When rising heating bills have turned into your headache and limited hot-water has become a matter of discord, hybrid water heaters are the only apposite solution. Hybrid water heater or heat pump water heaters are the fusion of electrical, water, and gas technology.
This time-cutting technology is 3.5 times more efficient than those traditional water heaters. A single unit saves $300 per year as it uses heat from surroundings and utilizes electricity to transfer heat rather than generating. These heaters take good care of hard water too. All these benefits are the reason why hybrid water heaters have become a top-notch choice for consumers nowadays.
So, if you want to shift the gear to an upgraded water heater, a hybrid water heater is the most viable decision. With the superfluous hybrid water heaters available out there, it is difficult to rebuff and direct your mind towards one. A lot of time and effort is needed to research hybrid water heater reviews.
Table of Contents
Our Top Picks of Best Hybrid Water Heaters
To check the veracity of the features manufacturers promise to provide, you need some honest reviews from real-time users. Here we have picked the top five hybrid water heaters and discussed the assets and pitfalls of each of them after doing thorough research on customer reviews. Let’s have a look.
1. EcoSmart ECO 11 Electric Tankless Water Heater
Assets
To start up our list we have EcoSmart ECO 11 Electric Tankless Water Heater. Day or night, summer or winter, whenever you need hot water, you will never run out of it if you have this water heater beside you.
If you are thinking of saving up huge heating costs, then this white tankless water heater is the one that will benefit you with 60% of savings on water heating costs. This is because this device is 99.8% energy efficient with a uniform energy factor of 0.98.
Thanks to the Patented self-modulating technology and design. This enables the unit to control energy output for optimal water heating based on need. Another interesting feature is the Digital temperature control system. This function allows you to increment or decrement the temperature of 1 degree.
The design offers to heat two gallons per minute. It is manufactured to handle two sinks running simultaneously at a colder climate which includes one shower in case of optimal climates. The rating of the unit is 13000 watts and 220 V.
The optimal temperature starts from 67°F and this unit is well-suited for multiple or single small point use depending on climate. 6.5 pounds weight and 3.75 x 8 x 11.5 inches dimension make it pretty compact for easy storage. For installation, a 125 Amp electrical panel with a 60 Amp breaker is required.
Downsides
- The unit is not long-lasting for internal design flaws.
2. Zojirushi America Corporation Hybrid Water Boiler And Warmer
Assets
Next, we have Zojirushi America Corporation Hybrid Water Combi Boiler and Warmer. This is manufactured with a classic stainless dark brown outlook. Apart from that, the interior is non-stick which makes this gadget effortless to clean.
The thing that hooked my attention is the four keep warm temperature settings with 160°F, 175°F, 195°F, and 208°F temperature facility. This is accompanied by a vacuum insulated non-electric keep warm.
For safety, automatic shut-off function turns-off the heater to prevent damage from overheating. The voltage rating is 120 V and the wattage rating is 840 watts. The weight is 4 liters or 135 ounces.
Thanks to the Quick temperature mode that helps to warm up the water at the desired temperature without boiling quicker than regular mode. This also significantly decreases the heating time. This is featured with an interchangeable melody or beep signal which you can also turn off in case you feel annoyed.
This gadget utilizes vacuum insulation technology that helps to keep water warm with little electricity expenditure. This hybrid water heater is featured with an Energy-saving timer function that will serve for 6-10 hours.
Also, the Micro computerized temperature control system is quite impressive. For serving convenience the swivel base and the detachable lid is provided. The Steam-reduce feature efficiently reduces the emitted steam by turning off the heater just before reaching a boil.
Downsides
- The plastic inside the lid and the interior coating may dissolve in the water.
3. Ecosmart POU 3.5 Point of Use Electric Tankless Water Heater
Assets
Ecosmart POU 3.5 Point of Use Electric Tankless Water Heater is an on-demand, consistent, and endless water heater. The components are made of copper and stainless steel to provide superior efficiency, durability, and easy replacements.
Talking about the flow rate, the unit is designed to provide heating of 0.5 gallons water per minute if the climate is warmer. This includes a 0.5 GPM sink aerator. In colder climates, they recommend POU 6 for a single sink at 0.5 GPM.
As far as the installation is concerned, this requires a minimum 100-amp electrical panel, a 30-amp circuit breaker with 10 AWG wire. A half-inch NPT is defined for plumbing connection fittings. The unit draws 29 amps, 3.5 kW power, and 120 V.
The main advantage is the digital display that shows output temperature. As the unit is flow controlled, that means the temperature will adjust according to the flow rate. The optimum temperature of operation is above 57°F.
This true point-of-use model is recommended to use with a single sink only, so you have to avoid showers or multiple fixtures. The 4 pounds weight and 3 x 11 x 6 inches dimension make the machine pretty compact and enabled under the sink installation.
Downsides
- The unit heats water 71 degrees at most.
- This has no temperature control settings.
4. Rheem RTGH-95DVLN 9.5 GPM Indoor Direct Vent Tankless Natural Gas Water Heater
Assets
Next, we have Rheem RTGH-95DVLN Tankless Natural Gas Water Heater on our list. Rheem manufactures these tankless water heaters to meet and exceed rigorous industry standards for superior quality and reliability.
Thanks to the stainless-steel condensing heat exchanger that makes this tankless water heater 94% energy efficient and corrosion-resistant. There is a digital display featured to display temperature setting and maintenance.
Also, there is a digital remote-control system and a 10 ft thermostat wire included. For safety operation and energy savings, the unit offers an intelligent electronic control system. There is an inbuilt electric blower.
For higher demand applications, if you need to connect two of these tankless units to operate as one, there is an EZ-Link cable provided. The third-party efficiency listing by AHRI and a low NOx version makes the unit unique than others.
The weight of the unit is 0.01 ounces and the dimension is 18.5 x 9.75 x 27.5 inches. The flow rate is 9.5 GPM. This water heater includes up to 38-feet of 3-inch PVC pipe or 5-feet of 2-inch PVC pipe, a two-pipe direct vent system designed for PVC pipe.
Downsides
- This water heater leaks frequently.
- The installation process is pretty complex.
5. Westinghouse 80 Gal. Lifetime 4500-Watt Electric Water Heater with Durable 316 l Stainless Steel Tank
Assets
Finally, Westinghouse Electric Water Heater completes our recommendation list. This unit features high recovery rates and low standby heat losses. The faux stainless-steel exterior is quite pleasing. Also, this high-grade stainless steel Incoloy elements with low watt density make the unit corrosion-resistant and durable.
If you are looking for a hybrid water heater with a tank, then here comes this unit that includes a durable 326 L stainless steel inner tank. The tank is laser-welded to resist corrosion and eliminates the requirement of the anode rod.
This electric water heater efficiently produces plentiful hot water without any excessive energy consumption. So, the offered thermal efficiency is 98% for the long draws of hot water with small energy consumption and standby loss is 0.57.
The adjustable thermostat offers efficient temperature control for your comfort. The high limit control helps to maintain safety against overheating. The system directs cold water to the heating elements near the bottom minimizing mixing of cold water.
The maximum offered temperature range is 110-150°F with a high-temperature limit of 170°F. For installation, this machine demands a 240-volt connection and draws 4.5KW power. The unit is quite heavy as the weight is 151 pounds and the dimension is 69 x 23.25 x 69 inches. This is pretty obvious as there is a tank included.
Downsides
- The unit may burn up for defective design and start leaking.
- The water runs through the heating elements excessively.
Factors to Examine in a Hybrid Water Heater
In the case of hybrid water heaters, several parameters come into the role that helps you to anticipate the service quality you are going to attain. So, in this portion of the content, we have piled up those factors that will help you to make a thrifty purchase.
Efficiency or Energy Factor
You can assume the level of water heating and savings of electricity bills that the hybrid water heater will offer from the efficiency. Of course, there will be no unit that will offer 100% efficiency. Hybrid water heaters generally have an efficiency of around 94-99.8%. So, try finding something with the closest efficiency to 100%.
The rate of water heated with the lowest energy consumption is the energy factor, another factor relevant to efficiency. Higher energy factor means lower energy consumption. A quality hybrid water heater should have an energy factor of around 0.98. The closer the energy factor to 1 the better is the performance.
Control
A good hybrid water heater unit will give you control over temperature, efficiently ensuring your comfort and flexibility of use. For example, the feature of the adjustable thermostat (typically 10 ft length) provides hot water with proper temperature according to your need.
Also, some of them feature a digital temperature control system in between some range, remote control, or multiple temperature settings for convenience. So, something like this makes the water heater more reliable and flexible to you.
Safety
For safety, manufacturers of hybrid water heaters introduce many safety features. Auto-cut off and overheat protection are some examples of them. Having any of these features in your hybrid water heater is never a waste. Also, carefully go through the reviews to check if there is any complaint about hot water leakage.
Flow Rate
The flow rate is defined by the GPM (Gallons Per Minute) rating. This is a measure that tells how fast the heated water will be delivered to the outlet. Typically, hybrid water heaters are designed with a flow rate of around 0.5-9.5 GPM. 2.5 GPM is considered to be more than enough.
Size and Weight
For easy setup and installation, water heaters need to be a little compact. Also, it is normal to have limited space in households where anything bigger may make you feel hassled. Weight and dimension are important factors also in the case of wall mounting.
By examining the dimensions, you can ensure that the unit will fit the space available before purchase. Hybrid water heaters normally weigh around 4 to 150 pounds.
Tank
Hybrid heaters come as both tank and tankless water heaters. If the water heater is featured with a tank, it is important to scrutinize the material and capacity of the tank. Stainless steel or glass-lined tanks resist corrosion and avoid any build-up inside.
If you have a large family, it is obvious to need a large tank to get a large supply of hot water for a longer period. But, you have to keep in mind the larger the tank the heavier the unit will be and in case of limited space, this can put you in difficulty. These tanks can have small like 4 gallons or huge like 80 gallons capacity.
Display
The display is another beneficial feature offered by many manufacturers of hybrid water heaters. The display should be straight-forward to use and read. This is very helpful for setting the temperature and has a clear idea about the current temperature of the water.
Installation
In manuals of hybrid water heaters, the installation requirements are provided. The required ampere rating of the electric panel, circuit breaker, wire size, and type varies unit to unit. A unit may need 100-125 amps electric panel, 30-60 amp rated breaker, 6-10 AWG wire.
So, you have to make sure you can fulfill the requirements before buying one. Also, the installation process and wiring should not be much complicated. If the process is too complex, you should contact an experienced plumber.
Fuel Source
In the case of hybrid water heaters, natural gas or electricity are the sources you are going to need. A few of them have the facility of source conversion. So, go for the unit that will run with the source available and optimal for you.
Optimal Temperature
Hybrid water heaters suck heat from the surroundings to warm up the water. So, the surrounding temperature is a vital parameter for the operation of the heater.
In the specification, the optimal temperature rating is provided below which the unit will not work. Hybrid water heaters do not function below 57°F or 67°F. If you live in a region with a cold climate, you have to make sure you can provide the optimal temperature by conditioning the space to make the unit work.
Range of Temperature
Last but not the least, the temperature limit should be considered. Manufacturers provide a range showing the minimum and maximum temperature of hot water produced.
For example, a unit of hybrid water heater may have a temperature range of 110-150°F. This information will help you to anticipate the highest temperature you are going to get from the unit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How durable hybrid water heaters are?
Ans: Hybrid water heaters offer a longer lifespan of around 13 to 15 years.
Q: What is the minimum temperature of the surroundings for a hybrid water heater to work?
Ans: Hybrid water heaters are not effective under 25-30°F.
Q: Is a hybrid water heater noisy?
Ans: A hybrid water heater typically creates 55dB sound, which is pretty lower than the noise of a hair drier. If a certain one seems to cross that noise limit especially by making a popping sound, you should pay heed since heaters explode due to trapped water pockets.
Q: What happens if you use a hybrid water heater in winter?
Ans: If it is placed in a conditioned space, this will increase heating bills and create cool and dry air. In winter, they should be placed in unconditioned or semi-conditioned space.
Final Verdict
With the benefits of higher heating efficiency, lower maintenance, lower energy bills, hybrid water heaters are now trending in the market. In this article so far, we have discussed several influential aspects and provided the top five hybrid water heater reviews.
Zojirushi America Corporation Hybrid Water Boiler and Warmer is recommended for the four keep warm temperature settings and automatic-shutoff function. Energy-saving mode, thermostat wire, digital display with a temperature setting, and many other additional features are the uniqueness of Rheem RTGH-95DVLN Tankless Natural Gas Water Heater.
So, upgrade the heating system of your residence with an efficient hybrid water heater. This will ensure to provide hot water whenever you need and limit your heating bills.
