05-04-12, 08:00 AM | #11 |
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Voltex® Hybrid Electric Heat Pump - Water Heaters Residential by A. O. Smith looks o have all of the documents you might need to plan your install before buying anything, they even have a video you can download on how to install it!
My understanding of course is that the heat pump water heaters are more or less designed to be a drop in replacement for an electric water heater, to keep the pipes from vibrating while the compressor is running you might think about using flex lines to connect to the incoming and out going water lines in the house, this should also make hooking up the water heater a bit easier. Also, if you don't have a shut off valve now is the time to install one, installing it on the cold water side is most common, die-electric unions are also a good idea if you have any copper pipe in your house because the tank tends to be cast iron and of course any time you connect iron pipe to copper you need a die-electric union or you will create a battery in the pipes and the iron will get eaten away. Assuming that everything is in good shape, you should be able to turn off the water and power, pull your old water heater, hook the new one up, plumb in the drain and be done within a few hours, the hard part is hauling the nearly 400 pound water heater around. Last edited by Ryland; 05-04-12 at 08:03 AM.. |
05-04-12, 12:25 PM | #12 |
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definitely remember the die-electric unions. The previous owners installed my current tank with standard galvanized unions between the tank and the copper. The unions don't look great but the tank connectors are rusted beyond recognition. The tank is 6 years old according to warranty dates....
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05-05-12, 09:03 AM | #13 |
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Yeah I'm with you guys. DIY all the way! I'm putting in the order tonight I think. Then I just need to figure out how to properly size the expansion tank and which condensate pump to buy and I'll be good to go. Thanks for the tip on the dielectric union and the shutoff valve. I looked through the docs on hotwater.com and I thought haha.. this isn't a big deal. I bet that plumber just didn't want to do the job. Oh well... his loss.
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05-05-12, 10:57 AM | #14 |
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Expansion tank? Did I miss something? I thought this was just for domestic hot water.
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05-05-12, 11:22 AM | #15 | |
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Quote:
Here is an Expansion Tank Calculator using one should also help dampen the effects of water hammer in your pipes. |
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The Following User Says Thank You to Ryland For This Useful Post: | Daox (05-07-12) |
05-07-12, 04:13 PM | #16 |
Helper EcoRenovator
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Exactly. It was just a recommendation in the install manual. I was planning on following it. I was planning on ordering it tonight. I'll shoot some pictures for you guys Thanks for all the help. I'm feeling confident about this.
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06-20-12, 11:53 PM | #17 |
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Works great in Florida
Excited about installing my Rheem Ecosense heat pump water heater I purchased on closeout from Home Depot for only $524.00 The local utility company rebate went up from $300 to $500. I purchased a State brand 3 months ago for $1,500. They are dumping them now because no one understands the technology. The drawback I see is that they (mine) can be noisy- glad its in my garage. Great having a cool garage this summer, and my electric bill is down $30 a month. Running the condensate line can be a pain on these units, if I can find a quiet one that can go in a living space, it would also provide cold air for the house in the summer. Looking forward to seeing how quiet the Rheem one is compared to the state. I've heard people have had them in their kitchens here in Florida, providing cold air in the summer. I'm sure you'd want to switch it back to electric in the winter though.
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