Heat pump water heaters in Seattle
A heat pump water heater pulls heat out of the surrounding air and puts it into the tank, using a fraction of the electricity of a standard electric heater. For all-electric Seattle homes it is the replacement that cuts the bill, and incentives can bring the price close to a plain tank.
Who a heat pump water heater is right for
It fits when
- The house is electricNo gas service, or you would rather not add it. A heat pump unit replaces a standard electric tank on the same circuit in most cases.
- There is room and airThe unit needs a space of roughly a garage bay or a basement corner, or ducting to one. It cools and dehumidifies that space slightly as it runs.
- The bill mattersWater heating is often the second-largest electric load in a Seattle home. A heat pump unit uses about a third of the electricity of the tank it replaces.
- Incentives are on the tableSeattle City Light has offered rebates on qualifying units, and a federal tax credit has applied to heat pump water heaters. We confirm current amounts at estimate time.
- A little noise is fineThe compressor hums like a refrigerator. In a garage or basement nobody notices; in a closet beside a bedroom, choose a different location.
What the installation involves
The unit is taller than a standard tank, so we check headroom first. It needs a condensate drain, like a tankless or a furnace, and clear air around the intake. We set it, connect water and power, fit the expansion tank and seismic strapping, and set the mode: heat pump only for the lowest cost, or hybrid for faster recovery in a busy house.
Where the space is too small, a ducting kit can draw air from a larger room. We tell you during the estimate whether the location works as-is.
Why Queen Plumbing
We size the tank for the household, not the brochure, and we are honest when a standard electric or a gas tankless is the better fit. Free written estimate; licensed, bonded and insured; manufacturer warranty on the unit.
Licensed, local, and on the record
- Licensed Bonded and insured in Washington
- Founder 15+ yrs in the plumbing trade
- Always Free estimates
- Available Same-day service
- Our promise 100% satisfaction guaranteed
Heat pump water heater questions
How much does a heat pump water heater save?
Compared with a standard electric tank, typically 60 to 70 percent of the water-heating electricity. The exact figure depends on how much hot water you use and the temperature of the space it sits in.
Does it make the garage cold?
It lowers the temperature of the space it is in by a few degrees while running and pulls some moisture out of the air. In a Seattle garage or basement that is usually welcome.
Will it keep up with a family?
In hybrid mode, yes. The electric elements back up the heat pump when demand is high. We size the tank, typically 50 to 80 gallons, to the household.
Can it go in a closet?
Only with ducting to a larger space, and not next to a bedroom because of the compressor noise. Garages, basements and utility rooms are the right spots.
Talk to a Seattle plumber today
Tell us what is happening and we will give you a free, written estimate. Same-day service is available for most calls. No pressure, no obligation.
Serving Seattle, Shoreline, Bellevue and Mercer Island.