Heat pump water heater install

cholcombe · 05-02-12, 11:03 AM

Is anyone familiar with how hard it is to install a heat pump water heater? I'm looking into installing the AO smith voltex heat pump heater. I just had a plumber here who knows how to install it and said he wanted $1500 to install it. My jaw dropped.

Is there that much work involved with these things?

MN Renovator · 05-02-12, 11:34 AM

Depends on what sort of electrical connection it needs. If it needs a 240v connection like most electric water heaters and I assume this one does since it likely has a backup resistance element like the rest, you'll need electric run to it. If you already have the correct electric voltage and amperage going to your current water heater, assuming it is electric, I don't see what would be so tough about it. Usually skilled tradesman will charge an arm and a leg to do something they have never done before to try to get you to either go somewhere else or to make you pay for the struggle that might come of installing something that they thing will be hard and involve extra time because they are learning.

Take a look at the installation manual online and take a guess at how long it would take. If you need someone else to install it for you, search for a different company. If it costs a fortune to buy it and a fortune to install, it isn't worth getting.

Daox · 05-02-12, 12:02 PM

There are a few people here who have them. Hopefully they'll chime in.

I honestly can't see it being real hard if you've done any electrical work.

cholcombe · 05-02-12, 12:32 PM

Yeah I don't think it'll be bad at all. I agree he probably doesn't want to do it and quoted me a crazy price. I was figuring in my head $500 max. I had a HVAC guy help me install my mini split for that much. And that was a heck of a lot more work! I already have an electric water heater that I'm assuming has 240V single phase going to it. I'll have to double check. It says in the manual be careful not to use 208. What's the difference? I thought 2 110V lines gives you 220~240?

Daox · 05-02-12, 12:50 PM

208V is basically three phase 120V power. Apparently its used in more commercial applications.

How does 208V differ from 220V

cholcombe · 05-02-12, 01:20 PM

Thanks Daox! I'm willing to bet I have 220V single phase then. I see 2 20A breakers tied together with a bar across them. The plumber looked at it for 2 seconds and said it was 120V. I said huh? Figured I'd ask here because I think this guy was messing with me.

S-F · 05-02-12, 02:47 PM

That's 220 2 phase. The breakers are right next to each other so each one gets power from a different bus. Isn't 220 single phase in Europe and the like? Otherwise the only work is muscling it in and connecting it, which could be some work with the torch if it doesn't plumb up the exact same way and it probably doesn't. Still $1500 does sound steep, even if new wiring is called for.

And 2 x 20A breakers is a 40A line and the cable is sized for 40A. Does the heater draw more than 40A?

strider3700 · 05-02-12, 04:04 PM

I'd assume you also need a condensation drain of some sort with the heatpump since my air heating unit has one. beyond that I can't imagine it's any more work then a standard electric hotwater heater if you already have one. It's easy. If it doesn't turn out to be the same definitely document the process with pictures and put up a post here for us to learn.

S-F · 05-02-12, 04:12 PM

I got a condensate pump last summer for my dehumidifier (which is slated for the scrap yard in favor of air conditioning) and it cost about $50 on Amazon. Drill a hole in the wall or drain it into a sink or something. So I guess we can add 50 - 100 $ to the cost of wrestling an old DHW heater out and the new one in plus pipe fitting. There might also be a fee for disposal of the old unit too.

strider3700 · 05-04-12, 12:14 AM

Yeah my heatpump uses a condensate pump pumping to outside as well. They work just fine although they are a strange sound that I only notice after the heatpump turns off. I rarely use the AC though so that may be why it's suddenly weird sounding.

05-02-12, 11:03 AM	#1
cholcombe Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 56 Thanks: 13 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Heat pump water heater install Is anyone familiar with how hard it is to install a heat pump water heater? I'm looking into installing the AO smith voltex heat pump heater. I just had a plumber here who knows how to install it and said he wanted $1500 to install it. My jaw dropped. Is there that much work involved with these things?

05-02-12, 12:02 PM	#3
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	There are a few people here who have them. Hopefully they'll chime in. I honestly can't see it being real hard if you've done any electrical work. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Last edited by Daox; 05-02-12 at 12:08 PM..

05-02-12, 12:50 PM	#5
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	208V is basically three phase 120V power. Apparently its used in more commercial applications. How does 208V differ from 220V __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

05-02-12, 11:34 AM	#2
MN Renovator Less usage=Cheaper bills Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 939 Thanks: 41 Thanked 116 Times in 90 Posts	Depends on what sort of electrical connection it needs. If it needs a 240v connection like most electric water heaters and I assume this one does since it likely has a backup resistance element like the rest, you'll need electric run to it. If you already have the correct electric voltage and amperage going to your current water heater, assuming it is electric, I don't see what would be so tough about it. Usually skilled tradesman will charge an arm and a leg to do something they have never done before to try to get you to either go somewhere else or to make you pay for the struggle that might come of installing something that they thing will be hard and involve extra time because they are learning. Take a look at the installation manual online and take a guess at how long it would take. If you need someone else to install it for you, search for a different company. If it costs a fortune to buy it and a fortune to install, it isn't worth getting.

05-02-12, 12:32 PM	#4
cholcombe Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 56 Thanks: 13 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Yeah I don't think it'll be bad at all. I agree he probably doesn't want to do it and quoted me a crazy price. I was figuring in my head $500 max. I had a HVAC guy help me install my mini split for that much. And that was a heck of a lot more work! I already have an electric water heater that I'm assuming has 240V single phase going to it. I'll have to double check. It says in the manual be careful not to use 208. What's the difference? I thought 2 110V lines gives you 220~240?

05-02-12, 01:20 PM	#6
cholcombe Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 56 Thanks: 13 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thanks Daox! I'm willing to bet I have 220V single phase then. I see 2 20A breakers tied together with a bar across them. The plumber looked at it for 2 seconds and said it was 120V. I said huh? Figured I'd ask here because I think this guy was messing with me.

05-02-12, 04:04 PM	#8
strider3700 Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vancouver Island BC Posts: 745 Thanks: 23 Thanked 37 Times in 30 Posts	I'd assume you also need a condensation drain of some sort with the heatpump since my air heating unit has one. beyond that I can't imagine it's any more work then a standard electric hotwater heater if you already have one. It's easy. If it doesn't turn out to be the same definitely document the process with pictures and put up a post here for us to learn.

05-04-12, 12:14 AM	#10
strider3700 Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vancouver Island BC Posts: 745 Thanks: 23 Thanked 37 Times in 30 Posts	Yeah my heatpump uses a condensate pump pumping to outside as well. They work just fine although they are a strange sound that I only notice after the heatpump turns off. I rarely use the AC though so that may be why it's suddenly weird sounding.