I’m expecting US methane gas prices to rise to match the much higher global LNG price due to the large number of export terminals under construction.
Comment on Heat-pump water heaters are a winner for the climate — and your wallet
ikidd@lemmy.world 11 months ago
As opposed to resistive electric heaters? Well, that’s hardly a surprise. It’s not going to come close to being as cheap as NG though, and an NG heater is 1/4 of the price.
silence7@slrpnk.net 11 months ago
oktupol@discuss.tchncs.de 11 months ago
Right now, and that’s not even the case everywhere in the world. In many parts of Europe, the operational costs of heat pumps are already lower than those of gas furnaces.
Blackmist@feddit.uk 11 months ago
Gas is cheaper to run as well, although that is more subject to the wonders of international incidents.
I like the idea of a renewable energy way to heat the home, as trickling the heat in would work there, run the electricity when it’s cheaper and that, but for hot water, gas is just so convenient. A heat pump is never going to produce enough concentrated energy to run a bath or have a shower more powerful than a piss.
Hated having a water tank when I had a rubbish old gas boiler, and I’m not going back to one if I can avoid it.
sirjash@feddit.de 11 months ago
There are electric water heaters that can take the preheated water from the general system and give it the last boost to exactly the temperature you desire. Ideally those would be installed relatively close to wherever you need the water. They are less efficient, but on the plus side, they only heat whenever and exactly how much you need
Rivalarrival@lemmy.today 11 months ago
I’ve contemplated a heat exchanger on the tub drain line to capture the heat from my shower to preheat water into the tank.
A small, non-functional gas water heater, located in a hot, summer attic, and with a small fan blowing air down the exhaust stack, makes an excellent pre-heater.
Stick a small window air conditioner in there, and it becomes a redneck heat pump water heater.
SCB@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Heat pumps are nearly as cheap in Ohio as NG and save you money over the life of your house. Despite being run by MAGA, Ohio has some pretty sweet green energy subsidies and tax write-offs.
Great substitute for geothermal.
Rivalarrival@lemmy.today 11 months ago
I’m in the market for a water heater in Ohio. The cheapest heat pump water heater I could find is more than twice the price of a typical NG heater. Where are you finding them for anything remotely close to the same price?
One important thing to note: heat pump water heaters take heat from the house and put it into the water. In an Ohio winter, that might not be desirable: you’re paying for the heat from the furnace, then paying for the same heat again into the tank.
pedalmore@lemmy.world 11 months ago
There’s a federal tax credit worth 2k for HPWH. I’m not aware of any Ohio specific subsidies, although there are programs coming through the IRA that are run through the states and will offer more incentives.
theragu40@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Up to* $2k. Just for the sake of clarity.
The tax credit 30% of the total project price, up to $2k. If the HPWH is over double the cost of NG, you’re still paying quite a bit more even with the tax credit.
SCB@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Wow man maybe it’s because I had to do a whole rip job on my heater? I sunk $20k into my heating and cooling system this year. Was a fuckin nightmare. Maybe if you’re going whole cloth the savings show up more?
CmdrShepard@lemmy.one 11 months ago
You’re talking about HVAC while everyone else is talking about water heaters. I think it’s pretty well demonstrated that heat pumps for HVAC are the way to go but not for heating water.
TheD00d@lemmy.world 11 months ago
As a fellow Ohioan with old ass HVAC and a furnace. Where can Iearn more?!
Rivalarrival@lemmy.today 11 months ago
Replace your furnace with a heat pump long before you even think about upgrading your water heater.
Think of a HPWH as an air conditioner, that dumps heat into water instead of the outside air. Do you want your furnace and your air conditioner running in your home simultaneously? All winter long, that is what a HPWH will be doing. Because your furnace heats your house, and the HPWH gets it heat from your house, your furnace will be providing the heat for your water as well.
In summer, HPWHs make perfect sense. The HPWH will be working with your AC instead of against your furnace.
If you have a heat pump HVAC system, a HPWH is just a second stage heat pump. Your HVAC is still going to be providing the heat for your water as well as the house, but the heat pump HVAC can provide heat more efficiently than a gas water heater or resistive electric water heater. Since the HVAC heat pump is more efficient than a traditional water heater, it is reasonable to shift that water heating load onto your HVAC with a HPWH.