💧 Heat Pump vs Gas Water Heater Calculator
Compare annual energy use, savings, and payback period between heat pump and gas water heaters
| Household | Gal/Day | HPWH kWh/yr | Gas Therms/yr | HPWH BTU/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Person | 20 | ~375 | ~100 | ~1.28M |
| 2 People | 40 | ~750 | ~200 | ~2.56M |
| 3 People | 60 | ~1,100 | ~295 | ~3.75M |
| 4 People | 64 | ~1,175 | ~315 | ~4.00M |
| 5+ People | 80 | ~1,450 | ~390 | ~4.95M |
| UEF Range | Type | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|
| 3.50–4.50 | Heat Pump (HPWH) | 350–450% |
| 0.90–0.98 | Tankless Gas | 90–98% |
| 0.80–0.95 | Condensing Gas | 80–95% |
| 0.60–0.70 | Standard Gas | 60–70% |
| 0.90–0.95 | Electric Resist. | 90–95% |
| From | To | Factor |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kWh | BTU | 3,412 |
| 1 Therm | BTU | 100,000 |
| 1 Therm | kWh | 29.30 |
| 1 CCF Gas | Therms | ~1.02 |
| 1 MCF Gas | Therms | ~10.2 |
| Elec. Rate ($/kWh) | Gas $0.80/therm | Gas $1.20/therm | Gas $1.60/therm | Gas $2.00/therm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0.08/kWh | 2–3 yrs | 1–2 yrs | 1–2 yrs | 1 yr |
| $0.12/kWh | 4–5 yrs | 2–3 yrs | 2–3 yrs | 1–2 yrs |
| $0.14/kWh | 5–7 yrs | 3–4 yrs | 2–3 yrs | 2 yrs |
| $0.18/kWh | 8–10 yrs | 5–6 yrs | 3–4 yrs | 2–3 yrs |
| $0.22/kWh | 12–15 yrs | 7–9 yrs | 5–6 yrs | 3–4 yrs |
Heat pump water heaters commonly called hybrid electric water heaters. Although the names differ, they reach the same ultra-efficient performance. They surpass average water heaters in size.
As a group, these devices twice or three times more energy-efficient compared to traditional electric water heaters. Even four times efficiency they can reach regarding standard water heater. Traditional model does not generate heat directly.
How heat pump water heaters work and why they are better
Rather, heat pumps operate like refrigerators in reverse. Stand-alone air-source heat pump water heater takes heat from the surrounding air and switch it to warm water in the tank at higher temperature. That differs from a refrigerator, that exhausts heat from the inside space and sends it into the room.
You can buy stand-alone heat pump water heating system as a single unit. These units have integrated tank and back-up resistance heating elements. The electric elements can replace the heat pump and make it a regular electric water heater.
They also work for hybrid function with the pump. In that mode the pump works until a certain amount of hot water is used. Most of heat pump water heaters are hybrids with a traditional mode.
You can set them to run as usual electric water heater. That mode works less, but feels better in cold weather, because it does not take heat from the room. Notably, that the heat pump need enough free air at temperatures above freezing to operate.
For your home it matters to choose the right model. Browsing various options, you find an energy-efficient solution. Some models have features like WiFi-connection, leak detection and glass-lined tanks.
The upfront cost depends on several factors. Size and brand of the unit affects the price. For instance, heat pump water heaters cost between 1200 dollars for 50-gallon tank and 2500 dollars for 80-gallon from high-end makers.
Installation time and available incentives for that you qualify also change the total amount. These water heaters produce zero emissions onsite and fewer greenhouse gases. They give a byproduct of fresh, dry air.
That helps with dehumidification during the whole year.
