For one Tucson, Arizona, homeowner, an already-hot climate prompted them to wonder if it was worth it to upgrade their water heater. After all, as they explained to the community on r/heatpumps, they don't need much hot water when it's already hot. Nevertheless, they were still tempted to upgrade to a heat pump water heater.
Heat pumps transfer heat from the surrounding air to heat water, rather than using electricity or burning fuel. They're incredibly efficient and can slash homeowners' bills by over $5,600 in their usable lifetime, according to Energy Star.
"Obviously, heat pumps work very effectively in hot climates where the ambient air already holds plenty of heat energy to move," OP pointed out. "However, heat pump water heaters are also more expensive than a conventional electric heater. So my question is…are the energy savings of heat pump water heaters still enough to offset their higher upfront purchase price?"
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Which of these factors would most effectively motivate you to buy a heat pump? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. |
Lower energy bills 💰 One consideration, commenters explained, is that significant tax breaks and rebates are available through the Inflation Reduction Act. And while President Trump has mentioned that he plans to eliminate them, it will take an act of Congress to make any major changes. Nevertheless, people urged, it's best to lock in the best possible rebates now.
"Don't forget State and Local and possibly even utility specific incentives!!" one person added. "My install ended up being around $350 net when I stacked credit card bonuses, local incentives, [and] tax credits."
Another had a similar experience. "Between fed and local rebates my unit costs me -200 bucks," they boasted. "After the few odds and ends to do the 1 ish hour diy install think it was -30 bucks. Yea they literally paid me to put it in."
And after the installation cost is recouped, the savings continue. "Might cut your bill by 20%," one person shared. "My hot water bill went from $600 to $150/year for a family of 6."
Another agreed. "When I lived in Tennessee I switched to a heat pump water heater," they explained. "My power bill was lowered $50 every single month, year round … I wondered why I hadn't switched sooner."
Got a ductless mini split? Swap your outdated remote for a smart controller to elevate your cooling experience Klima is a smart thermostat and controller that's very different to a traditional Nest or Ecobee. It’s designed specifically for ductless heating and cooling — like room A/Cs, window A/C units, and mini split heat pumps — regardless of brand or age. Klima helps you save on energy bills and make your life easier by automatically regulating your home’s temperature to exactly how you like it. You can even control your A/C from your phone and monitor usage no matter where you are. Learn more → |
Some options, like the pumps at Cala, use smart home monitoring technology to optimize water heating based on each home's particular usage. This allows for the lowest possible energy bills while keeping the house perfectly comfortable — all while lowering a home's pollutive energy impact.
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