Hybrid hot water heater a no-go for me - it creates condensate

 
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davidmcbeth3
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Post by davidmcbeth3 » Fri. Feb. 10, 2023 8:10 pm

The condensate requires the water created by the device to go into some type of draining system

I don't have a drain where it would need to go.

So, the hybrid HW heater, like the HD one linked below is a no go for my situation

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rheem-Performance-Pla ... /312742081

I suppose one could have the condensate dump into a 5 gal bucket then dump the stuff into a toilet on a routine but I would not be able to easily see how full the bucket would get and it would almost certainly cause some water issues

So if looking into one of these devices that can save $$$, consider the fact that this condensate needs to go somewhere.


 
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Post by davidmcbeth3 » Fri. Feb. 10, 2023 8:13 pm

https://images.thdstatic.com/catalog/pdfImages/ca ... c3ab53.pdf

Oh, and an all electric one would cost me , with 35 cents kwhr, over $1200 / yr est. to run

Energy guide for unit linked above ... the $$ given based on 14 cents/kwhr .. I adj accordingly

 
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Post by lincolnmania » Fri. Feb. 10, 2023 11:15 pm

don't have a sump you can drain the water to? you could pump it to a drain with a inexpensive condensate pump.

 
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Post by k-2 » Fri. Feb. 10, 2023 11:35 pm

davidmcbeth3 wrote:
Fri. Feb. 10, 2023 8:10 pm
The condensate requires the water created by the device to go into some type of draining system
I don't have a drain where it would need to go.
So, the hybrid HW heater, like the HD one linked below is a no go for my situation
Thats what i l like about mine .Saves the dehumidifier from running all the time which uses a lot of power. I drain mine into the basement perimeter sump system but i could also drain it into one of the basement waste water lines.

 
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Post by davidmcbeth3 » Fri. Feb. 10, 2023 11:48 pm

k-2 wrote:
Fri. Feb. 10, 2023 11:35 pm
Thats what i l like about mine .Saves the dehumidifier from running all the time which uses a lot of power. I drain mine into the basement perimeter sump system but i could also drain it into one of the basement waste water lines.
My sump pump and sewer lines inside that are accessible are too far from where I would put the unit. And sump pumps are not made for this purpose.

 
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Post by Rob R. » Sat. Feb. 11, 2023 3:17 pm

davidmcbeth3 wrote:
Fri. Feb. 10, 2023 11:48 pm
My sump pump and sewer lines inside that are accessible are too far from where I would put the unit. And sump pumps are not made for this purpose.
They make condensate pumps exactly for this purpose. I looked at a couple that cost $50-70 and they can easily pump across the basement of an average house.

 
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Post by davidmcbeth3 » Sat. Feb. 11, 2023 3:34 pm

Rob R. wrote:
Sat. Feb. 11, 2023 3:17 pm
They make condensate pumps exactly for this purpose. I looked at a couple that cost $50-70 and they can easily pump across the basement of an average house.
A link to two .. I'd go with the $125 model myself

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-120-Volt-Con ... /308593413

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Little-Giant-VCL-24UL ... /204481233
Last edited by davidmcbeth3 on Sat. Feb. 11, 2023 4:56 pm, edited 3 times in total.


 
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Post by hotblast1357 » Sat. Feb. 11, 2023 4:47 pm

I’m strongly considering one, once I let my coal boiler go out in the spring I’ll find out what the true cost of electric hot water is with my whole house monitoring system, which will dictate if I switch to one of these, got a drain right below where it would go so I’m all set, considering piping the intake and exhaust into my attic even.

 
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Post by davidmcbeth3 » Sat. Feb. 11, 2023 5:10 pm



A 120v heat pump system

https://s3.amazonaws.com/WebPartners/ProductDocum ... 106054.pdf

But look at spec sheet...for southern USA area

 
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Post by hotblast1357 » Sat. Feb. 11, 2023 6:29 pm

I like it! That’s one of the quietest I’ve heard running.

 
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Post by davidmcbeth3 » Sat. Feb. 11, 2023 8:31 pm

hotblast1357 wrote:
Sat. Feb. 11, 2023 6:29 pm
I like it! That’s one of the quietest I’ve heard running.
I like that too..but my basement is now 50F / outside 25F

hmmm still thinking .. I could still have both the hybrid heat pump and oil burning system ... so for two coldest months have option of all-electric (ie heat pump turned off) or oil burner as I have now.

 
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Post by davidmcbeth3 » Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 4:17 pm



This guy has some vids and although he's loquacious the summed up info from his vids is this:

Works good, saves $$, in Apr-Oct time period

Cools his basement down to much in winter

Makes some degree of noise

Does not actually effect or replace his basement dehumidifier

He does use his basement as a living space - ie finished basement


Overall, he likes the heat pump HW but he turns it off in cold weather months and goes back to his all-electric HW heater due to issues noted above.

He lives in Penn.

So that maybe the option for me. It would require some extra values for the switch from winter mode to summer mode for the 2 water heating appliances (Boiler and Hybrid Heat Pump) and the condensate pump with line to run 40 feet (measured) to the sewer line.

So its do-able. Cost wise ? I use 1 gal of oil now per day for HW..
https://images.thdstatic.com/catalog/pdfImages/ea ... 1e1c8a.pdf
Est 2.,2 kwH per day for hybrid heat pump WH

at 2.5 $/gal oil price and 35 c kwh .. 2.5 v. 0.8 dollars a day
savings: 1.7 $/day

Figure device = 1050 (device has $750 state rebate-incl here)
Plumbing supplies = 400 (valves, condensate pump
Electrical = 100 (breakers, wire)

Total cost = $1550

Since not used in winter, a 12 mo / 9 mo factor incl to account

ROI = $1550 * day/$1.7 * 12 mo./9 mo = 1215 days

1215 days = 3.3 years (break even point)

The 3+ yrs goes over my standard 2 yr limit for such appliances.

If I also incl a $500 fed tax credit, bringing cost down to $1050, that calc. out to 2.2 yr ROI. Still over my 2 yr limit.

Its not a dead project..just dead for the unit I was looking at
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rheem-Performance-Pla ... /312742081

I am still examining boiler/HW source of heat pump/boiler systems too. Although the ROI v. coal stove heating is gonna be hard to beat I'm guessing.

 
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Post by ColdHouse » Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 4:29 pm

Something to note. I think Hybrid Water Heaters have an electric element inside and could function as a normal electric water heater. That mode just uses way more electricity.

 
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Post by davidmcbeth3 » Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 4:52 pm

ColdHouse wrote:
Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 4:29 pm
Something to note. I think Hybrid Water Heaters have an electric element inside and could function as a normal electric water heater. That mode just uses way more electricity.
Yes, that guy in video did note this ... I think he had an all electric 40 gal HWH also and switches to that in the winter. I dunno why he doesn't just go to "all electric" with his hybrid one..he gave a reason but I don't recall in one of his vids.

I would switch to my on-demand HWH inside my boiler. Uses 1 gal a day for HW.

All electric estimated at 3500 kwh .. about $1250/yr ~ $3.50/day (* 35c/kwh pricing)
https://images.thdstatic.com/catalog/pdfImages/ab ... b4fdd1.pdf

 
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Post by davidmcbeth3 » Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 5:06 pm

ColdHouse wrote:
Sun. Feb. 12, 2023 4:29 pm
Something to note. I think Hybrid Water Heaters have an electric element inside and could function as a normal electric water heater. That mode just uses way more electricity.
If I recall, on your switch to the heat pump HWH, you swapped it out for an all electric and this is your sole source of HW.

And since you heat your basement you get it running 100% of time on heat pump mode, so it was a no-brainer to switch. Your ROI based on my #s would be 1.65 yrs.

What was your total out of pocket cost for you? I think you mentioned it before but I forgot.


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