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For most people, size, fuel type and cost are the most important factors in a water heater. The size, for instance, will tell if the heater can provide enough water to cater for your family needs. The fuel type used, efficiency and ability to save on energy costs are other a must include considerations when selecting the water heaters. And finally, your budget will have to play a big hand in determining what type of water heater you will finally purchase.
There are many types of water heaters in the market today. And one of the most common types is the hybrid water heater. The heater has a combined tankless heater and the conventional tank style water heater most people own. Both the features work hand in hand to make this type of water heater one of the most efficient suppliers of hot water in any home. Read the article below to learn some of the best hybrid water heaters on sale.
- General Electric GEH50DFEJSR
- Capacity: 50 gallon
- Wattage: 4500
- Energy factor: 2.9
- Dimensions: 22.5 x 21.8 x 60.8
- AO Smith PHPT-80
- Capacity: 60 gallon
- Wattage: 4500
- Energy factor: 2.3
- Dimensions: 24.5 x 24.5 x 81.5
- Westinghouse WEC080C2X045
- Capacity: 80 gallon
- Wattage: 4500
- Energy factor: 2.9
- Dimensions: 69 x 23.2 x 69
Top 3 Hybrid Water Heaters Reviewed
General Electric GEH50DFEJSR Hybrid Water Heater
The geo spring water heater combines the latest heat pump technology with the conventional electric elements to deliver hot water at efficient energy costs at any time of the day. The energy costs are specially cut down drastically by the water heater’s efficient compressor and an evaporator that work to draw in heat from the surrounding air.
The heater has also got two fans for better efficiency. Actually, the water heater saves up to 62% of energy costs compared to a standard water tank heater. However, the energy efficiency and high heating ability are what makes it top most hybrid water heater reviews.
In addition, the general electric hybrid has multiple and meaningful features that make it a great tool to have at home. To start with, it has four operating modes and a vacation setting for faster and better performance. On the other hand, this water heater achieves the same amount of hot water a 50-gallon tank heater would achieve but at a faster rate. In fact, the water heater has the ability to achieve 67 gallons of water in the first hour and most importantly, it can save your family up to $400 on energy costs annually.
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AO Smith PHPT-80 Residential Electric Water Heater
The PHPT-80 is a rather large but efficient top hybrid water heater. It comes with multiple and meaningful features that clearly make it stand out from other brands. When it comes to efficiency, the PHPT has an advanced technology that utilizes heat from the surrounding air for more energy efficiency. The modes that it uses to tap heat from surrounding areas are also designed in such a way that it reverts to the normal heating element should the temperatures around the heater go below 45F.
Additionally, the heater comes with a vacation mode that allows you to regulate how the water heater works even in your absence. At vacation mode, the water will remain at a constant temperature of around 60F no matter the season. Besides, the water heater is a hybrid electric water heater which allows it to it to switch from the compressor to heating elements for more efficiency and at the same time saving on energy costs. The heating elements are however only used when the need arises. All in all, the PHPT-80 is a great water heater that offers great value for your money.
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Westinghouse WEC080C2X045 4500W High Efficiency Electric Water Heater
Westinghouse has a combined high quality and great efficiency that very few hot water hybrid water heaters have. The body is made of stainless steel; it has an elegant finish and a creatively designed system that prevents cold water from mixing with hot water during operation. People who are keen on durability can put their faith in this machine noting that most of the heater’s parts are made from the most long lasting materials. It also has very low standby heat loss.
Like most top hybrid water heaters, the Westinghouse electric heater has some great features that put it high on demand. To start with, it can achieve up to 59 gallons of hot water in its first hour of heating, and the much it can lose on standby mode is 57% per hour. Heating at 4500w, the water heater can also achieve a thermal efficiency rate of up to 95%. The fact that the heater has a stainless body also makes it highly corrosion-resistant. It is laser welded and people who register online can get a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer.
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[table id=4 responsive=scroll /]What is a Hybrid Water Heater?
A hybrid water heater is a tank style water heater that can also heat water directly from the source without necessarily storing it in its tank. A Hybrid water heater is important in that it utilizes the advantages of each system and overcomes the disadvantages of either system by utilizing the one that works. A hybrid water heater is both efficient when used as a tankless style system and when the tank is also put into use.
In a normal situation, a water heater can either operate with a tank or work with its tankless system. Most water heaters have tanks of between 40 to 80 gallons storage capability. Such heaters use a thermostat to keep the water hot at certain constant temperatures. The only disadvantage is that utilizing a thermostat for so long makes them energy inefficient especially because they also require a lot of heating once the tanks are depleted.
A tankless water heater, on the other hand, heats water directly from the source without storing it in a tank. They are more energy efficient but may also not deliver hot water in the absence of a ready water source. That makes hybrid water heaters the best purchase for homes that require both on demand hot water and reservoir stored water. They are also more energy efficient not only because their storage tanks are smaller but also because they can tap heat from the surrounding areas to save on electricity.
How Does a Hybrid Water Heater Work?
Basically, the technology that runs hybrid water heaters depends on the manufacturer. However, most of these machines combine the technology that works both tank style and tankless hot water heaters. Conventional tank heaters heat from the bottom while the tankless heaters store the hot water in copper pipes after also heating from the bottom.
In other water heaters, water runs around electrically heated but insulated copper pipes continuously until it reaches to the desired temperatures. Some of the hot water is then stored in a reservoir tank while most of the water is delivered to taps for use in the house. The technology as we had stated however do change at times. In the general electric hybrid water heater we earlier reviewed, heat is drawn from the air surrounding the heater and transfers it into the machine to heat your water.
Another common method of heating water in hybrid water heaters is one that maximizes efficiency by minimizes the disadvantages incurred by heating water in a tank water heater. In this new approach, water is directed through the tank from the bottom up normally, but sediments and other build up materials that reduce efficacy in tank style heaters are removed by the self-cleaning processes that hybrid heaters undergo. This also makes the hot hybrid water heat last for long.
On the other hand, there are water heaters that utilize more than one method of heating water in order to overcome the limitations that may come with either method. Finally, there are heaters that push heat around their heaters in multiple directions to utilize the energy optimally without necessarily compromising on the pressure.
Conclusion
People have changed the way they used to heat water fifty years ago. The technology and types of water heaters have also changed a lot, and today hybrids taking are center stage owing to their better value for money. However, there are reasons why people still do use either the reservoir water heaters or the tankless water heaters. That does not make the hybrids to be of a lesser quality though. In fact, hybrid water heaters have a higher energy efficiency rate than any other type of water heaters. They are also more advantageous in that they can deliver surplus hot water on demand and also at the same time store some more water to be used later.
When it comes to quality and durability, hybrid water heaters are some of the most durable machines. Finally, hybrid water heaters are perhaps the ideal tools for whole house water needs, and as technology betters, they are likely to become even cheaper and more efficient in the future.
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