In the current unsteady climate for contractors and builders Rheem has designed a hybrid water heater that offers hot water delivery and will reduce the homeowner's overall cost of ownership. The Energy Star rated hybrid water heater was designed for easy installation and installs much like a standard electric water heater, with the same familiar connections. It's surprisingly narrow with a diameter of only 21" and is twice the efficiency of standard electric water heaters. If your annual energy cost for hot water is $520, you can save as much as $286 per year.
HOW IT WORKS (In "Energy Saver mode, the hybrid water heater pump operates automatically for hot water storage in this sequence:
1. A fan pulls air through the top air filter; 2. Heat in the air is absorbed by eco-friendly refrigerant inside the evaporator coil and cool (dehumidified) air is exhausted; 3. Refrigerant is pumped through a compressor, which increases the temperature; 4. Simultaneously the cooler water from the bottom of the tank is pumped to the top of the appliance, where it circulates through a patented condenser coil; 5. Hot refrigerant transfers its heat to the water inside the condenser coil; 6. Heated water is returned back to the top of the tank; 7. All functions are controlled simultaneously by an advanced circuit board located behind the user touch pad*; 8. Condensate drain connection; 9. Backup electric heating elements.
*In "High Demand" mode, the heat pump can run in tandem with an electric element during periods of high demand. In "Electric Heat Only" mode, the heat pump is disabled and the appliance operates like a standard electric water heater with two elements.
For more information visit www.rheemhpwh.com.