GE GEH50DNSRSA Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater
By GE has been serving the public with their products for many great years. They have always provided homeowners and businesses with the appliances and products they need to live. GE has an outstanding line of washing machines, dishwashers and refrigerators to just to name a few. But without a great water heater, you would not have an effective washing machine or dishwasher. So GE will be unveiling their new Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater in November 2009. This new water heater is said to help consumers use 62% less energy than the traditional electric water heaters.
With the electric water heaters, they are the third biggest energy user of any appliance in the home. Have you wondered why your electric bills and water bills have been so high in recent years? The last thing that you may have thought of was the water heater. Now, GE has found a way to help consumers save money on their water and energy bills as well as provides hot water when you need it. Now is a great time to stop throwing money away and start saving. The GE Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater was created with advanced technology that will help you save money but get that hot water that you need when you need it. Let’s take a look at the GE Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater and see if this electric water heater sounds like the type of appliance that you want in your home.
GE Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater Installation
Most electric waters on the market today can cost you a lot of money just to have them installed. With the GE Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater installation is easy. You won’t have to worry about replacing your old electric water heater with the Hybrid; these heat pump water heaters are an easy replacement for older more standard type of water heater. The GE Hybrid will fit in a similar footprint as your old 50-gallon style water heater.
There will be no extra electrical work or any new wires that have to run, you can use all of your existing water and electrical connections. This is sure to save you a lot of money. Think of the electrician that would have had to hire plus materials, right away you are saving money. The GE Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater offers a more flexible installation, for example even though this heat pump water heater is an indoor installation only, you can install it either in the attic, a closet, in the basement or in the garage. Before you install the water heater, make sure that you read the clearances and the recommendation that GE has included in their manuals.
GE Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater Specifications
The GE Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater is a 50-gallon capacity water heater with a first hour delivery of 63 gallons per hour. The fuel type is electric with an integrated electronic control with LCD display. It has 20 characters x 4 lines LCD display. As we mentioned it has a vacation setting that can range anywhere from 3 to 90 days. The temperature rating is 100 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degree Fahrenheit. The default setting is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This hybrid electric heat pump water heater has a temperature memory setting with a precise temperature difference of 3 degrees Fahrenheit.
The color is a silver metallic with a color appearance code of SA. The electrical circuit requirements are 30 amps. The operating air temperatures of the water heater are 45 degrees to 120 degrees Fahrenheit on the eHeat, Hybrid and High Demand Settings and 35 degrees to 150 degrees Fahrenheit on Standard Electric Settings. The operating water pressure on this water heater is 20 psi to 125 psi.
GE Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater Energy Settings
Unlike other water heaters, the GE Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater offers 4 different energy settings, the eHeat, Hybrid, High Demand and the Standard Electric Setting. Let’s take a look and see what each setting can offer. With the eHeat Setting, it is the most energy efficient setting on the water heater. You will only be using 550 watts rather than the 4500 watts that a standard electric water heater usually offers. The heat pump will take out the heat from the surrounding air and then heat the water, which will move the colder air back into the room. When you choose this setting it may take longer for the hot water to come up but it will be enough for what a normal household needs.
The Hybrid Setting is the default setting on this heat pump water heater. This setting will use the energy efficiency of the eHeat setting along with the recovery and speed of the hot water that is used in the standard electric setting. As this water heater is using the heat pump as the primary way to heat up the water, the electric elements will start up faster if the water temperature recovery time is actually needed. Ad the system decides if the demand of the hot water has been reached the water heater will reset itself back to using the heat pump only.
The High Demand Setting, this setting is great when you have a high traffic household. This setting is almost the same as the Hybrid Setting in the fact that they both use the heat pump and the standard element used in heating up the water. With this setting, the system will automatically know ahead of time that it will be using a higher demand of hot water than normal. The heat pump water heater will be able to keep up with the recovery by cycling on the elements faster and for a longer period of time.
Standard Electric Setting, this is the least energy efficient setting on the water heater. This setting the heat pump water heater will use the 4500-watt heating elements so it can heat up the water faster.
The Department of Energy has tested this hybrid heat pump water heater and they have determined that by comparison with a 50 gallon standard electric water heater the GE Hybrid will use about 1856 kWh a year which costs an average of 10.65 cents per kWh. The standard electric water heater uses about 4881 kWh a year. The difference in kWh is amazing. Imagine how much money you will save.
GE Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater Saves Energy
Not only is the GE Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater a great way to save money it is a great way to save energy too. This Hybrid Electric Heat Pump meets all of the requirements set by the famous Energy Star rating system. The minimum requirement for energy efficiency to become an Energy Star product is 2.0 this Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heater from GE is 2.35 Energy Factor rated, it clearly exceeds the requirements.
You will also find that the GE Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater will uses up to 62% less energy than your current electric water heater. The way that GE can provide this is by using innovative heat pump technology. The way this hybrid heat pump water heater works is by the heat pump removing the heat from the surrounding air. Then the heat will heat up the water and move the cooler air out. The water heater will provide the same amount of hot water as your standard electric water heater but with a higher degree of energy efficiency.
This unit also has a vacation setting, if you are planning to be away from home for a few days or longer, you can have the water heater lower the temperature to 50 degrees Fahrenheit and use the eHeat Mode which is the most energy efficient setting on this water heater. You will save energy and money while you are on vacation. You can program the setting for the number of days that you will away and then on the last day the water heater will go back to the setting that you had programmed before you left so you can pick up where you left off.
GE has a reputation for providing customers with high quality and high performance products. As you can see the GE Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater is above and beyond most water heaters out there, they have combines the heat pump and the water heater into one energy efficient water heating appliance. The Hybrid has a 10 year limited warranty on the 2nd through the 10th year of the water heater and it only covers parts. There is a limited one year warranty on parts and labor.
“Before you install the water heater, make sure that you read the clearances and the recommendation that GE has included in their manuals.”
It would be helpful to simply publish the chart, table or whatever the clearances are.
The other point is installing the unit in a closet, versus the basement would have detrimental effect on the room’s comfort, right?
Hi Barry,
A minimum of 7″ front and rear to facilitate getting the cover off the heat pump if required and proper flow from the air vents.
14″ from the top of the unit to the ceiling.
and a room size of about 1,000 cu. ft.
What type of tank is in the GE HPWH? Is it stainless steel or glass lined?
Hi Pops,
GE is not giving that information out on any of its sales literature released yet.
I would venture a guess that the tank is glass lined similar to all their other water heater products.
Redwood
Reply
What is the total height of the unit. To know how much space is needed for the 14″ to the ceilling. Also like the first consumer wondered. Will this change the temps of the room in question? I plan on putting it in a Laundry closet in the basement. But it has folding closet doors that are removed that open up to the basement.
Hi Allen,
The heater is 62″ high and with the 14″ extra makes it 76″ to the ceiling needed.
The water heater really needs about 1,000 cu. ft. open surrounding it.
Redwood
ok thanks Redwood. Any idea on pricing? I already figured this would save me $190 per year in electricity compared to my current unit. My electric rates are around .058 cents per kwh. Pretty low compared to some parts of the country. I might be better off to just go with one of these units you can add to your existing tank. Not as restrictive but still pricey.
When and where will the product be available? “GE GEH50DNSRSA Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heaterâ€ÂÂ
Thanks
Gary
I am very close to purchasing a Geyser ($1399), but I am wondering if this GE Hybrid unit will be a comparable price. If so, it might make sense to wait since the warranty is much better than the Geyser’s (which is only 5 years, years 2-5 only covering the compressor). Does anybody know what the price of this will be and what is the expected release date?
Thanks.
Hi Jeff,
The Manufacturers are staying very tight lipped on the pricing as they do tend to vary in different market areas.
I had a report recently from someone that had purchased Rheem’s version which is very comparable to the GE On-Line for $1489 including the shipping.
I would expect the GE would be very close in pricing.
Have you checked out the Stiebel Eltron Accelera 300 Heat Pump Water Heater by any chance?
I actually have had some difficulty in Googling for the various Heat Pumps Water Heaters out there and did not notice that one. They are actually produced a few towns away from me. Do you know the price and warranty on the Steibel Eltron model? Also, any advice on finding a plumber who would install one of these?
Hi Again Jeff,
You can find several additional heat pump water heater reviews at this link.
http://411plumb.com/category/heat-pump-water-heater
Once again we aren’t getting prices on them yet.
If you have a plumber that you use I would suggest calling him and telling him what you want done.
There really isn’t much difference between a heat pump
You might try contacting Stiebel Eltron using their contact information to see who sells them in your area,
i’d suggest going with the GEYSER – the installation will be much easier, and the GEYSER is more efficient than the integrated units. I love mine!
I’m glad I spent my final moments online for awhile and in a while checking for changes in this recycling opportunity. 10/10/2009 is the only posting at doe, but since then these comments and some other also obsolete comments are up.
I need help understanding how solar water heaters can be justified now that ten year warranties on these pumps are routine. If a major retailer promoted them the price would drop a third or more instantly.
On the other hand I’ve been an idiot thinkign these would be ‘split’ systems. I would rather have the tank outside then plumb warm air to an indoor unit. I hope to learn about the geyser model but assume it’s a small outfit without the ability to credibly offer certain savings via mandated warranties etc.
Just ordered one today. Was $1400 with tax
Sounds interesting, in the winter though won’t your heating cost more to offset the heat the HEWH heat pump is taking out of the room?
I will receive mine next week. Just in time the old (22 yr) morflow is leaking. I will install in basement. Stay tuned.
Question for Al who ordered the GE unit for $1400. Where did you order it from? Thanks
Will one of these tolerate and be efficient in a garage location in Phoenix?
I researched this GE Water Heater extensively in order to take advantage of the Texas Energy Star Rebate program AND the 30% Federal Tax Credit several months ago. I paid about $1400 at Lowes. (Today it’s MSRP is $1599 at Lowes and Sears.) Estimate that after the 30% Federal Tax Credit plus the $375 rebate from Texas, I will have paid about $600+ plus my considerable installation costs. I was remodeling the closet/bath area anyway, so I had to remove the door frame to fit the Heater in the old electric water heater closet. Also, very important, it does require lots of ventilation, especially in a small closet. I installed 6″x14″ vents near the bottom and top of the closet wall (vented to an adjacent room) AND also the closet door (adjacent to a guest bathroom.) The adjacent half-bath does get very cold from the Water Heater exhaust. (How much cold air depends on what temperature you have the heater set at. It’s very easy to adjust up and down with guests, etc. I normally keep it at 110 degrees for the every-day washing machine and kitchen – plenty hot, or 125 degrees for guests.) To my knowledge it has never gone into overdrive mode (pure resistance heat) – extra-long shower by a guest bath user, perhaps, but then, so what, it’s no worse than my previous electric water heater. Also, it does drain a considerable amount of condensation water, so the Heater MUST be higher than a drain opening. When operating, the noise level is barely noticeable, similar to a room air conditioner hum.
I liked the installation so well that I am going to get a second GE Hybrid Water Heater for my upstairs (primary) bath in December. Texas just announced that they are releasing another $10 million or so in rebates. (I will stay well within the $1500 max Federal Credit.)
Quite frankly, I picked the GE initially because it was the narrowest (22″,) BUT it looks so dammed nice that it is the first thing shown to guests.
Even after adjusting for the (custom) do-it-myself-gold-plated-installation, I figure that the payback will be about 5-years. My all-electric home electricity rate varies between 8 cents and 10cents/ KW. Assuming that all utilities are already in place, a reasonable “slap-it-in” plumber could easily install it in under an hour.
Similar experiences?