AirTap Heat-Pump Water Heater

November 2, 2008 Filed Under: Construction

The AirTap air-source heat pump retrofits onto a standard tank water heater (electric or gas) using standard fittings. The water heater’s normal heating element is either turned off or set to a lower temperature. The 18- by 14- by 13-inch, 48-lb. heat pump has an efficiency of 240 percent—more than double that of an electric water heater, reducing energy consumption by about 2.5 times. The 7,000 Btu/hour output provides a first-hour rating of...