Aside from your home heating system, the hot water tank is the most energy-consuming appliance in a typical home.Homeowners can cut their water heater operating expenses by about half by upgrading to a heat pump water heater, and current utility rebates can reduce costs by hundreds of dollars.
Hot water is one of the biggest drivers behind monthly utility bills, and traditional electric water heaters require a lot of energy to do the job.An electric water heater can account for 15 to 20 percent of a home’s annual energy consumption.
“That’s why switching to a heat pump water heater is a huge investment for most homeowners,” said Matt Babbitt, Clark Utilities Energy Program Manager.”They use less than half the electricity of a standard electric water heater each year, and our $500 rebate brings the purchase price down to a similar price to a standard electric water heater.”
Typical electric water heaters use submerged metal elements to heat the tank.Heat pump water heaters, sometimes called hybrid water heaters, use a small heat pump mounted on top of the tank to heat the water inside, an underwater element that acts as a rare backup device in the Northwest when the surrounding air gets too cold.
Essentially, heat pumps are heat exchangers – they take heat from one area and force it into another.This is a proven technology used worldwide to heat and cool spaces while using very little energy in the process.
While a traditional resistance 50-gallon electric water heater can cost between $400 and $600 a year to run, a heat pump water heater almost always costs about half that.
Heat pump water heaters are larger than standard electric water heaters, but are suitable for most homes.But since heat pumps emit cold air and can be a bit noisy, the ideal location is in a space that doesn’t have air conditioning, such as a garage or unused basement.
Like many appliance replacements, it’s important to plan for the due date of your new water heater.Heat pump water heaters can cost nearly three times more than traditional electric water heaters, but operating cost savings are immediate and often pay for themselves within a few years thanks to utility incentives and lower energy bills over the life of the tank.
Current Clark Public Utilities incentives include a $500 rebate on new hybrid water heaters.If you purchase a heat pump water heater at a retail store in Oregon, your $500 credit will be applied at the time of purchase.
Customers can get an $800 rebate if they buy a more efficient split heat pump water heater.A split system places the heat pump outside and connects it to a water tank inside.Not only is it more efficient, but it’s also quieter and cooler air inside is no longer an issue.
“Many homeowners may be able to do the installation themselves, but several local contractors who participate in our network of utility contractors offer professional installation of HPWH,” Babbitt said.”Contractors participating in our network are able to apply utility rebates directly to eligible project costs for immediate cost savings and potentially offer additional promotions for utility customers, so it’s good to get multiple bids.”