HYBRID WATERHEATERS GEOSPRING VERSES RHEEMPERFOMANCE PLATINUM HYBRID 50 GAL.
solarvic
Solar Expert Posts: 1,060 ✭✭✭✭
The China built Geospring water heater I installed in Oct 2010 finally broke down. The heat pump quit but it still works with the heating elements and I have been using it that way for about a month. Even though the parts and tank are guaranteed for 10 years I figured it makes better economic sence to replace it with a new one. Have read some horrow storys about collecting on the warranty. I read this on the reviews for the Geospring. The owner had to have a ge installer come to make a house call to anilize the trouble. $200.00 service call. Ge sent the parts and the installer come back and installed the part and there was another $200.00 service call and $95.00 labor to change the part. So this guy had $495.00 for service even though the part was free. Since I got 6 1/2 years of trouble free service I know I am way ahead of the game. I bought a new Rheem Performance Platinum Hybred 50 gal water heater from Home Depot for $999.00 that is more modernized and has a better energy rate factor of 3.5. It has provisions for ducting warm air to it and cool air away from it. Also quieter 49 db and it will fit in a tighter space as all hook ups are in front of water heater. Because of the ducting you can have the back right up the wall. So now that I got myself convinced that this is good for me I was hoping to hear others viewpoints about the Rheem. Also when I was trying to look at the energystar website they have Ge Partnered with Haier a Chinese co.
Comments
Interesting it uses ~3.44 KWhr per day
PS look at the price (in OMAK)
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West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
One interesting thing I found out about the Geospring is that after the compressor shuts off, it often powers on one of the 4500 watt heating elements for about 1 minute. Why? I couldn't tell you. Anyway, the first time it happened, I heard the 4000 watt Radian inverter fans start winding up and I saw it was supplying about 5000 watts to something. But before I could get to the bypass switch It had shutdown. It didn't take long to figure out what had cause the shutdown and I replaced the 4500 watt elements with 1500 watt elements and no more shutdowns.
InMichigan, you may want to look into an 80 gallon model. Several brands make that size. Although they are of course more expensive, there is nothing like running out of hot water in the winter.
solarvic, Better luck with the new water heater.
Rick
I am not actually off grid. I have a hybrid inverter battery system that is grid tied. So I can feed the grid, be off grid or a combination of the two called grid zero, which allows one to shave off a percentage of grid consumption while having the power the grid to start a 2 ton heat pump for A/C and heat that has a high surge current. I live in north Florida so winters are mild and we rarely need heat as we have a well insulated house. So in winter I am mostly off grid while it's sunny or partly cloudy. My system produces 9 to13 kWh on good days, and is enough to supply our home and make enough of hot water with the Geospring.
The PV powered DC heating element is a good idea and I have considered it in the past, but it would require some wiring in the attic and since I am an old geezer too, I can't do it and I won't to pay to have it done unless I have to. Maybe if the Geospring quits, I'll go that direction. I am an electrician, but my ladder climbing, attic crawling days are in the past.
Rick