Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.

Electric Heat Pump or Propane Hot Water

DudeMan899
DudeMan899 Member Posts: 2
in Domestic Hot Water

Hey

We currenly have an conventional electric 40 Gal HW heater, and electric heat pump. Will be adding larger propane tank for pool heater and potential generator.

Kids are young and not yet taking multiple showers per day but HW is still an issue at times with multiple showers or laundry.

I am considering an 80 Gal heat pump HWH, or potentially propane on demand HW.

Any opinions?

Energy useage and cost are concerns, but I also want to try and resolve this issue one time.

I live in NYC area.

Thanks.

Comments

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 5,670

    in New York City area?

    LP is expensive! Natural gas or oil
    I don’t see a return on investment with the heat pump water heater at this time maybe in a few years.

    ethicalpaul
  • Hot_water_fan
    Hot_water_fan Member Posts: 2,113
    edited February 5

    I think a larger tank is the better option. Are current energy costs high? If not, I’d just get a resistance heater. Steer clear of tankless - you have the room for a tank!

    Larry Weingarten
  • DudeMan899
    DudeMan899 Member Posts: 2

    LP is the only option at this point. I have a few acres. No natural gas available.

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 7,221

    Check your available incentives for a heat pump water heater. Worst case it fails sooner than you'd like and you replace it with a resistive electric one. There is definitely an ROI with expected lifetime.

    It's not like no gas or electric water heaters ever fail

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 24,322

    https://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/ny

    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 3,699

    Hi, To me it would be between an 80 gallon HP and a 50 gallon propane water heater. The projected demands fit what a tank can deliver. If you're able to maintain the heater, a propane fired tank will probably far outlive a HP. I'm waiting for HP technology to become simpler and more reliable.

    Yours, Larry

    ps. Does your power ever go out? Do you have or are you considering installing solar electric panels? These things could sway the decision making.

    pecmsg

Categories