AO Smith Vertrex

Fubar411 · Jun 4, 2010

Hello,
My sister's electric water heater is needing replacement. Currently, only electric is run to the area, but natural gas is available. As there is no chimney nearby, I was considering installing a water heater with a power vent. I saw the Vertrex on Jay Leno and thought it was interesting, especially because it is supposed to be so efficient and doesn't have the obvious problems of a tankless. I was wondering if anyone approved of them?

Thanks,
Rob in St Louis

Redwood · Jun 5, 2010

Does your sister already have a nat. gas service or, is it in the street?

If she doesn't have a service you may want to consider a heat pump water heater.

Sponsor · 2022-01-29T12:20:58-0800

Fubar411 · Jun 5, 2010

The house has natural gas. I don't know the flow for it, but there were nat gas lights out front at one time.

Gary Swart · Jun 5, 2010

Natural gas is the way to go since you have gas to the house already. Power vents are great IMHO, their best feature is the venting is done with PVC pipe and can go through a wall to the outside rather than through the roof. I am currently using my second Rheem power vent, and most reports here tend to prefer Rheem/GE and Bradford White heaters. By all means avoid the Whirlpool units, they are terrible.

TipsMcStagger · Feb 7, 2012

I'd like to know how effective hybrid/heat-pump heaters are at reducing the ambient humidity and cooling the surrounding air?

I'm in west central FL and my water heater is in the garage. The house is fully electric. In the summer months, the garage is extremely humid and in excess of 100 degrees. I'm interested in a heat-pump water heater for the simple fact that it could possibly make the garage more comfortable. Currently, it's virtually useless as a workshop in the summer months.

Any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks.

hj · Feb 8, 2012

quote; their best feature is the venting is done with PVC pipe and can go through a wall to the outside rather than through the roof.

That is a manufacturer "suggestion", but NO PVC pipe manufacturer recommends using their pipe for a heater vent.

hj · Feb 8, 2012

heat pump

The heat pump would only cool the garage while it was heating the water, so unless you used a LOT of hot water, it might still be uncomfortable. It will be downright chilly in the wintertime.

Hackney plumbing · Feb 8, 2012

TipsMcStagger said:
I'd like to know how effective hybrid/heat-pump heaters are at reducing the ambient humidity and cooling the surrounding air?

I'm in west central FL and my water heater is in the garage. The house is fully electric. In the summer months, the garage is extremely humid and in excess of 100 degrees. I'm interested in a heat-pump water heater for the simple fact that it could possibly make the garage more comfortable. Currently, it's virtually useless as a workshop in the summer months.

Any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks.

In Florida a heat pump water heater is not going to help much in respect to cooling a garage. The a.c's can barely keep up. I doubt you would notice any difference unless you used alot of hot water throughout the day. BUT it would work VERY well at heating the water.
My feeling is it wouldn't run enough.

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