Air conditioning is amazing; fancy mood lighting on an HVAC unit is awesome; it’s not great to need the Internet to turn on the air conditioning, and other assorted experiences.
Do you have any experience with or information about hot water heat pumps as a way to heat water and cool a space at the same time? We have a gas powered hot water heater that I want to replace and hope it can help cool a warm room next to where the hot water tank is, but there is a paucity of plumbers here locally (Honolulu) who have information online about options. Help?
And thanks for all this great info, I love hearing how it’s been a great addition to your home!
Thank you!! That's so interesting, I didn't even know this was a thing. But yes, it sounds like that's a real option! It looks like Hawaii Energy’s "Clean Energy Allies" has a directory of local installers who specialize in heat pumps and mini-splits and the like, and offer in-store rebates. I never know if I can trust this but Gemini recommends:
Alternate Energy Inc. or RevoluSun (Major Oahu solar/clean-tech installers who regularly do heat pump water heaters).
535 Plumbing, Waialae Plumbing, or Allens Plumbing (Oahu) (Plumbing firms on EPA's ENERGY STAR installer list experienced with heat pumps).
And this is the general advice:
Placement Matters: The room needs to be at least 100 sq. ft. (or have louvered doors) so the unit has enough air to pull heat from.
Expect Intermittent Cooling: Emphasize that it will cool and dehumidify the room only while it is running to heat water (usually 1–3 hours total per day). It won't act like a thermostat-controlled AC that keeps a room at 72°F all day long.
If She Needs Constant AC: Tell her to ask a contractor about a ductless mini-split AC alongside a separate heat pump water heater, or look into a specialized split-system HPWH (like a SANCO2) where the heat pump sits outside and vents cold air where desired.
CAVEAT EMPTOR of course, but I'm now fascinated by this topic, and I should be doing this with the heat pump that I use to heat the pool, for sure. Right now it just blows out cold air that doesn't do anybody any damn good.
Do you have any experience with or information about hot water heat pumps as a way to heat water and cool a space at the same time? We have a gas powered hot water heater that I want to replace and hope it can help cool a warm room next to where the hot water tank is, but there is a paucity of plumbers here locally (Honolulu) who have information online about options. Help?
And thanks for all this great info, I love hearing how it’s been a great addition to your home!
Thank you!! That's so interesting, I didn't even know this was a thing. But yes, it sounds like that's a real option! It looks like Hawaii Energy’s "Clean Energy Allies" has a directory of local installers who specialize in heat pumps and mini-splits and the like, and offer in-store rebates. I never know if I can trust this but Gemini recommends:
Alternate Energy Inc. or RevoluSun (Major Oahu solar/clean-tech installers who regularly do heat pump water heaters).
535 Plumbing, Waialae Plumbing, or Allens Plumbing (Oahu) (Plumbing firms on EPA's ENERGY STAR installer list experienced with heat pumps).
And this is the general advice:
Placement Matters: The room needs to be at least 100 sq. ft. (or have louvered doors) so the unit has enough air to pull heat from.
Expect Intermittent Cooling: Emphasize that it will cool and dehumidify the room only while it is running to heat water (usually 1–3 hours total per day). It won't act like a thermostat-controlled AC that keeps a room at 72°F all day long.
If She Needs Constant AC: Tell her to ask a contractor about a ductless mini-split AC alongside a separate heat pump water heater, or look into a specialized split-system HPWH (like a SANCO2) where the heat pump sits outside and vents cold air where desired.
CAVEAT EMPTOR of course, but I'm now fascinated by this topic, and I should be doing this with the heat pump that I use to heat the pool, for sure. Right now it just blows out cold air that doesn't do anybody any damn good.
Anyway I hope that's helpful!
This is great! Thank you!