I have wanted a heat pump hot water heater for a while, but the closet it fits in is just too small for any of the existing (1 piece) units.
Just recently, I’ve noticed that there are now 2 piece units: the inside part is only a storage tank, outside is the heat pump unit. Cold water (or cold-ish) flows from the tank into the outside heat pump where it is heated, and returned to the tank as hot water. This design might actually allow me to get a heat pump water heater.
I’ve found 2 companies (that might actually be the same company) that supply these types of units: Sanco and Sanden. Is anyone familiar with these companies or these 2 piece water heaters? The Sanco unit I saw had an “Energy Guide” label saying yearly cost estimate to run is $127, which is excellent. It had a 43 gallon storage tank, and a first hour rating of 69 gallons. The heat pump is rated to work all the way down to -15 degrees. The Youtuber Matt Risinger (who makes home building videos) mentioned that he installed a Sanco unit in his house.
Some of the questions I have:
- How loud is the outside heat pump unit?
- Have you actually used / installed one? What is your experience with it?
- Do other companies provide 2 piece units?
- Are Sanco and Sanden the same company?
- If you have one, how did you order it, and who installed it for you?
- Do you know anyone who has had a bad or a good experience with it?
- What criteria would you use to judge a unit like this?
Thanks for your opinions,
J.