#waterheaters — Public Fediverse posts

Questions:

Do you have a heat pump water heater? I'm especially interested in either of these models (Geospring or Voltex X), of course, but they're relatively new and I assume not widely deployed yet. I'm curious to hear anyone's experience with a heat pump water heater, what went well or not. Has anyone seen these split heat pump water heaters (with outdoor compressors) in the wild?

How would you choose between these two models, aside from price? /🧵

#HeatPumps #WaterHeaters

Second, A. O. Smith's Voltex X:
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/08/10/a-o-smith-partners-with-panasonic-to-bring-a-co2-split-hpwh-to-market/
https://www.hotwater.com/products/split-system-outdoor-heat-pump-voltex-x/hpaco-45-100/100397647.html

It's a split heat pump water heater, with the compressor outdoors. It uses #CO2 #refrigerant and therefore has a GWP of exactly 1.

Pros:
* Can use less indoor space, house is small
* Does not cool house in winter
* No need for resistance heat

Cons:
* Uses outdoor space, yard is also small
* More expensive, outdoor unit needs 240v
* Outdoor water lines could freeze

#HeatPumps #WaterHeaters #AOSmith #VoltexX

🧵

First, #GE’s #Geospring:
https://cleantechnica.com/2025/07/10/ges-new-heat-pump-water-heater-takes-the-technology-to-new-heights/
https://www.geappliances.com/appliance/GE-Profile-GEOSPRING-Smart-Hybrid-Heat-Pump-Water-Heater-80-gallon-120V-FlexCapacity-PF80S10FPY

This is a unitary water heater, using HFO-1234yf #refrigerant, which has a GWP of <1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2%2C3%2C3%2C3-Tetrafluoropropene

I haven't been able to find a local source, but it seems I can order it online and have it shipped for a plumber to install: https://www.wayfair.com/home-improvement/pdp/ge-profile-geospring-smart-hybrid-heat-pump-water-heater-80-gallon-120v-flexcapacity-ghro1041.html

Pros:
* Can run on 120V, can avoid electrician
* Cools basement in summer

Cons:
* Cools basement in winter
* Resistance heat backup

🧵

#WaterHeaters #HeatPumps

https://theconversation.com/after-home-batteries-could-the-humble-water-heater-be-the-next-big-step-forward-284425

#heatpumps #homebatteries #solarpunk #waterheaters

#Solar #waterheaters were cool in 1980s. They could be again.
"[T]oday, hardly anyone is using these #solarwaterheaters even as #photovoltaic panels have popped up on the roofs of nearly 4 million American homes."
Cheap photovoltaics still make economic sense for many homes (unless you're heating a pool). "But the cost of #solarthermal could look like a bargain if we consider increasingly unreliable #electricgrids and the cost to the #climate from burning #fossilfuels."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/solar-water-heaters-were-cool-in-1980s-they-could-be-again/ar-BB1icPWI

Full CPSC safety bulletin on proper water heater temperature is here (I believe new heaters are set at 120F at the factory, thankfully): https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/5098.pdf #safety #waterheaters

"Electric #WaterHeaters offer a cheap way to store large amounts of #energy, in the form of hot water. A heater with a 300-litre tank can store about as much energy as a second-generation #Tesla Powerwall – at a fraction of the cost. "

I would love it if they came with a small thermo-electric unit with, say, a USB outlet for charging devices. Would come in handy in blackouts.

#battery #EnergyStorage
https://theconversation.com/using-electric-water-heaters-to-store-renewable-energy-could-do-the-work-of-2-million-home-batteries-and-save-us-billions-204281

#TimeLapse #photography of me & my helper replacing two standing vessel #WaterHeaters with a new #Navien high efficiency condensing on demand water heater… 2 hours #plumber #plumbing