Despite Lean Start, GE Appliances to End Production of GeoSpring Water Heater

SWEI

From http://www.industryweek.com/lean-six-sigma/despite-lean-start-ge-appliances-end-production-geospring-water-heater
GE Appliances, now owned by China's Qingdao Haier Co. Ltd., has announced it will stop making the GeoSpring water heater at the end of the year. Demand for the energy-efficient water heaters never materialized to expected levels, according to a company news release.

Bob Bona_4

Wonder if it was because state and ao smith are the big hybrid players?

Solid_Fuel_Man

I've put in a dozen Geosprings, with good results. Here in Maine the majority uses Electric water heaters, so that may play a part in it as well.

I personally own a Nyletherm 1 add-on heat pump water heater. It works so well for my application. 115 gal indirect, ducted to master bedroom. Have the control circuit on a timere so it only runs at night. Free air-conditioning as it will run about 8 hours at night. Use it in the summer, and wood heats water in the winter.

For those who have a damp basement the heat pump water heater really is a great concept.

Taylor

cableman

Its a shame it got such a bad name when manufacturing was in china. I just installed an 80 gal this summer and so far im loving it in our basement install. Hope i can still get parts if i need them!

Bob Bona_4

Like Rich Tretheway, I've cringed with the hybrids I've done...just the notion of a heat pump complexity integral with your standard issue EWH tank. Found an alternative recently if it warrants- HTP stainless 80 gal light commercial with limited lifetime warranty. So far so good.

hot_rod

Solid_Fuel_Man said:

I've put in a dozen Geosprings, with good results. Here in Maine the majority uses Electric water heaters, so that may play a part in it as well.



I personally own a Nyletherm 1 add-on heat pump water heater. It works so well for my application. 115 gal indirect, ducted to master bedroom. Have the control circuit on a timere so it only runs at night. Free air-conditioning as it will run about 8 hours at night. Use it in the summer, and wood heats water in the winter.



For those who have a damp basement the heat pump water heater really is a great concept.



Taylor

What is your experience with winter time performance of HP WHs? Any installed in non wood burner applications where they depend on the HP for DHW year around?

Solid_Fuel_Man

I leave them in hybrid mode. The few customers I have talked to simply say they have hot water and don't worry about it. I'd imagine the COP depends on the temp and humidity of the basement which can vary a lot. If someone still used their boiler or furnace for heat the basement would be warmer. Many however, use pellet stoves, or mini-splits so I'm sure the basement is less than 50F in which case I'd advise strictly resistance Electric would be best.

It's sad that these things are China-made and honestly two separate units is a better value IMHO. Installation with a 30A 240V circuit, condensate drain or pump.... is also expensive. The majority of people just don't care enough to see when they spend more up front the savings are more then justified of the life of the apliance. Questionable life with anything manufactured in well....

Taylor

SWEI

Solid_Fuel_Man said:

I personally own a Nyletherm 1 add-on heat pump water heater. It works so well for my application.

Too bad EnergyStar refuses to certify add-on HPWH's.

hot_rod

Here is a Co2 based, split system DHW heat pump. Made in Japan, large company with a long history with this product.

The one challenge is that the DHW needs to go outside to the HP, so mainly a warm climate product.

I did send some samples of a freeze protection valve that we build for these type of HP that might see some freezing conditions.

It may not be right for the Minnesota climate, yet


http://www.sandenwaterheater.com

kcopp

I seriously cant see these units paying for the increased cost upfront here in the northeast... Especially if you take away the rebates.
Maybe in the south where you have a water heater in the garage and it will tend to be warmer.....
The newer electric WH w/ the increased insulation should make a great deal of difference w/ the standby losses.
Efficiency Maine mails out 2/3 times a year, rebate coupons to get plumbers to install these things.

Bob Bona_4

Problem became painfully obvious last spring when 80 gallon EWH could no longer be had for residential, thanks to DOE.

Steamhead

Bradford-White and Rheem both make this type of water heater.

jumper

Energy efficiency is a tough sell. A heat pump water heater should have two evaporators. When indoor is cool enough draw heat from outside. The relatively small extra expense kills deals.

I know that in the past all electric places eventually bought gas heaters for swimming pools.

Solid_Fuel_Man

@jumper the heat that is pulled from the area where the unit is, is not large.

It's free A/C for one room. If once the fall sets in it no longer makes any sense to pull heat out of the building envelope to heat water. The only place I can see this as a benefit is in a hot boiler room. Which generally doesn't exist outside of commercial.

A heat pump water heater only makes sense if you can muscle through high demand periods with massive storage. Mine only makes 10 gal an hour in a relitive humidity of 60% or greater.

60 gallons would minimum for the average family of 3 IMHO.

Taylor