How Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heaters Work

Whether it’s for showering, doing the dishes, cleaning the house, having hot water is an important need in the modern world. Which presents a challenge to our pursuit to build the most energy efficient homes in Utah. What is the most energy efficient way to heat the water in our homebuyers new home without compromising the indoor air quality? That question is what led us to begin transitioning to the use of hybrid heat pump water heaters starting with communities that opened in 2024. Let’s talk a little bit about the way this system enhances your home’s energy efficiency and improves your home’s indoor air quality compared to other new construction homes.

What Exactly Is a Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heater?
Unlike a car that’s a hybrid, a hybrid heat pump doesn’t have an electric powered mode and a gas powered mode. Your water is heated by electricity either way, instead, it’s about how the water is heated. It can still be heated like any other electric water heater would, with electricity running through coils wrapped around the tank to generate the heat. A method that can use a lot of electricity to get the job done and drain your energy bill. Or, by using heat pump mode. Where the heat pump will extract heat from the air and transfer it into the coils around the water heater to heat your water. Using only the electricity needed to power the motor that operates the heat pump. 

Why Is That Great?
Energy efficiency is essentially measured on an input-output basis. Let’s say that for every ten units of electricity that goes to power the device you’re reading this article on 8 of them do their job while 2 of them do not. Your device would have an energy efficiency of 80%. Most heat pump devices on the market in 2024 have an efficiency rating of 350%-400% when compared to other electric heating devices. Or an output that is 35 - 40 times the input! Allowing you to maintain your same lifestyle while using less energy. Which also means savings on your energy bills! And that’s before we talk about the improvements in air quality by removing another source of carbon emissions from your home.

What Should I be Aware Of?
Because they extract heat from the air, keeping your Heat Pumps ventilation system clean is very important to maintain its effectiveness. This is less of a problem in our townhomes because we duct in fresh air, but in our single-family homes you will want to keep an eye on it. Heat Pumps also require a minimum of 70 cubic meters of air to run effectively. Which isn’t that much in the grand scheme of things but you should keep that in mind. This is also something you should keep in mind for the heat pump that heats and cools your whole home. Keep the area around it clean and clear of plant debris to keep up energy efficiency.

We are proud that we continue to search for better ways to make your home more and more energy efficient. The benefits for our homebuyers make the challenges we face worth it. If you’re interested in homes with high energy efficiency and superior home health, please check out our communities in Salt Lake City, Millcreek, Midvale, Murray and West Jordan. Or reach out to our new home specialist to learn more today!