What Is a Hybrid Water Heater?

A hybrid water heater, also known as a heat pump water heater, combines everything we love about a standard water heater with the benefit of an energy-efficient heat pump. If you live in a warm climate and your home’s appliances are all electric (not gas), a hybrid water heater might be right for you.

How Does a Heat Pump Water Heater Work?

A hybrid water heater, or heat pump water heater, uses heat from outside air drawn into the appliance’s evaporator coil. The evaporator coil contains refrigerant, allowing it to absorb heat from the air. Finally, a heat exchanger heats water within the tank to the desired temperature before it passes from the heater tank into your home’s showers, faucets, and large appliances.

It’s helpful to think about this process as being like that of your refrigerator, but in reverse. Instead of expelling hot air to cool the contents of a refrigerator or freezer, a heat pump water heater pulls hot air in to heat the water. Like a tankless water heater, a heat pump water heater does not run all the time, making it more efficient than a standard water heater. However, during periods of increased use, the tank will fill, keeping households with many people from running out of water at key times.

Is a Hybrid Water Heater Right for Me?

A hybrid water heater is a fantastic option for some households. Because they have tanks, heat pump water heaters require more space than tankless water heaters, and are therefore not right for small spaces.

Hybrid hot water heaters also require a warm or at least mild climate to operate most efficiently. Because they work by drawing heat from outside air, they will not function well in cold climates.

Finally, hybrid water heaters are electric. A home that’s plumbed for a gas water heater or other gas appliances is not the best candidate for heat pump water heater installation because of the work that would be necessary to retrofit the fittings. Also, a dedicated high-voltage circuit and breaker would need to be added.

Learn More About Your Water Heater Options with Help from Aire Serv

From heat pumps to high-efficiency tankless water heaters, Aire Serv technicians are standing by to assist with all your water heater needs. Our experts are dedicated to keeping your furnace heating, your air conditioner cooling, and your hot water hot. Don’t settle for lukewarm water or larger-than-life electricity bills. Contact your local Aire Serv today to see how we can help you breathe easy. Ready to get started? Schedule an appointment, online.

Have a water heater or HVAC emergency? Call 855.259.2280 for 24/7, emergency service.