Update for DIYers: I see that the Rheem version of this water heater is now available at Home Depot. I just may do it now that I can save some money by installing it myself. I got a few quotes for installing some hybrid water heaters and it just wasn't cost effective, even with all the incentives. But but doing the install myself and getting the tax credit, it is far more reasonable in cost.
Yes. I cannot believe what the local pros are charging for a heat pump water heater installation. I got actual quotes from $6,000 to $8,000! Worse, a couple of neighbors with no real interest or understanding of what's going on with water heaters today, had their existing ng water heaters replaced and paid around $3,500! That was for a simple, ng water heater that sells for less than $900 at the big box stores. Insane!
Yes, My quotes were even more. Around $10,000 before incentives! Even with incentives and tax credit still looking at about $5,000 out of pocket. The $3,500 incentive has to be contractor-installed. They credit you that incentive but I have a sneaky suspicion they are jacking up their quotes, so the incentive is really not being passed down to the consumer. @@tharais
So I just ordered the 80 gallon Rheem from Home Depot. About $3,000 out the door. So with $2,000 of incentives, net cost is about $1,000 doing a self install. Very comparable in price to a natural gas water heater. Plus the cost saving of no natural gas bill!
Thank you for making this video, it’s hard to find many first hand users of these units! I wasn’t aware there was an 80 gallon model and am getting my gas heater replaced in a couple of weeks, could you share the model number this one for me?
It's in the description via the spec sheet. I linked the Rheem variants, but Ruud also has their own part numbers, but they are exactly the same variants as the Rheem ones. So whichever one is easier for your installer to get.
Yup, no problem. With a 120v only, you need to know what you're getting into, or it's going to be a rude awakening for sure. This type of HPWH can only work in so many situations, but not all. High demand all the time or frequently definitely requires a hybrid HPWH.
If you can install one of these in a garage or an outdoor utility closet in hot climates (Arizona, Texas, Florida, etc.) the recovery time is probably great. The hot air it's using to heat the water really just runs it at about maximum recovery time.
right. A vented roof stays about 35F above ambient at all times. So take the natural gas vent holes that most homes have to the attic and plug this bad boy in. All summer long you'll have peak temps up there to draw from at 130F.
Very, very few people replace the anode rod where I live. Or do annual flushes. Deterioration depends on water conditions too. Our municipal supplies are pretty good around here.
I heard it was a 10 year rod. The anode is a pain to access from what I saw on my model. It is accessed from the top, and looks like he will have to pull the water heater out to replace it.
how are you feeling a year later? this is the particular unit i'm looking for to replace my natural gas unit, which would be going into a climate controlled basement room closet
Been working excellent! I would buy it again for sure. Not related to this specific unit, but having app access is also awesome because it helped identify a leak in our plumbing unrelated to the unit itself (being able to see how full the tank is at all times).
Do you think it makes sense to run a hybrid on 40G HPWH and then have a point of use (POU) electric WH at each end of the house to boost output? That way you use the HPWH as an energy efficient hot water storage and the POUWH to boost water temperature when you need it. The POUWH is also like a backup in case your HPWH fails or recovers too slowly. All of these WH can run from a solar batter pack.
If you were going to go that route, why get a hybrid? Just go with a straight 120v. The hybrid part negates the slow recovery. Also not sure why'd you want so many electric WH, even if the POU is smaller? We have an external recirc valve. Get one of those instead and you'll have hot water everywhere, fast.
@@nukem384 how bad is the effect of a re-criculation pump on heat loss and also hot water "contamination" on the cold side? I'm definitely considering your suggestion.
@@155stw No idea on the heat loss. I'm not thattt techy with this stuff. There is some "contamination" on the cold water side briefly depending where you are in the house. Specifically my bathroom sink has some for like 10 secs. I don't really care though, not a big deal to me.
Thanks for sharing your experience! If running a 240V 30A circuit is no problem, would you recommend just going with the hybrid electric-heatpump version instead of your heatpump only version? It's a higher UEF somehow, and then also don't have to worry about being totally out of hot water if the heatpump fails or the extra components in the mixing valve fail.
Yeah if you have that flexibility, it's probably a better route to go. Most of the time, the hybrid HPWH are cheaper overall too because there's more competition. From the numerous people who have emailed me, it seems like the quotes are about the same or a little bit cheaper putting in the hybrid because the 120v only HPWH is so new.
Great content! Two questions: 1: If I need clearance for the 80-gallon model, can I remove the current 18-inch-high platform my gwh is on now? Or replace it with a shorter platform? My understanding is that is a gwh requirement to keep the pilot flame away from possible lingering fumes in the garage. 2: If you had the option, would you go with Rheem's Solar Water Heater and have it on your roof? Still researching the pros/cons between HPW and Solar Water Heater on roof. Thanks!!!
1. I can't say for sure since I'm not a plumber who follows code. That's a better question for them since they deal with this type of thing. My guess is yes, you probably could do that. I've seen HPWH directly on the ground, so there's that. But best to ask the installers in your area since everyone's code can be different. 2. I would not. HPWH are probably the most efficient way to get hot water right now. And they are a direct swap with where your gas WH is now. Having a water heater on your roof just sounds expensive in itself. This is on top of having to make sure your roof can handle that weight and rerouting water lines up there for it to work. I don't think it makes sense strictly from an economic standpoint.
the 18" platform is only required code for gas water heaters and anything else with a pilot light. Combustable vapors are heavier than air so they accumulate at the floor if they leak. Vapor ignition by pilot light is less likely >18" off of floor. Yes this heat pump can sit (inside a drip pan) on the concrete slab
It definitely is tall. You can see all the exact measurements in the spec sheet linked in the description. There's about 5in of space above the HP unit in our garage. The exhaust actually shoots out into the garage, not up towards the ceiling, so there's no issue there.
Here's the spec sheet. You can now go down to Home Depot and pick this up. rmc-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/media/uploads/iat/sites/36/2022/06/RH-PIHP-SC_Plus-without-Leakguard_0407.pdf
When I made this video, Rheem had not released 120v only HPWHs to HD or Lowe's. As of about a month ago, it seems they have. So anyone can DIY it now if they want.
@@nukem384 I'm in the BA as well. In the North Bay. Too far away to use your provider. I'd be really interested to know how much they charged you for the swap out/install though. I've only encountered predatory prices. They assume they have you over a barrel. Am planning to do myself. Have experience with plumbing & electrical work and water heater replacements. But, I'd prefer to hire a pro, if they are willing to do it for a reasonable charge. Not thousands. Literally!
Hey Darrell! Thanks for the great review. I'm in the Monterey Bay area. Sounds like a great solution for my home. It's been a few months since you posted this. How's it been working out for you?
It's been working great. No issues with it since day 1. The real key is to oversize the tank to what you need. Since HP's heat water slowly, you need to have extra for reserves until the tank can have a chance to heat water back up (overnight). I also have it on a schedule now, so it's a bit more efficient than letting it just keep water at 140 24 hours a day. Highly recommend if you can fit it in your old WH space.
@@nukem384 Good to hear your water heater is still working well for you. I noticed you have a Watts recirculating pump. So do I. I read some reviews that there were issues with using a recirculating pump with water heaters that have heat traps. Have you had any issues?
@@clarknag Yep I heard the same thing and was concerned before install. Plumber was like, don't worry about it, it shouldn't give you issues. He was right. No issues and I haven't seen a difference. Water comes thru the pipes fast when the timer is on.
Thanks for the welcome insights on these units. Being so new, I’ve heard the compressor coils become dirty (even with the filter) after about 2 years and require professional maintenance to clean-would you know if this is the case? Thanks again.
Given your solar panels, did you consider going tankless electric and save space? I'm not in the bay area, but my hot water heater is in the laundry room. Space is an issue and that looks big.
From what I've read, electric tankless WH are not very reliable. We wanted to get one years ago, and the plumber was like, don't do it. He would do it for us, but said it's going to give you problems later. So back to the present, we just did a direct swap with our nat gas tank WH for this HPWH. But yes, this thing, esp. the 80g, is ginormous. So if you don't have room, probably better to go with a different option.
@@Anonymouse987 Yeah it sounds like it. Tankless electric is probably not for you. I guess it depends what your goals are. If it's environmental, then may you relocate your WH and get a HPWH, maybe even a hybrid. But that'll be probably pricey. Or a gas tankless would probably make sense for you.
The electrical service requirement for an electric tankless water heater can be pretty severe. And thus, cost prohibitive. Even if your current water heater is electric with dual 30 amp service. You may well be looking a full service panel upgrade (and more) to get the required electrical supply. Not unlike the many times necessary upgrades in NG service for a gas tankless, even if you're current water heater is NG. You'd be going from 30,000 btu/hr to 199,000 btu/hr. Demands much higher rate of gas supply.
@@tharais Thank you for that useful information. It does appear if homes are not initially built to allow some of these upgrades, it is cost prohibitive to put them in. I would pay a little bit to save that space, but it sounds like it's not a good option for me.
Just ordered the hydro boost Rheem variant through a distributor. Thanks so much for this video. Would you be able to measure and confirm around 10ft cord length please? Thanks!
You said max 2000.00 Tax credit, is that also included installation? I got a Quote from Home depot, everything included about 5500.00 dollars. with 30% tax credit the I will get back 1650.00 dollars from my tax. Am I wrong? Thanks
My understanding is that is correct. It's everything to get it working in your space. However, I'm also not a CPA. Best advice is to contact your CPA and see what they think. The $2k would be if you had a $10k total install or something, you'd be capped at $2k instead of getting $3k.
Current HD price is $2,769. That means their subcontracted installer is gouging you only a bit less for the install & haul off of old water heater - a couple of hours of work on their part, the disposal cost and a few plumbing fittings, is charging essentially the same as the very high priced product. That's ridiculous! And, indicative of the unintended consequences of these governmental energy tax credits. All the service companies just upped their prices to capture that. But it's sold as a consumer benefit.
You said it needs a couples inches below the water heater for a drip pan. Huh? The tank sits inside the drip pan, so it doesn't need extra space for that. Unless you meant that it needs the room so the tank can be lifted up over the sides of the drip pan to be put in it. But it doesn't look like you have any room to replace the sacrificial anode rod when it needs replacing. And if it's not replaced early enough the tank will corrode and leak, then you have to buy a whole new water heater. I had a 50 gallon Rheem 12 year warranty gas water heater and I never flushed it annually and never checked the anode rod, big mistake and I new better. After around 9 years it started making popping sounds, some plumbers said that was normal from some sediment, so I flushed it and a little sediment came out, but it still made the popping sound. Then after around a year later it leaked, early in the morning just before my shower on a cold rainy California winter day. I removed it and took a look at the anode rod which was completely gone, eaten away not even a stub. Water heater prices doubled in 10 years and because I needed a water heater right away so I bought a less expensive 30 gallon unit to install myself, the smaller tank was easier to lift up on the platform and set into the pan. But I will definitely flush it once a year and pull the anode rod to check it every two years. I would like to get a heat pump water heater like yours but they are just ridiculously expensive and considering how short of a lifespan they have now a days, they are not cost effective, even with their energy savings. When I was a kid I don't ever remember a water heater tank leaking, needing to be replaced. They made them to last back then, but not anymore. You said this water heater can only be installed by a plumber so you can't buy it yourself from places like Home Depot, are you sure because it looks like I can buy it from Home Depot. Also, why would you set the temperate to 140 degrees when you have a recirculation pump connected to it? Seems like setting it to 120 would be fine because of the pump.
Errr...but they are. Lowe's has some A.O. Smith models too www.homedepot.com/p/Rheem-Performance-Platinum-ProTerra-50-Gal-Tall-0W-Element-Residential-Electric-Water-Heater-w-Heat-Pump-10-Year-Warranty-XE50T10HM00U0/317100789?g_store=&source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&pla&mtc=SHOPPING-RM-RMP-GGL-D26P-026_010_WATER_HEATER-SB-RHEEM-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-MK688832200-NA-NBR-2529-CON-NA-FY23_2529Feed&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-RM-RMP-GGL-D26P-026_010_WATER_HEATER-SB-RHEEM-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-MK688832200-NA-NBR-2529-CON-NA-FY23_2529Feed-71700000113409006--&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA35urBhDCARIsAOU7QwktJ_vkyX6h_w62x0CffewtA7JdSC6EDuT7PiVfmUkoyPVyEK1rgaMaAsfvEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Update for DIYers: I see that the Rheem version of this water heater is now available at Home Depot. I just may do it now that I can save some money by installing it myself. I got a few quotes for installing some hybrid water heaters and it just wasn't cost effective, even with all the incentives. But but doing the install myself and getting the tax credit, it is far more reasonable in cost.
Awesome. I suppose it was just a matter of time until Rheem released it to the big box stores.
Yes. I cannot believe what the local pros are charging for a heat pump water heater installation. I got actual quotes from $6,000 to $8,000!
Worse, a couple of neighbors with no real interest or understanding of what's going on with water heaters today, had their existing ng water heaters replaced and paid around $3,500! That was for a simple, ng water heater that sells for less than $900 at the big box stores.
Insane!
Yes, My quotes were even more. Around $10,000 before incentives! Even with incentives and tax credit still looking at about $5,000 out of pocket. The $3,500 incentive has to be contractor-installed. They credit you that incentive but I have a sneaky suspicion they are jacking up their quotes, so the incentive is really not being passed down to the consumer. @@tharais
So I just ordered the 80 gallon Rheem from Home Depot. About $3,000 out the door. So with $2,000 of incentives, net cost is about $1,000 doing a self install. Very comparable in price to a natural gas water heater. Plus the cost saving of no natural gas bill!
@@clarknagGot a link? I'm having a hard time finding it on the HD website. Thanks
Thank you for making this video, it’s hard to find many first hand users of these units! I wasn’t aware there was an 80 gallon model and am getting my gas heater replaced in a couple of weeks, could you share the model number this one for me?
It's in the description via the spec sheet. I linked the Rheem variants, but Ruud also has their own part numbers, but they are exactly the same variants as the Rheem ones. So whichever one is easier for your installer to get.
Please plug this directly into an outlet and not on a power strip.
No it’s better to plug into a power strip because they Gfci and surge protection.
Ty, useful info especially regarding recovery time. Had not heard that discussed on other videos.
Yup, no problem. With a 120v only, you need to know what you're getting into, or it's going to be a rude awakening for sure. This type of HPWH can only work in so many situations, but not all. High demand all the time or frequently definitely requires a hybrid HPWH.
If you can install one of these in a garage or an outdoor utility closet in hot climates (Arizona, Texas, Florida, etc.) the recovery time is probably great. The hot air it's using to heat the water really just runs it at about maximum recovery time.
Yeah if you live in a hot climate, these things would be super super efficiency.
right. A vented roof stays about 35F above ambient at all times. So take the natural gas vent holes that most homes have to the attic and plug this bad boy in. All summer long you'll have peak temps up there to draw from at 130F.
Im from the bay area too and considering getting this model.
It's been working great for us. No issues in the 1 1/2 years we've had it so far.
Is there any way to replace the anode rod with so little clearance to the ceiling?
Probably not. So that might screw me later. Plumber never mentioned anything about it though, so not sure.
They make segmented anode rods for no clearance. Have to cut the old one with saws all as you remove it a little at a time
Very, very few people replace the anode rod where I live. Or do annual flushes. Deterioration depends on water conditions too. Our municipal supplies are pretty good around here.
I heard it was a 10 year rod. The anode is a pain to access from what I saw on my model. It is accessed from the top, and looks like he will have to pull the water heater out to replace it.
how are you feeling a year later? this is the particular unit i'm looking for to replace my natural gas unit, which would be going into a climate controlled basement room closet
Been working excellent! I would buy it again for sure. Not related to this specific unit, but having app access is also awesome because it helped identify a leak in our plumbing unrelated to the unit itself (being able to see how full the tank is at all times).
Do you think it makes sense to run a hybrid on 40G HPWH and then have a point of use (POU) electric WH at each end of the house to boost output? That way you use the HPWH as an energy efficient hot water storage and the POUWH to boost water temperature when you need it. The POUWH is also like a backup in case your HPWH fails or recovers too slowly. All of these WH can run from a solar batter pack.
If you were going to go that route, why get a hybrid? Just go with a straight 120v. The hybrid part negates the slow recovery.
Also not sure why'd you want so many electric WH, even if the POU is smaller? We have an external recirc valve. Get one of those instead and you'll have hot water everywhere, fast.
@@nukem384 how bad is the effect of a re-criculation pump on heat loss and also hot water "contamination" on the cold side? I'm definitely considering your suggestion.
@@155stw No idea on the heat loss. I'm not thattt techy with this stuff. There is some "contamination" on the cold water side briefly depending where you are in the house. Specifically my bathroom sink has some for like 10 secs. I don't really care though, not a big deal to me.
Hi, thanks for the review. Can this unit run off a battery (i.e., Powerwall) in the event of a power outage?
Ha! So it is you. You probably already saw my response on Reddit.
Thanks for sharing your experience! If running a 240V 30A circuit is no problem, would you recommend just going with the hybrid electric-heatpump version instead of your heatpump only version? It's a higher UEF somehow, and then also don't have to worry about being totally out of hot water if the heatpump fails or the extra components in the mixing valve fail.
Yeah if you have that flexibility, it's probably a better route to go. Most of the time, the hybrid HPWH are cheaper overall too because there's more competition. From the numerous people who have emailed me, it seems like the quotes are about the same or a little bit cheaper putting in the hybrid because the 120v only HPWH is so new.
Great content! Two questions: 1: If I need clearance for the 80-gallon model, can I remove the current 18-inch-high platform my gwh is on now? Or replace it with a shorter platform? My understanding is that is a gwh requirement to keep the pilot flame away from possible lingering fumes in the garage. 2: If you had the option, would you go with Rheem's Solar Water Heater and have it on your roof? Still researching the pros/cons between HPW and Solar Water Heater on roof. Thanks!!!
1. I can't say for sure since I'm not a plumber who follows code. That's a better question for them since they deal with this type of thing. My guess is yes, you probably could do that. I've seen HPWH directly on the ground, so there's that. But best to ask the installers in your area since everyone's code can be different.
2. I would not. HPWH are probably the most efficient way to get hot water right now. And they are a direct swap with where your gas WH is now. Having a water heater on your roof just sounds expensive in itself. This is on top of having to make sure your roof can handle that weight and rerouting water lines up there for it to work. I don't think it makes sense strictly from an economic standpoint.
@@nukem384 Thank you!
Mine is sitting directly on the floor in my basement. They are designed to do so.
the 18" platform is only required code for gas water heaters and anything else with a pilot light. Combustable vapors are heavier than air so they accumulate at the floor if they leak. Vapor ignition by pilot light is less likely >18" off of floor. Yes this heat pump can sit (inside a drip pan) on the concrete slab
Nice review. Does not appear you have enough room to remove and clean your filter.
I would love to hear a review a year from now.
It's been working great so far, a year later. The filter is actually flexible, so I can just barely get it out if I need to clean it.
The model appears to be quite tall. How much space did you have to leave for the cold air exhaust above the tank?
It definitely is tall. You can see all the exact measurements in the spec sheet linked in the description. There's about 5in of space above the HP unit in our garage. The exhaust actually shoots out into the garage, not up towards the ceiling, so there's no issue there.
Who did you contact? I'm in Modesto, but can't find a store or plumber to buy the water heater. Thanks in advance
Email me at nukem384@aol.com and I can give you the info
@@nukem384 Thanks for responding to my email.
Great video. Thanks. What is the model number?
Here's the spec sheet. You can now go down to Home Depot and pick this up.
rmc-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/media/uploads/iat/sites/36/2022/06/RH-PIHP-SC_Plus-without-Leakguard_0407.pdf
@@nukem384 thanks bud. Sent you an email
Thanks! This is super helpful.
Glad it helped
Not sure i understand the no diy comment. Must be a california thing. It says ship to home just fine here.
When I made this video, Rheem had not released 120v only HPWHs to HD or Lowe's. As of about a month ago, it seems they have. So anyone can DIY it now if they want.
What company did you use to buy and install this unit? Happy with them?
Are you in the Bay Area? Email me and I can give you more details if you're in the area. nukem384@aol.com
@@nukem384
I'm in the BA as well. In the North Bay. Too far away to use your provider. I'd be really interested to know how much they charged you for the swap out/install though. I've only encountered predatory prices. They assume they have you over a barrel. Am planning to do myself. Have experience with plumbing & electrical work and water heater replacements. But, I'd prefer to hire a pro, if they are willing to do it for a reasonable charge. Not thousands. Literally!
Hey Darrell! Thanks for the great review. I'm in the Monterey Bay area. Sounds like a great solution for my home. It's been a few months since you posted this. How's it been working out for you?
It's been working great. No issues with it since day 1. The real key is to oversize the tank to what you need. Since HP's heat water slowly, you need to have extra for reserves until the tank can have a chance to heat water back up (overnight). I also have it on a schedule now, so it's a bit more efficient than letting it just keep water at 140 24 hours a day. Highly recommend if you can fit it in your old WH space.
@@nukem384 Good to hear your water heater is still working well for you. I noticed you have a Watts recirculating pump. So do I. I read some reviews that there were issues with using a recirculating pump with water heaters that have heat traps. Have you had any issues?
@@clarknag Yep I heard the same thing and was concerned before install. Plumber was like, don't worry about it, it shouldn't give you issues. He was right. No issues and I haven't seen a difference. Water comes thru the pipes fast when the timer is on.
How are you going to clean the filter? Looks like the wall is going to block it
Filter is really thin and bendable. No issues coming out.
Thanks for the welcome insights on these units. Being so new, I’ve heard the compressor coils become dirty (even with the filter) after about 2 years and require professional maintenance to clean-would you know if this is the case? Thanks again.
@@scotth7781 No idea off the top of my head. I suppose if that were the case, I'd just have the installer come back out and deal with it for payment.
Given your solar panels, did you consider going tankless electric and save space? I'm not in the bay area, but my hot water heater is in the laundry room. Space is an issue and that looks big.
From what I've read, electric tankless WH are not very reliable. We wanted to get one years ago, and the plumber was like, don't do it. He would do it for us, but said it's going to give you problems later.
So back to the present, we just did a direct swap with our nat gas tank WH for this HPWH. But yes, this thing, esp. the 80g, is ginormous. So if you don't have room, probably better to go with a different option.
@@nukem384 Thank you for the valuable advice. I have a decent-sized one story home, it's the layout that is challenging.
@@Anonymouse987 Yeah it sounds like it. Tankless electric is probably not for you. I guess it depends what your goals are. If it's environmental, then may you relocate your WH and get a HPWH, maybe even a hybrid. But that'll be probably pricey. Or a gas tankless would probably make sense for you.
The electrical service requirement for an electric tankless water heater can be pretty severe. And thus, cost prohibitive. Even if your current water heater is electric with dual 30 amp service. You may well be looking a full service panel upgrade (and more) to get the required electrical supply.
Not unlike the many times necessary upgrades in NG service for a gas tankless, even if you're current water heater is NG. You'd be going from 30,000 btu/hr to 199,000 btu/hr. Demands much higher rate of gas supply.
@@tharais Thank you for that useful information. It does appear if homes are not initially built to allow some of these upgrades, it is cost prohibitive to put them in. I would pay a little bit to save that space, but it sounds like it's not a good option for me.
Just ordered the hydro boost Rheem variant through a distributor. Thanks so much for this video. Would you be able to measure and confirm around 10ft cord length please? Thanks!
Nice. Yeah the cord is about 10ft, so that outlet needs to be relatively close.
What is the name of your installer company?
Are you in the Bay Area? Email me at nukem384@aol.com and I'll give you more info.
You said max 2000.00 Tax credit, is that also included installation? I got a Quote from Home depot, everything included about 5500.00 dollars. with 30% tax credit the I will get back 1650.00 dollars from my tax. Am I wrong? Thanks
My understanding is that is correct. It's everything to get it working in your space. However, I'm also not a CPA. Best advice is to contact your CPA and see what they think. The $2k would be if you had a $10k total install or something, you'd be capped at $2k instead of getting $3k.
Current HD price is $2,769. That means their subcontracted installer is gouging you only a bit less for the install & haul off of old water heater - a couple of hours of work on their part, the disposal cost and a few plumbing fittings, is charging essentially the same as the very high priced product.
That's ridiculous! And, indicative of the unintended consequences of these governmental energy tax credits. All the service companies just upped their prices to capture that. But it's sold as a consumer benefit.
You said it needs a couples inches below the water heater for a drip pan. Huh? The tank sits inside the drip pan, so it doesn't need extra space for that. Unless you meant that it needs the room so the tank can be lifted up over the sides of the drip pan to be put in it. But it doesn't look like you have any room to replace the sacrificial anode rod when it needs replacing. And if it's not replaced early enough the tank will corrode and leak, then you have to buy a whole new water heater. I had a 50 gallon Rheem 12 year warranty gas water heater and I never flushed it annually and never checked the anode rod, big mistake and I new better. After around 9 years it started making popping sounds, some plumbers said that was normal from some sediment, so I flushed it and a little sediment came out, but it still made the popping sound. Then after around a year later it leaked, early in the morning just before my shower on a cold rainy California winter day. I removed it and took a look at the anode rod which was completely gone, eaten away not even a stub. Water heater prices doubled in 10 years and because I needed a water heater right away so I bought a less expensive 30 gallon unit to install myself, the smaller tank was easier to lift up on the platform and set into the pan. But I will definitely flush it once a year and pull the anode rod to check it every two years. I would like to get a heat pump water heater like yours but they are just ridiculously expensive and considering how short of a lifespan they have now a days, they are not cost effective, even with their energy savings. When I was a kid I don't ever remember a water heater tank leaking, needing to be replaced. They made them to last back then, but not anymore.
You said this water heater can only be installed by a plumber so you can't buy it yourself from places like Home Depot, are you sure because it looks like I can buy it from Home Depot. Also, why would you set the temperate to 140 degrees when you have a recirculation pump connected to it? Seems like setting it to 120 would be fine because of the pump.
When I made this video over a year ago, it was not available at big box stores. Maybe about 4 months ago, they started to be available.
@@nukem384 Ah, okay. But again why do you have the temperature set to 140 degrees, when you have a recirculation pump installed?
120V heat pump water heater that isn’t available to DIYers. 😂 What a joke. Purpose defeated!
Errr...but they are. Lowe's has some A.O. Smith models too
www.homedepot.com/p/Rheem-Performance-Platinum-ProTerra-50-Gal-Tall-0W-Element-Residential-Electric-Water-Heater-w-Heat-Pump-10-Year-Warranty-XE50T10HM00U0/317100789?g_store=&source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&pla&mtc=SHOPPING-RM-RMP-GGL-D26P-026_010_WATER_HEATER-SB-RHEEM-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-MK688832200-NA-NBR-2529-CON-NA-FY23_2529Feed&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-RM-RMP-GGL-D26P-026_010_WATER_HEATER-SB-RHEEM-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-MK688832200-NA-NBR-2529-CON-NA-FY23_2529Feed-71700000113409006--&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA35urBhDCARIsAOU7QwktJ_vkyX6h_w62x0CffewtA7JdSC6EDuT7PiVfmUkoyPVyEK1rgaMaAsfvEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds