What's a Hybrid Water Heater?

Is your current water heater leaving you in the cold? Tank water heaters typically last six to 13 years, while tankless heaters might work for 20 years or more.

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When yours gives out, you'll likely explore your replacement options, which could include a hybrid water heater.

A hybrid water heater, also known as a heat pump water heater, has a water storage tank like a conventional water heater, but it uses a heat pump to heat the water. Instead of using a heating element inside the tank to heat the water, it pulls heat from air outside the water heater and moves it into a converter, which heats the water. It doesn't produce its own heat.

How Is It Different From a Normal Tanked or Tankless Model?

When deciding if a heat pump water heater is the best option for your home, it's natural to compare it to the other main types of water heaters. Some differences include:

• Efficiency: Heat pump water heaters are typically more energy-efficient than conventional tank heaters and tankless heaters. They pull heat from their surroundings instead of producing their own heat, which usually means they use less energy.
• Heating: Since hybrid water heaters rely on the air around them to heat the water, they don't always get the water as hot as tank or tankless water heaters. They work best if you live in a warm climate.
• Power source: Tank and tankless models can run on gas or electricity. A hybrid water heater can only be electric, which can make it more costly to install if your home is set up for a gas water heater.
• Space: Since hybrid models have tanks, they take up more space, similar to a conventional tank model. Tankless water heaters take up much less space since they don't use tanks, so they can be better in small spaces.
• Hot water supply: Like conventional water heaters, hybrid models have tanks with a limited supply of hot water. If you run out of hot water, you have to wait for more. A tankless model heats water on demand at a certain rate, so you can get hot water constantly, as long as you're not using too many hot water sources at once.
• Cost: The prices for all three models are similar, but a hybrid water heater will likely cost you a little more than tank or tankless models.

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What's the Price Difference?

A hybrid water heater will likely cost you more than a tank or tankless water heater. The prices are similar, but a heat pump water heater usually has a higher price tag. According to Fixr, hybrid units usually cost $1,500 to $4,000 (CAD 2,000 to CAD 5,350) installed. For a conventional tank water heater, you'll typically spend between $620 and $3,500 (CAD 830 and CAD 4,700) installed, while a tankless model often runs from $1,000 to $3,000 (CAD 1,335 to CAD 4,000) installed.

As with all appliances, you'll find a range of options in all three styles, so your total cost will vary depending on which model you choose. Installation costs can also vary based on where you live and which company you hire to do the work. Calling to get quotes from several contractors can help you find a good deal.

All CAD conversions are based on the exchange rate on the date of publication.