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Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heaters VS Gas Water Heaters

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means that at no cost to you, we may receive a small commission for made purchases.

Water heaters are vital to your household. There’s no way for you to do chores, maintain your hygiene, or live comfortably without one in your house.

But when you get a new water heater, you may be wondering just what the best type of water heater would work for you and your family’s needs.

Each type of water heater has its pros and cons. In this article, we will be looking at gas water heaters and hybrid water heaters (see also ‘Rheem Hybrid Water Heaters Review And Buying Tips‘).

To help you decide, we will also be explaining what these water heaters are and how they work. While one may be more efficient than the other, and one may be cheaper, there is more to consider than these two options. 

To begin this article, we’ll be explaining what a hybrid water heater is and how does it work?

What Is A Hybrid Heater?

A hybrid heater can also be referred to as a heat pump water heater. While there are different varieties of hybrid heaters, this article will focus on the heat pump version.

These hybrid heaters work by pulling heat from the air surrounding them. Instead of generating heat, it moves it. They essentially work like a refrigerator put in reverse.

 A refrigerator will pull heat from inside a box and put it into the room, while a heat pump water heater will pull the heat from the surrounding air and dump it into a tank to heat the water.

As a backup scenario, hybrid heaters also include electric resistance if it isn’t warm enough. Due to their use of heat pumps and electricity, this is why they’re referred to as hybrid heaters. 

Benefits Of A Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heater

There are multiple benefits to having a hybrid water heater. They are an environmentally friendly option, making them more energy efficient than other types of water heaters.

Unlike some water heaters, they’re easy to install, and you can use them for more than one aspect of your home. You could use them for their space cooling technology or even use them for their dual heating functions. 

If you’re interested in these factors, you should look more in-depth below.

Energy Efficient

Heat pumps are often regarded as the most energy efficient out of all water heaters. They tend to cost far less than electric heaters.

They move the heat from the air to the water and don’t require much electricity. While they do have a backup electric water heater option, this isn’t always active.

Most hybrid heat pump water heaters are better if you want to save costs on your energy bills.

Good For The Environment

To tie in with their energy efficiency, they’re also some of the best water heaters for the environment.

They have a carbon footprint at least twice as low as the average heating tank. If you want to do your part in helping the environment, a heat pump water heater could be the best way to start.

By having one of these, you could reduce your carbon footprint.

Easy To Install

Heat pumps are easy to install and require low maintenance to keep. They have at least a ten-year limited warranty, so you don’t need to spend too much on maintenance.

However, this installation should only be done by a trained expert. Because they have two different types of technology used, an expert must come in to install it themselves.

Dual Heating

Some varieties of heat pumps have different modes for different situations. These consist of energy saver, high demand, heat pump, and electric options.

You can change the settings from heat pump to electric if you want to by having these options. There are even methods for putting it on a low power mode if you go on vacation, so you can save on energy while you are away. 

Space Cooling

Should you live in a higher climate, a heat pump can also cool the space around it. Implementing space cooling technology means that it will also save on energy costs for air conditioning.

Air conditioners use this same space cooling technology, and so you can use this instead of buying a separate air conditioner. 

Disadvantages Of A Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heater

The hybrid heat pump water heater isn’t perfect. As with all water heaters, they have their disadvantages as well. However, there are fewer than others compared to some other water heaters.

The main disadvantages of having this type of water heater are that they are more expensive in terms of upfront costs and can be pretty noisy.

If you aren’t accustomed to these types of water heaters, you should keep these in mind.

You can find out more about the issues with their disadvantages by reading below.

Upfront Costs

A trained expert should install hybrid heat pumps, as installation costs can be expensive.

At the same time, some places offer an incentive to install heat pumps. These are often more expensive than other types of heaters and aren’t the job for an everyday electrician.

Due to the features, it’s more likely that you will have to contact a plumber first. 

Noise

While this does depend on where you place your hybrid heater, some homeowners have complained that it makes a low humming noise.

You can avoid this by putting it in a part of your home that is further away from where anyone sleeps, such as a basement if you have one.

What Is A Gas Water Heater?

A gas water heater works through convection. The cold water at the bottom of the tank is heated by a gas burner which is located just below the sealed tank.

As the water’s temperature gets warmer, it rises in the tank, and the discharge pipe then draws it to where you need hot water in your house. Gas water heaters only use gas and require no electricity to operate.

Benefits Of A Gas Water Heater

Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heaters VS Gas Water Heaters (1)

Gas water heaters are popular for the simple reason that they’re energy efficient. They don’t require any electricity to use, so you don’t have to worry if your electricity is shut off for any reason.

They also work fast and are quick to recover after heating up. Gas water heaters (see also ‘Basic Parts For Gas Water Heater‘) are thus ideal for larger families, as any issues with sharing a bathroom will only be improved by having a faster recovery rate.

You can find out more about the benefits of a gas water heater by reading below.

No Electricity

One of the main benefits of having a gas heater is that you don’t require electricity to use it. Even if you were to have a power cut in your home, you wouldn’t be at risk of losing hot water.

Nor would you have to worry about increasing energy costs, as this won’t be a part of your electricity bill. 

Fast Working

Gas heaters work at a faster rate than electric heaters. Typically, a gas heater will heat the water in the tank twice as fast as an electric water heater.

With the speed a gas water heater works, you won’t have to worry too much about how long it will take for your water to heat up. 

Rapid Recovery Rate

While this depends on the size of your household, if you have a large family, a gas water tank could be helpful. If you have multiple people needing hot water consistently, you may notice that the speed of the water heating up is much faster.

Such a rapid recovery rate is excellent if you have several people waiting to use the shower, as the hot water would need to be reheated again after each use.

Disadvantages Of A Gas Water Heater

As with all water heaters, a gas water heater has its own share of disadvantages. These are often to do with the expensive installation, as there is more to consider when installing this type of heater.

There are also significant safety concerns, specifically gas leaks and gas explosions. Another significant disadvantage is that they do depend on your location.

If you aren’t near an area with easy access to gas, then you will need to invest in gas canisters to be brought to your home. 

To consider more depth to these issues, check out the section below.

Safety Issues

There are some concerns when it comes to gas-related items. Gas water heaters are not exempt from this. Many people question safety issues regarding gas water heaters, especially if there is a gas explosion.

However, this is primarily a concern if you don’t arrange for regular maintenance on your gas water heater (see also ‘Gas Water Heater Vs. Electric‘).

These safety issues are why you must always contact someone to maintain the standard of your gas water heater so that your family and your home remain safe.

Expensive Installation

Gas water heaters (see also ‘Does A Gas Water Heater Need Electricity?‘) aren’t easy to install and should ideally be performed by an expert. While hiring an expert will add to your budget. You will need to hire someone to install it for you.

While they are cheap to have in your house, they cost a lot more when you install them. The expense is due to gas water heaters requiring both a ventilation system and gas piping.

When you get a gas water heater installed, it’s best to contact someone who has specific experience in this field.

Gas Access

Not all houses have gas directly installed and piped into their homes. If you live in a place where you don’t have a steady gas supply, this could be an issue.

You may need to get propane canisters for regular delivery to your propane tank. There should also be gas pipes that connect to the water tank installed to make them easier to use.

If you want to have a gas heater installed when you don’t have gas locally, it may become more expensive as you will need to ensure that propane gets delivered to your home.

Final Thoughts

There is no way for us to decide which of these water heaters will be best for you and your needs.

Everyone has different requirements for their water heaters, and it’s best to consider everything before you decide which you should go for.

Both a hybrid water heater and a gas water heater are better than an electric water heater, but you also need to consider your energy efficiency needs.

You will also need to consider the amount of energy you will require. If you are only looking for a water heater for yourself, this won’t be an issue.

However, if you plan to buy a water heater for a large family, you will need a better storage capacity. There will be more of you using it. However, if you have a smaller family, then this won’t be the same issue. 

When buying a water heater, you should always consider the warranty and how long the heater itself is expected to last.

Your water heater should ideally last for around a decade, but you may also want to consider environmental factors. In the case of getting a new water heater, there are many questions.

However, we hope that by examining the benefits and disadvantages of each, you will be more informed about the type of water heater that you and your family will need. 

Hopefully, with this information, you will be able to better understand these water heaters and why you should use them.

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