I always put a "S" type connection onto the outlet of a hot water tank. I use a larger diameter braided short (6ft) water hose.. The outlet of the boiler hotwater pipe is a) directed into the hose, then fold the hose b) across, then c) downwards and then across and d) back upwards to the house piping. When no water is flowing, then due to warm water being less dense, the hot water stops at the top of the flat part, and does not, migrate downwards to where the hose connects to the house hot water pipe. When the tap is opened, the flow works as expected. The hot water always stays around the tank, and does not, migrate up into the house. (I save about $10-15/mo with this heat trap).
Richard this would have been a great instance to put in a smart thermostat that would boost the tank temperature in the morning when you shower and a mixing valve so it stays safe at the hot water end. Much cheaper than a new water heater
Fair but the homeowner doesn’t pay when they replace it for the show, and this unit is so much more energy efficient, even if they had paid for it, they would save so much more in energy costs.
You can set it up in the app for “high demand” mode for a certain period of time (morning, evening, etc) and heat pump only mode for the rest of the day.
It's only a "smart thermostat" if it does not have internet access that allows the utility company to cut off your electricity as was done a couple years ago to over 2000 homes during a heat wave.
I replaced my stand-alone hot water heater with a stainless steel tank heated by my super-efficient condensing boiler. No heatpump to fail, no extra electricity, no app, nothing complicated and therefore failure-prone.
If you’re spending the money on a hybrid water heater, just add it in series with the existing tank with a recirculating line & pump and use it like a holding tank. 90 gallons available
I'd use it as a prewarming tempering tank since it's not leaking take insulation off and put it in line before the heater it just warms up cold water to room temperature, so it is at least 10 to 30 degrees warmer than water coming in from outside.
Should a new house be built with half the house on one water heater and the other half of the house on a second water heater versus having one large water heater?
2.5 gpm is actually sorta high by today's water saving standards. That's the max you can legally have in California now but you can get 1.5 gpm shower heads. That would actually solve this person's issue, without replacing the water heater.
Yeah, we have a 1.75GPM in both bathrooms and at no point has anyone ever felt like they weren't getting enough water. Cuts down on water usage a ton and you always feel warm. 2.5 was definitely high for that 40g tank.
She could've gotten the 40g version of the water heater with a 1.25 or 1.5 g/m showerhead from Niagra. Saves both water and electricity for about $15 without any change in pressure.
@@oldtwinsna8347 That’s silly, and completely ignores the entire reason for the design of the thermal expansion tank. A thermal expansion tank is a useless piece of equipment if there’s no backflow preventer.
He might have been able to fix the issue by just putting on a less than $200 thermostatic mixing valve and turning up the water temperature in the old water heater. The hotter water would be diluted with cool water to achieve the desired temperature, and since less fewer gallons come out of the tank, it could have very well kept up perfectly with the demans. These heat pump water heaters sound cool, but they require a lot more maintenance, filter cleaning, having a serviceman to come and clean the coils, etc. The more parts you have, the more things can break. So whatever money you save on electricity, you might end up spending on service fees.
I’ve the 80 gallon version of this water heater. It really does use ⅓ the electricity when in heat pump mode. And it keeps the basement dry and cool. On the other hand, the basement is cold during the winter and it’s noisy. But if I need the basement, I can use the app to switch it over to resistive electric and it becomes quiet and doesn’t chill its area. Had it for nearly 2 years, so far so good. I would have probably gone with the 80 gallon model. They are going to have kids within the warranty of the heater, like as not.
Here in Maine (and I assume plenty of other states), there are super easy rebate programs. There were some qualified retailers you could buy from (or your plumber could buy from) and they took care of all the rebate paperwork. We paid $850 for a 50 gallon tank last summer.
In winter, it will extract heat from inside the house, so don’t be surprised if the heating bill is a tad higher. In summer it will also extract heat from inside the house, reducing AC use a tad.
@@markmonroe7330With $400 a year in savings you will break even after 5 years. Water heaters should last decades if you drain annually and replace anode rod as needed.
I have the exact same 40 gal rheem except mine is gas and we never run out of hot water even with 3 showers back to back and running laundry. You might have a bad element
@@probuilder961 "It's actually silly, because rates vary wildly throughout the country." That's not to mention the fact that some upper income earners assume that because they can afford to spend $800 on a project, everyone in the country can afford to spend $800 on a project. Where do such delusions come from?
Personally I would have recommended setting set the thermostats to the highest setting, typically 150°F for residential electric water heaters, 160°F for residential gas water heaters, some commercial units can max out at 180°F, and install a tempering valve that can be adjusted and set it to 120°F. Or slightly lower if there are children, disabled or elderly people who live in or visit the home. The average homeowner would be really surprised how big a difference that would make. I would also have recommended a lower flow showerhead than the maximum 2.5gpm allowed. Also, on an electric heater, the lower element or thermostat may have failed. A gas heater may have sediment accumulated at the bottom, which acts as an insulator between the flame and the water thus reducing the recovery rate and raising fuel costs significantly.
Wait, is that homeowner showering with the full hot water temperature from the tank? And not mixing with any cold water??? If your hot water temperature is low enough to shower , you got a legionella problem
yeah, set water heater at 130 and you mix it to 110 in shower we have mixing valve at water heater, and it makes water last a long time plus it is gas LOL
just because it didn't show it you don't know he didn't do any troubleshooting steps. Rich is a master journeyman plumber and I looked for any plumbing videos you were offering but I didn't see any.... I wonder why........
This is counting only 1 hot showerhead at 2.5 gallons/minute. The less efficient environmentally horrible, a gas powered hot water heater will restore 48 minutes of water every 60 minutes. The more efficient Rheem 40 gallon Heat Pump hot water heater will restore 6 minutes every 60 minutes though. You may want a bigger tank if you are going the heat pump route, or buy a second tank with no heating element as hot water storage only.
nobody ever puts in tempering tanks anymore so that the cold water can sit in it as it comes into house at 50 degrees and warms up to room temperature before it goes in water heater it makes a difference if water is starting at 68 instead of 50 I stripped insulation off old water heater and put it in line before new one it made hot water much steadier temperature and run longer.
But you're still paying to warm up that room temperature water tank, at least in the winter. Maybe a good idea in warmer climates, if not concerned by the extra tank using up more space and being another point of failure. tradeoffs.
well you don't actually have it hooked to any power you just absorb some of the room warmth not sucking all the heat from room like the heat pump it worked well next to a gas heater but with heat pump probably not as well.@@JasonFarrell
These hybrid water heaters remove heat from your home; in the summer that’s fine, but as soon as you’re in heating season, it’s a zero sum game energy usage wise, except now you have a $3000 water heater that will require more maintenance and probably not last as long.
The resistance elements are only used if the water temperature is really low (during high usage). Most of the time the heat pump will be the only thing heating the water.
I have my doubts on their info regarding the previous tank. Technology Connections tested his electric water heater and he found it didn't mix much at all, so he got the full amount of hot water out. In fact it would heat water as it entered, so it would actually give more hot water than it's actual volume, not less like TOH is stating here.
One more comment to understand why an 80 gallon heat pump. The recovery, it is true is about 5 gallons an hour which is less than 21 gallons an hour for expensive resistance elements. With an 80 Gallon set to Heat pump only mode, there is enough storage to not use the resistance elements, a smaller tank does not store enough 350% efficient heat pump hot water, so the expensive high electric elements must come on. Add this to my first comment that is probably in the hands of a moderator, and it is clear the 80 Gallon A. O. Smith Voltex is amazing. The DOE sure likes it. Then with the product that was published in the Book, this Old House seen as 6831000 at Menards - the various instructions will keep it installed for decade after decade and it is not going obsolete for several generations. Remember, set it to Heat Pump Mode only, only Hybrid if the 80 storage and 14-15 hour recovery is too long for your usage pattern. I will talk to Mr. T and perhaps he can do a better job explaining on his next video. I told him on the first post how to find my email.
I'll take gas water heater any day i never run out of hot water with a 40-gallon gas water heater and it costs almost nothing to run about 8 dollars for the actual gas used with stove and dryer when heat is off of course they have service fee for maintenance so it's like 20 to thirty on months without heat.
That’s exactly the comment I was about to post. Much less expensive than replacing a water heater, and the plumbing effort involved isn’t that complicated.
I guess I'm a little fuzzy on why use a heat pump? The issue with the original unit was it was too small. The new unit is 50 gallons, which solves that issue. From my understanding, heat pumps are just more efficient than normal electrical heaters. Is it just a bit cheaper to run? Also, how does it compare to gas?
With a little bit of googling, in my area it makes no sense to go electrical. Most homes are piped for natural gas, and electric is so much more expensive. If you have solar or batteries you can save a bit, but without the government programs it's about $1200 more to go heat pump. And unless the water heater lasts 24 years, you won't get a return on investment. You can expect to save $50 a year over gas. But if you have solar it really stacks up. Especially if you have a oversized system like everybody here. (they look for electric systems to add in, because the local power company doesn't buy back power)
I think these would only make sense in deep south where it's always hot, so you get benefit of air conditioning and dehumidifying if you use lots of water the regular elements come on and there goes the savings of heat pump. in north in winter your basement will be frozen with heat pump sucking out the heat. gas where i live is cheap and it is faster at heating the first hour hot water output is much higher than electric heaters.
It's at least $50 cheaper per month on my local utility bill. Plus you get rebates and tax credits to go this route. Also the power consumption is significantly less. If you have a whole house power backup that extends the time you can run in an outage.
What a hack for those rim joists lol. For the long ones behind him I mean sure cut your rigid insulation but they didn’t even try to line up the bottom edges at all. I know it doesn’t affect the performance but looks like a hack job lol
Ok fifty Galon hybrid electric water heater ten year warranty home depot advertises one brand at $2600. USD. $400 /year energy savings, $500 rebate $900 off the first year. $1700 \400 4.25 years without any federal tax credit offsets. There are thirty year warranty models available. Online vs in store, location, sales tax etc etc. Installation... Also possible the local utility company leases hot water heaters. Financing might be a option. At the above price assuming every credit and realized energy saving $2900 after one year.
As much as I admire and trust Richard Trethewey, his calculations are incorrect. No one I know of uses straight hot water out of the water tank for a shower since they would get scalded quite quickly, even if the water heater was set for 120 degrees. Cold water is mixed in at the shower valve, so the hot water draw from the tank should last a lot longer than he calculates. How long depends on how warm one likes their showers. The old water tank has a bad heating element, thermostat or the cold water dip tube has fallen into the tank.
My thoughts too. And it didn't appear that the copper pipe was supported anywhere so if anything leaned into those pipes, I would be concerned it could break a joint.
Last thing I want is a wifi enabled water heater. I want my water heater to last 20 years. There is no company out there that wants to support the software that wifi enabled water heater uses. There is nothing wrong with old fashioned mechanically controlled water heaters. They work.
So what did the new heater cost, uncle? Looks like 3 grand or so. Here in Oklahoma we're not so rich. I installed a shut off valve at the shower head, we all use it while we soap up etc. Our rheem 30 gal gas heater does great for our family of 4. DIY cost 500 bucks, 25 a month to operate, life is good. Glad to hear biden is subsidizing water heaters for yuppies.
I would have, personally, recommended a tankless on demand water heater. No storage required (means more space available for use for other things) and virtually limitless, instantaneously available, hot water. Of course that really only works if you have town gas or a local gas supplier that can regularly deliver and swap your bottled gas BEFORE you run out.
we get cheap natural gas so it's a no brainer, but this water heater would make sense in south where house is hot all year round and you get air conditioning and dehumidifying with this unit. up in New England their basement will be a refrigerator in winter with water heater sucking up all the heat in basement.
This old house is one of the only shows that stayed humble. Thanks.
These are the only guys I trust on TH-cam for home repairs.
Good show, indeed. But they are sponsored, and the don't always make that clear. This is probably a sponsored video. And he should have checked the outlet water temperature of the old heater before drawing a conclusion. And maybe verified that the shower's mixing valve is working correctly.
@@jptrainor PBS is indeed sponsored and very supportive of Democrats
@@UncleSam-USofAso what
@@joellops2611 sew buttons
Do I need a new water heater? No; Did I watch the entire video? Yes.
He's got "favorite Uncle" energy, on top of knowing what he's doing.
Many manufacturers make a tempering valve that allows you to increase the temperature of the water heater and safely mix it at the outlet to deliver more hot water with a smaller tank ….
Making the water heater work harder is not a long term solution. The second shower might have enough hot water but the first person gets scalded. Second that shortens the life of the water heater and increases the energy usage.
Four hundred dollars less energy per years, $500 rebate and tax credit.
Big fan of Richard, but I put one of these in my mom's house the the installation instructions clearly call for a flexible (PEX or Braided Stainless ) connection for the water lines since the heat pump vibrates.
"What?! No Sharkbite?! What a hack job!" I'm kidding. If I ever saw Richard roll up to my house to replace my water heater, I would be humbled to be in the presence of greatness.
Richard is old talent. I would much rather new talent do stuff like this.
I personally help friends of mine when they do a remodel or a new build with electrical, but i help with other trades aswell to lower their costs. You have to be sharp and progressive. I dont even look at the original blue prints for the electrical when i walk in. I just start doing my own thing. Never had a call back saying "we needed another outlet here" when the cost is going to be 50x more than it was in the rough in stage
Installed the 40g version this fall when power bills were climbing, it was one of our highest energy guzzlers in the house. After install, power consumption for the month dropped 300kwh. Upgrade will pay for itself in electrical savings very fast and over the life it will save enough beyond that to pay for the next unit as well. Great systems and can't wait until the summer heat has it working even more efficient.
What kind did you get?
@@AidanSkoyles Rheem 40g Performance Platinum. Two adults, 2 teens and it holds up well supplying what we need.
Nobody says how much the new water heater cost’s.
@@stevehousley8375 B/c it varies. Mine was about 1800 for the unit delivered to my door. Another $600 on install. $2400 but I will get a $800 tax credit. I also got $150 from the power company. No state rebates. It will vary a lot by location when it comes to labor and incentives.
@@KoiBoy6 i just installed mine with new expansion tank and everything else new it was less than $800, yes I know that I installed it myself but I’m able to do that.
We have an older version of that water heater, 5 years and still going strong. Lowered our electricity bill noticeably when we put it in (although I don’t remember the exact amount).
Remember to replace the anode rod!
@@MrDummyisDumb Or purchase an electric one that never wears out.
anode rods wear out on all water heaters depending on water use and hardness or acidity of water.
I will believe those electric anode rods when i see one actually work for twice as long as a regular anode in same kind of water heater I think when you go to claim warranty because the water heater failed, they will be either out of business or will prorate it so you get 50 bucks.@@jaycahow4667
@@MrDummyisDumb Good idea, just ordered one. Maybe I'll do a review video on it.
Is there a gas + electric version? About to replace our 13-year old water heater. The heatpump is a good idea, especially since it would extract the heat from the tiny closet where the gas boiler also lives.
I think my first effort would have been turning up the thermostat on the water heater. If you're starting off with hotter water you're going to use less of it during the shower. It's a new shower so it's got a mixing valve so you shouldn't get scalded. Obviously if they have small children that might not work but it's where I would start. That said what he did may have been the best answer overall because there might be things that weren't in the show that we aren't aware of
Last longer yes did it at my gf house got about 30 mins on a tank but burns out your anode quicker
you could also put in a mixing valve at the tank to get 110 degree hot water so you don't get burned at faucets with two handles and then hot water lasts a lot longer
@@SubToRandomVideos101Why does it decrease the life of the anode?
@@multipotentialite cuz the tank is constantly running at a hotter temperature burning through it faster than
Humble & informative. God Bless
J installed a 60 gallon hybrid heat pump water heater 3 years ago. It replaced an electric water heater which had failed. Rather than replacing the electric water heater the previous owner decided to get the domestic hot water directly from the boiler. This was an expensive way to get our not water. The hybrid heat pump water heater has worked very well and has always worked on tge heat pump mode. The only downside is the cool air it produces which is dumped into the mechanical room where it is located. We received a very substantial rebate for the purchase of the new water heater which made the final price comparable to an electric water heater of the same size. Added benefit of the hybrid heat pump water heater is it helps dehumidifier the mechanical room during warmer months.
I understand there are now three heat sources but by your math how is an extra 7 gallons of water going to help? That should only add just under 3 more minutes of shower time, or did I miss something? That seems like a big expense for so little return. Although I understand it'll pay off eventually but not many have such upfront finances to get started.
The new heater will be able to replenish the hot water at a faster rate because of both the heat pump and the electrical heating elements. It won't heat water as fast as it's being used but from experience, it will probably replenish half of it's capacity with continuous use. So realistically, they'll probably get a good 70-75 gallons of hot water before it starts to run cold.
It will add a couple extra minuets, but the benefit is the new insulation plus the more efficient heating source will allow it to reheat the tank faster, not to mention lowering the use of electricity in the process.
Yea if they use so much hot water you'd think he'd go with a 60 or 80 gallon tank.
the heat pump part takes a long time to heat the water so if it has to kick in the heating elements frequently then that great savings is not going to be that much in winter your basement will be a refrigerator after it sucks all the extra heat from room, I think the heat pump water heaters makes sense in warm climates like Florida where you want to cool room anyway and dehumidify.
@@ranger178 not true. It only lowers the temp of the room by 3 degrees or so.
Is my hot water tank running fine? Absolutely….am I going to get one of those new tanks with a heat pump because of Richard? YES
He verified a temperature complaint by looking exclusively at volume .... so.... hmmm?
Hot water heater has a reduction in costs, but up here in cold Canada your heater will be running more to offset the heat your taking for the hot water heater as that room now will be significantly colder all year round. Still a great show, and they have remained the same today as they were 30 years ago...................and this is good, stay humble.
You can disable the heat pump for the coldest 2-3 months a year.
@@multipotentialite - But then it's an entirely electric hot water heater and those things suck hydro and skyrocket your bills.
No thanks, i'll keep my natural gas unit...........It costs pennies to run, and when the hydro goes out I still have hot water.
A dual fuel HP/Natural gas might be a better option, as the cooling effect will help the ac in the summer and gas is cheaper to run through the winter.
I have this same water heater and I like it alot. The dehumidifying effect during the summer months is really beneficial. I also definitely noticed a difference in energy consumption. However, I do change it to full electric mode during cold winter months. The thing is like running an air conditioner in my basement and that is about as fun as you can imagine it might be.
She did her best.
There are other issues if its not reaching its 1st hour rating. Most likely the upper element had failed.
My 40gallon AO Smith delivers more than 40 gallons before temperature loss.
100% agree technology connections has a video explaining this for anyone interested but that heater should be delivering at least 45-55 gallons before losing its heat. It also would have been wise to adjust the temperature higher if possible before opting for replacement considering plumbers are so expensive
usually the lower fails first but you're right, it's definitely not working. And I don't use ONLY hot either because I don't like to get scalded to death in my shower
NICE JOB. RICH IS THE MAN WITH THE PLAN.👍👍👍
great system IF the tank area is large enough or replacing an oil fired tank.
Great video Richard! Would one of these work where the water heater is in a closet like space instead of a mechanical room? Looks like it would need air flow in a big enough area for the heat pump to work.
I have a 40 gallon electric tank with two elements and it works well for two people, it’s quite, simple and works. My previous tank that was in the house when we bought it was a 50 gallon gas water heater that was 12 years old, gas has a faster recovery but uses non renewable energy.
majority of electricity is made by non-renewable energy some pretty dirty like coal slowly being replaced by gas it is becoming largest use for generating electricity
the heat pump part takes a long time to heat the water so if it has to kick in the heating elements frequently then that great savings is not going to be that much. in winter your basement will be a refrigerator after it sucks all the extra heat from room, I think the heat pump water heaters makes sense in warm climates like Florida where you want to cool room anyway and dehumidify.
I was taught to wind the teflon tape clockwise onto the threads but he did it the other way. Does it make any difference?
I mean as long as the teflon doesn't unwrap, it doesn't matter which way you wrap it cause it will serve the same purpose. The reason you do it clockwise is because it goes with the thread and how you twist it to screw it in, so it'll never unravel as you are screwing it in. It's just easier and fail-safe method if you do it clockwise (with the thread)
Been doing plumbing for 50 years and I agree with you - clockwise for teflon tape.
I’d like to know the decibel rating and the first hour rating for this compared to the silent electric heater. Most people probably don’t know how loud hybrid water heaters are compared to what they’re replacing
I would have also put in a 1.5 gpm shower head.
I like the thought. I would have tried a 2.0 if I was used to 2.5. Got a 1.8 in my shower. A $15 fix instead $2500. I wanted on in my basement, but could not get one short enough to fit. Stayed with gas.
@@donc-m4900 - these heat pump water heaters end up taller, that’s sometimes a show stopper in older homes where there isn’t enough height for one of these - just like you found out.
@@donc-m4900yeah the height is a challenge for some. The cost savings pay for itself usually in just a few years - the yellow sticker usage is based on rates lower in New England often by half.
all depends on how it gets used if you use lots of water then the heating elements kick in, and your savings is gone that sticker is for mostly the heat pump heating water.@@ntsecrets
@ntsecrets I use an portable ac/dehumidifier in the basement already, so I would have saved even more. But someone made a serial staircase to the basement, in the corner with maybe 5 feet clearance. Can't tip it cause it hit the outside wall. It would be able to stand up if it could have gotten down there.
I enjoyed it. Very informative and fun to watch 😁😎
For upsizing, check the 1st hour rating requirement for the house, it's based off of number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Heat pump wayer heaters are a lot more efficient if you duct the exhaust to the exterior, the comdensor will work twice as hard trying to heat the extremely cold air its sucking in from the exhaust. Also you'd want a bonding jumper on your metal water lines for shock protection.
Great video, but measuring the capacity of the previous tank confused me. Richard used the 70% rule and claimed that a 40 gallon tank really only provides 30 gallons of hot water, but the “first hour capacity” of tank type water heaters is usually 20% more than the tanks size. So a 40 gallon tank would actually provide almost 50 gallons of hot water in the first hour of use once the tank is completely heated.
Also, that’s assuming the water is being used at 120 degrees. No one showers at that temperature. If you mix cold water to decrease the temperature to normal showering temps, you’ll gain even more capacity. Furthermore, if you raised the thermostat temp to 130*F, you’d gain even more.
To save the customer a lot of money, he could have installed a TMV and ran the heater at 160*F, then mixed it down to 120*F, upping the capacity of a 40 gallon tank substantially.
The problem with that is that the energy loss of a tank type water heater increases exponentially with the increase in temperature. You're taking an already energy intensive resistance electric water heater making it even more expensive to run. The solution shown here is easily the cheaper long term solution.
Or you could get a lower flow shower head? I love the heat pump shower upgrade though.
@7:24 is says 45 gallons on the sticker. Am I missing 5 gallons somewhere?
Great video! Thanks!
Do your research before buying a heat pump water heater. I had a GE and later an AO Smith hybrid heat pump water heaters. Both failed in the refrigerant system within I year. Hopefully, there is a trouble free hybrid water heater out there.
You can turn the tank up to a higher temperature and not have to use the full 2.5gpm. You can set it to B or C and turn it on to a setting in the middle where you get the perfect water and not run out using 100% hot tank water.
Wondering what happened to This Old House and Ask This Old House? Difficult to find new episodes on my cable network and when they do show up they are on the Magnolia network with commercials. Did you get kicked off PBS? Did you decide to get off PBS?
Umm why did he install a vacuum breaker?
The headline/title should be the 80% reduction in running cost rather than the 25% increase in tank volume.
Right... If 40gal can't do two showers back to back - how 50gal will cut it?
Would you turn a crawl space into a basement? Any concerns?
Hi, just curious.....why not go tankless? Aren't they energy efficient and provide (theoretically) unlimited hot water?
@@donovanlewis3053 OK, thanks! I have a gas tankless and it's great!
@@donovanlewis3053 also a competent homeowner can install this hybrid unit whereas a tank to tankless swap would require either a bigger gas line or upsized wiring.
Warm water is less dense than cold water. That is why I always put a "S" type connection onto the outlet of a hot water tank. I use a larger diameter braided short (6ft) water hose.. The outlet of the boiler hotwater pipe is a) directed into the hose, then fold the hose b) across, then c) downwards and then across and d) back upwards to the house piping. When no water is flowing, then due to warm water being less dense, the hot water stops at the top of the flat part, and does not, migrate downwards to where the hose connects to the house hot water pipe. When the tap is opened, the flow works as expected. The hot water always stays around the tank, and does not, migrate up into the house. (I save about $10-15/mo with this heat trap).
some hot water heaters come with built in check valve nipples to keep hot water in hot and cold side of tank.
All water heaters built in the last 20 years have built in heat traps.
I'm sure there is a good reason but why not dump the condinsate into the tank
Richard this would have been a great instance to put in a smart thermostat that would boost the tank temperature in the morning when you shower and a mixing valve so it stays safe at the hot water end. Much cheaper than a new water heater
Fair but the homeowner doesn’t pay when they replace it for the show, and this unit is so much more energy efficient, even if they had paid for it, they would save so much more in energy costs.
You can set it up in the app for “high demand” mode for a certain period of time (morning, evening, etc) and heat pump only mode for the rest of the day.
It's only a "smart thermostat" if it does not have internet access that allows the utility company to cut off your electricity as was done a couple years ago to over 2000 homes during a heat wave.
I replaced my stand-alone hot water heater with a stainless steel tank heated by my super-efficient condensing boiler. No heatpump to fail, no extra electricity, no app, nothing complicated and therefore failure-prone.
If you’re spending the money on a hybrid water heater, just add it in series with the existing tank with a recirculating line & pump and use it like a holding tank. 90 gallons available
I'd use it as a prewarming tempering tank since it's not leaking take insulation off and put it in line before the heater it just warms up cold water to room temperature, so it is at least 10 to 30 degrees warmer than water coming in from outside.
Should a new house be built with half the house on one water heater and the other half of the house on a second water heater versus having one large water heater?
2.5 gpm is actually sorta high by today's water saving standards. That's the max you can legally have in California now but you can get 1.5 gpm shower heads. That would actually solve this person's issue, without replacing the water heater.
Yeah, we have a 1.75GPM in both bathrooms and at no point has anyone ever felt like they weren't getting enough water. Cuts down on water usage a ton and you always feel warm. 2.5 was definitely high for that 40g tank.
She could've gotten the 40g version of the water heater with a 1.25 or 1.5 g/m showerhead from Niagra. Saves both water and electricity for about $15 without any change in pressure.
I am surprised a pressure tank wasn't installed. Most places require it by code.
If there isn’t a backflow preventer installed or a check valve of some sort, a thermal expansion tank isn’t required.
@@valenzaplumbing Some areas require it for all replacement water heaters, no matter what.
@@oldtwinsna8347 That’s silly, and completely ignores the entire reason for the design of the thermal expansion tank. A thermal expansion tank is a useless piece of equipment if there’s no backflow preventer.
He might have been able to fix the issue by just putting on a less than $200 thermostatic mixing valve and turning up the water temperature in the old water heater. The hotter water would be diluted with cool water to achieve the desired temperature, and since less fewer gallons come out of the tank, it could have very well kept up perfectly with the demans. These heat pump water heaters sound cool, but they require a lot more maintenance, filter cleaning, having a serviceman to come and clean the coils, etc. The more parts you have, the more things can break. So whatever money you save on electricity, you might end up spending on service fees.
$1,700 at my local box store. (Not including installation). 10 year warranty. It might be worth it.
It's not.
I’ve the 80 gallon version of this water heater. It really does use ⅓ the electricity when in heat pump mode. And it keeps the basement dry and cool.
On the other hand, the basement is cold during the winter and it’s noisy. But if I need the basement, I can use the app to switch it over to resistive electric and it becomes quiet and doesn’t chill its area.
Had it for nearly 2 years, so far so good.
I would have probably gone with the 80 gallon model. They are going to have kids within the warranty of the heater, like as not.
Here in Maine (and I assume plenty of other states), there are super easy rebate programs. There were some qualified retailers you could buy from (or your plumber could buy from) and they took care of all the rebate paperwork. We paid $850 for a 50 gallon tank last summer.
In winter, it will extract heat from inside the house, so don’t be surprised if the heating bill is a tad higher. In summer it will also extract heat from inside the house, reducing AC use a tad.
@@markmonroe7330With $400 a year in savings you will break even after 5 years. Water heaters should last decades if you drain annually and replace anode rod as needed.
I have the exact same 40 gal rheem except mine is gas and we never run out of hot water even with 3 showers back to back and running laundry.
You might have a bad element
I had no idea that in US energy ratings are marketed in dollars instead of kWh/year.
The left in America makes all their lies sound like they are doing something good.
When the bill comes due, the lies are all revealed.
It's actually silly, because rates vary wildly throughout the country.
@@probuilder961
"It's actually silly, because rates vary wildly throughout the country."
That's not to mention the fact that some upper income earners assume that because they can afford to spend $800 on a project, everyone in the country can afford to spend $800 on a project.
Where do such delusions come from?
they have a little formula of what rate they used so you can adjust to your rate and how much electricity they based it on.
Personally I would have recommended setting set the thermostats to the highest setting, typically 150°F for residential electric water heaters, 160°F for residential gas water heaters, some commercial units can max out at 180°F, and install a tempering valve that can be adjusted and set it to 120°F. Or slightly lower if there are children, disabled or elderly people who live in or visit the home. The average homeowner would be really surprised how big a difference that would make. I would also have recommended a lower flow showerhead than the maximum 2.5gpm allowed. Also, on an electric heater, the lower element or thermostat may have failed. A gas heater may have sediment accumulated at the bottom, which acts as an insulator between the flame and the water thus reducing the recovery rate and raising fuel costs significantly.
Wait, is that homeowner showering with the full hot water temperature from the tank? And not mixing with any cold water??? If your hot water temperature is low enough to shower , you got a legionella problem
Turn the tank temp up. Your mixed temp water will last longer .
Agree. This math makes some wild assumptions
Correct
yeah, set water heater at 130 and you mix it to 110 in shower we have mixing valve at water heater, and it makes water last a long time plus it is gas LOL
The wire should be in flex
yeah, should be anyplace exposed. bx to a box in ceiling.
Never checked to see if the current water heater was functioning properly or checked the temperature of water coming out of the tank first. Fail!
just because it didn't show it you don't know he didn't do any troubleshooting steps. Rich is a master journeyman plumber and I looked for any plumbing videos you were offering but I didn't see any.... I wonder why........
Indeed! I have little to no plumbing skills / abilities.
This is counting only 1 hot showerhead at 2.5 gallons/minute.
The less efficient environmentally horrible, a gas powered hot water heater will restore 48 minutes of water every 60 minutes.
The more efficient Rheem 40 gallon Heat Pump hot water heater will restore 6 minutes every 60 minutes though.
You may want a bigger tank if you are going the heat pump route, or buy a second tank with no heating element as hot water storage only.
nobody ever puts in tempering tanks anymore so that the cold water can sit in it as it comes into house at 50 degrees and warms up to room temperature before it goes in water heater it makes a difference if water is starting at 68 instead of 50 I stripped insulation off old water heater and put it in line before new one it made hot water much steadier temperature and run longer.
But you're still paying to warm up that room temperature water tank, at least in the winter. Maybe a good idea in warmer climates, if not concerned by the extra tank using up more space and being another point of failure. tradeoffs.
well you don't actually have it hooked to any power you just absorb some of the room warmth not sucking all the heat from room like the heat pump it worked well next to a gas heater but with heat pump probably not as well.@@JasonFarrell
I've always thought though- "aren't they stealing heat from the conditioned space?"
These hybrid water heaters remove heat from your home; in the summer that’s fine, but as soon as you’re in heating season, it’s a zero sum game energy usage wise, except now you have a $3000 water heater that will require more maintenance and probably not last as long.
Yes. Raises questions. 🤔 Especially if installed in a living space in a northern climate.
Disable the heat pump for the 2-3 cold months.
I'm pretty sure the cold water pipe was installed so the filter can't be removed for cleaning.
🤔now there’s 3 points of electric use so I’m wondering does the hybrid use less electricity then the 2 heating elements ?
The resistance elements are only used if the water temperature is really low (during high usage). Most of the time the heat pump will be the only thing heating the water.
I’m just wondering why Richard is still soldering when pro pressing is so much faster now…
That’s what I thought. I guess he’s an old school pro.
It's more money (time) but I prefer the 'old' style.
They are showing how an ordinary homeowner might do it - not too many have a pro-press tool.
How much does that unit cost?
She Already asked him and he dodged her question 😂 about 16-1800$ at Home Depot.
Great plumber and a lefty plumber! None better! lol
In Calif you need a permit and a Plummer to install or replace a water heater. Talk about over regulation.
then move
@@KennedyLawOfficesScranton No not until my water heater breaks.
I believe most states would require a permit for such a job. But homeowner could do the work as long as it meets local code.
I have my doubts on their info regarding the previous tank. Technology Connections tested his electric water heater and he found it didn't mix much at all, so he got the full amount of hot water out. In fact it would heat water as it entered, so it would actually give more hot water than it's actual volume, not less like TOH is stating here.
That was a great episode.
Not a fan of the romex just dangling down to unit. Should be MC cable or flex conduit to unit.
And the cold supply line with no support flapping in the breeze.
How to drain my gas water heater
Excellent video!
Left handed plumber, is that code compliant?
Soon as I saw that water heater I could tell you it was too small
That doesn't make sense. The water heater should be delivering water at around 120F. Their showering can't be using that directly.
One more comment to understand why an 80 gallon heat pump. The recovery, it is true is about 5 gallons an hour which is less than 21 gallons an hour for expensive resistance elements. With an 80 Gallon set to Heat pump only mode, there is enough storage to not use the resistance elements, a smaller tank does not store enough 350% efficient heat pump hot water, so the expensive high electric elements must come on. Add this to my first comment that is probably in the hands of a moderator, and it is clear the 80 Gallon A. O. Smith Voltex is amazing. The DOE sure likes it. Then with the product that was published in the Book, this Old House seen as 6831000 at Menards - the various instructions will keep it installed for decade after decade and it is not going obsolete for several generations. Remember, set it to Heat Pump Mode only, only Hybrid if the 80 storage and 14-15 hour recovery is too long for your usage pattern. I will talk to Mr. T and perhaps he can do a better job explaining on his next video. I told him on the first post how to find my email.
I'll take gas water heater any day i never run out of hot water with a 40-gallon gas water heater and it costs almost nothing to run about 8 dollars for the actual gas used with stove and dryer when heat is off of course they have service fee for maintenance so it's like 20 to thirty on months without heat.
50 gallons why such a small battery?
Why not crank the temp up on elements and install a mixing valve .. you can increase that capacity alot that way
That’s exactly the comment I was about to post. Much less expensive than replacing a water heater, and the plumbing effort involved isn’t that complicated.
I’d like to upsize my gas water heater. I’m assuming that this is not a DIY job? Would y’all like to do it? 😊
And you didn’t get a NG water heater why?
May not have NG available
@@dandennis8465 There's a gas line right behind that water heater.
Why they didn’t put in a 50 gallon, it’s a flip lowest cost possible on everything to make it sell.
I guess I'm a little fuzzy on why use a heat pump?
The issue with the original unit was it was too small. The new unit is 50 gallons, which solves that issue.
From my understanding, heat pumps are just more efficient than normal electrical heaters. Is it just a bit cheaper to run? Also, how does it compare to gas?
With a little bit of googling, in my area it makes no sense to go electrical. Most homes are piped for natural gas, and electric is so much more expensive. If you have solar or batteries you can save a bit, but without the government programs it's about $1200 more to go heat pump. And unless the water heater lasts 24 years, you won't get a return on investment. You can expect to save $50 a year over gas. But if you have solar it really stacks up. Especially if you have a oversized system like everybody here. (they look for electric systems to add in, because the local power company doesn't buy back power)
I think these would only make sense in deep south where it's always hot, so you get benefit of air conditioning and dehumidifying if you use lots of water the regular elements come on and there goes the savings of heat pump. in north in winter your basement will be frozen with heat pump sucking out the heat.
gas where i live is cheap and it is faster at heating the first hour hot water output is much higher than electric heaters.
It's at least $50 cheaper per month on my local utility bill. Plus you get rebates and tax credits to go this route. Also the power consumption is significantly less. If you have a whole house power backup that extends the time you can run in an outage.
Is that Danny Devito?
What a hack for those rim joists lol. For the long ones behind him I mean sure cut your rigid insulation but they didn’t even try to line up the bottom edges at all. I know it doesn’t affect the performance but looks like a hack job lol
I'll still stick with a tankless. No heating water when it isn't being used and endless hot water when you want it.
Heat pumps are the future. Save energy = saves money
That show shows how showers shower 😌
Don't up size the water heater before the kids move out! Teenagers don't get out of the shower until the water is cold.
lol I got three of them! None want to take a shower before bed, all gotta take one in the morning! Good luck
Ok fifty Galon hybrid electric water heater ten year warranty home depot advertises one brand at $2600. USD.
$400 /year energy savings, $500 rebate $900 off the first year.
$1700 \400 4.25 years without any federal tax credit offsets.
There are thirty year warranty models available. Online vs in store, location, sales tax etc etc.
Installation...
Also possible the local utility company leases hot water heaters.
Financing might be a option.
At the above price assuming every credit and realized energy saving $2900 after one year.
As much as I admire and trust Richard Trethewey, his calculations are incorrect. No one I know of uses straight hot water out of the water tank for a shower since they would get scalded quite quickly, even if the water heater was set for 120 degrees. Cold water is mixed in at the shower valve, so the hot water draw from the tank should last a lot longer than he calculates. How long depends on how warm one likes their showers. The old water tank has a bad heating element, thermostat or the cold water dip tube has fallen into the tank.
Those pipes are going all over the place.
Should have cleaned up the install while they had the chance.
My thoughts too. And it didn't appear that the copper pipe was supported anywhere so if anything leaned into those pipes, I would be concerned it could break a joint.
Rich---- should have added a gravity return line to the installation
"what does the mean?'" means take shorter showers or payyyy
Last thing I want is a wifi enabled water heater.
I want my water heater to last 20 years. There is no company out there that wants to support the software that wifi enabled water heater uses.
There is nothing wrong with old fashioned mechanically controlled water heaters. They work.
It works offline and can be controlled without any app or cloud. If you're savvy and do a little research. 😊
So what did the new heater cost, uncle? Looks like 3 grand or so. Here in Oklahoma we're not so rich. I installed a shut off valve at the shower head, we all use it while we soap up etc. Our rheem 30 gal gas heater does great for our family of 4. DIY cost 500 bucks, 25 a month to operate, life is good. Glad to hear biden is subsidizing water heaters for yuppies.
Why not tankless?
Did I miss something? 40 gallons isn't enough for two people?
I would replace the showerhead as well. Get a 1-1.5 gpm
I would have, personally, recommended a tankless on demand water heater. No storage required (means more space available for use for other things) and virtually limitless, instantaneously available, hot water. Of course that really only works if you have town gas or a local gas supplier that can regularly deliver and swap your bottled gas BEFORE you run out.
we get cheap natural gas so it's a no brainer, but this water heater would make sense in south where house is hot all year round and you get air conditioning and dehumidifying with this unit.
up in New England their basement will be a refrigerator in winter with water heater sucking up all the heat in basement.
I like his toilet fixures.
Or how about save $500 or so and put a 80 gal electric and be done