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Compare water heater pitches, then lose your shirt

June 2010, updated frequently
Appliance magazine: 620,000 - 650,000 water heaters shipped each month in US (more at bottom)


Heat-pump Electric Hybrid Heat cycle is powered by compressor that releases cool air into room while air-to-water heat-exchanger heats water inside tank. Promoter claims of $26+ electric savings per month not supported by customer testimony.
	Rheem hybrid electric heat pump Objective: Energy savings Heat pump pulls heat from surrounding air LCD control panel	American hybrid electric Objective: Energy savings LCD control with three operation modes. Back-up elements Read specs	GE heat pump Electric Objective: Energy savings Compressor and evaporator pull heat from surrounding air > LCD control panel Promo video & specs	AO Smith Voltex Electric Hybrid Objective: Energy savings Heat pump transfers heat to water + operation modes LCD display

	University of South Florida water heating system Objective: Energy savings "Adjusted cost of hot water = $85 per year"	Air Generate- Air Tap Objective: Energy savings Heat pump added to top of existing tank	Compact heat pump Objective: Energy savings LCD control panel 66" x 22" compact size China

High-efficiency & innovative Gas Ordinary gas water heater 69% efficiency. Tankless 79%. Electric 99%. 'High efficiency' gas 90- 96%. High efficiency is not same as energy savings
	State high efficiency Gas water heater Objective: High-demand 121 Gal per hour recovery <> compare with regular gas 41 Gal per hour recovery	Bradford White efficiency Objective: Ultra-high efficiency, air quality, integration with technology and exterior heat sources Digital control located at top	Rheem Power Vent electronic gas heater Objective: PV electronic control Adjust temperature remotely Self cleaning	AO Smith Vertex "peak demand" Gas heater Objective: High demand Burner & blower at top deliver unlimited hot water Diagnostic LCD	American high efficiency gas Objective: efficiency & easy installation Pressurized combustion 24V Electronic control Powered anode rod - Read

	AO Smith "Next-hybrid" Objective: efficiency & high demand Uses secondary heat exchanger & buffer tank Multiple modes	Bradford White high recovery Objective: high demand and conventional draft 76,000 BTU per hour so more hot water is available

Customer options Customer options continued ... .. products shown are available in other brands
	State "sandblaster" commercial self cleaning Objective: Long-term value Less sediment means more energy efficiency Gold elements = long life	Bradford White Gas self-cleaning Objective: Value, high demand: 66 Gal recovery Efficient self-cleaning tank	Bradford White energy saver electric Objective: Energy savings heat traps on pipes, 2" foam insulation Automatic controls	Marathon electric by Rheem Objective: long life Insulated, self-cleaning, non- corroding polybutene tank, oversized element parts for easy sediment removal	Phoenix evolution Objective: Combine all home heating into one appliance Hot water, hydro air Hot water baseboard heat Solar assisted

	Whirlpool energy smart electric water heater Objective: Energy savings Control on top of heater 4 operating modes Read product details	Zenith copper-lined Objective: anti-microbial & long tank life 99.99% pure copper Self-cleaning	Hubbell point of use Objective: save water and money Thermostat, low amps Connect to wall switch	Kenmore tabletop Objective: utility /appearance Easy access control > set temperature higher on wash day > 2" foam insulation. Dual power option	NRG Biogeyser Objective: Savings OWB: outdoor wood-fired boiler Check local air quality rules

	Immersion heater Objective: now guests can stay in the barn Put 120V electric heater in bucket of water > makes 150° hot water	Insinkerator Hot Water Dispenser Objective: save water, save energy Point of use hot water Kohler, Sunbeam, Franke, KitchenAid, Panasonic Others	Lochinvar low NOx water heater Objective: Low emissions Radiant burner-air system control air-to-gas ratio Honeywell gas control	Bradford White low NOx water heater Objective: Low nitrogen oxide emissions 75% less NOx than standard model while maintaining efficiency and water temps

Solar: Solar water heat is efficient use of solar energy Solar tanks are made for higher temps. Regular water heater can be damaged by 180° F solar temps. Tempering valve needed. Check manual
	AO Smith cirrex solar assisted electric heater Objective: Solar heating Energy star > 30% tax credit Claim: "70% water heating is free"	Rheem Solar series products Objective: Solar heating Slim solar panels provide free and natural way to heat water Electric back up	Bradford White EcoStor Objective: Conserve energy, store solar heat Choose gas or electric back up > ICON gas control Integrated mixing device	Chromagen solar tank Objective: Store solar heat International manufacturer Back up elements Insulated tank	Bock Indirect Coil tank heater Objective: Boiler heats hot water through coil inside water tank. Ideal when home uses boiler for heating

	List of Do it yourself solar water heater projects Objective: Inexpensive Solar water heaters	José Alano solar collector from water bottles Objective: Recycling, innovation, solar heating Brazilliant from Brazil	Bock solar tank Objective: Store solar heat Optional electric element back-up	Triangle tube indirect multi-energy tank Objective: Integration with solar, geothermal Heat exchange coil 2" foam insulation

Timers and controls Protect electronics from electrical surge
	American Pacific Gas Water Heater Timer Objective: Save energy Do-it-yourself gas water heater timer Read details	Bradford White ICON gas water heater timer Objective: Save energy Gas valve communicates with timer and other features. Gas valve connects to timer	Whirlpool Energy-Smart Objective: Save energy Thermisters at top and bottom of tank monitor temperature more accurately Diagnostic LCD	Honeywell Gas valve video Objective: Market innovation Gas valve sold to water heater manufacturers Each manufacturer can bring unique innovations	Compare 16 electric and 2 gas water heater timers Objective: Save money Do-it-yourself timers save $15-20 per month

	Rheem Honeywell Gas Valve Gas valve communicates with electronic control at top of heater	ASAP programmable water heater timer 5 available programs: Program weekdays, weekend, day-off, vacations	Programmable water heater timer on wall Do-it-yourself water heater timer made from off-the-shelf parts Costs about $80	AO Smith Intelli-Vent electronic gas valve Self-diagnostic gas valve. Brand-specific gas valves control increasingly complicated water heaters.

Tweaks and choices
	Passive solar water heater Do-it-yourself Use old 40 gallon tank and save money 7 months each year	Off-peak water heater Do-it-yourself Wire water heater so one element is turned off during peak electric prices	9+ ways to save with water heater Do-it-yourself Simple efficiency steps with your gas and electric water heater	Add staging tank Do-it-yourself Pre-heat incoming cold water with tank located in naturally warm area

	Intelligent anode rod Objective: Warn of anode rod depletion before tank rusts and ruptures, also detects leaks Read about anode rod options	Defender FVIR heaters Objective: Advanced flammable vapor protection Read review Read forum discussion

Avoid tankless hype	Larger image	Pressure sensor fails
Avoid tankless hype	Side-by-side test results Consumer reports Common tankless problems Pro-and-con tankless Hidden cost of tankless	Hard-water/efficiency Tankless water heater efficiency drops > parts fail in 2 years without water- softener. De-liming does not restore efficiency. Read pdf	American gas hybrid Combines storage and tankless technology Handles peak demand with no minimum flow rate and cold water sandwich	Preheat cold water Pre-heat incoming cold water with tank located in naturally warm area

Water heater manufacturers, brands, sellers, resources
List of company identifications- pdf 228 Kb	Water heater manufacturers & sellers American water heater AO Smith water heaters Amtrol indirect-boiler Atwood mobile products Bock water heaters Bradford White water heaters Chromagen Craftmaster water heaters Everhot water heaters Everlast stainless steel heater GE water heaters Giant Factories /AO Smith GSW Water heating Hatco booster heater Hotpoint at Home Depot 2 Hubbell water heaters ISE hot water dispenser Kenmore/Sears water heater* Laars/Bradford White Lochinvar water heaters Marathon/ Rheem Maytag/ GE water heaters Nibe water heaters Phoenix Reliance water heaters Rheem water heating Richmond/ Rheem Ruud water heaters State water heaters Suburban RV heaters Techtanium Indirect tanks** Triangle Tube Indirect Vanguard Water Heaters Vaughn manufacturing Weil-McLain water heaters Whirlpool water heaters Zenith water heaters	Appliance magazine : 620,000 - 650,000 water heaters are shipped each month in US read Water heater shipments increased in April read Kenmore/Sears is only water heater website with customer comments about water heater products * Indirect water heaters receive heat from external source including boiler, solar collector, wood/coal burning, and geothermal	Water heater market profile 2009- pdf 3.8 Mb file	Do-it-yourself-info: -Water heater self-help forums 1 2 3 4 -Water heater reviews: Write your own review, compare brands, etc -Lowes water heater buying info -Home Depot water heater buying info -Water heater reference chart	More facts-n-figures Battelle Report- pdf 7.8 Mb file Tankless gas, storage gas, storage electric compared for: > Carbon footprint > Efficiencies > Life-span with and without water softener PG&E- pdf 21 Kb file Carbon footprint

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Water heater manufacturers, brands, sellers, resources