How to Install a Heat Pump Water Heater | This Old House

This Old House plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey is in hot water—again. (See below for a shopping list and tools.)

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Richard and Kevin traveled to Virginia to help a homeowner replace an aging electric water heater with a new, more efficient one. The new water heater uses heat pump technology, where heat is extracted from the surrounding air and used to heat the water inside the storage tank. Installation is similar to a standard electric water heater, except that a drain is needed to collect and discharge condensation, a byproduct of the heat pump.

Shopping List for How to Install a Heat Pump Water Heater:
- electric heat-pump water heater
- copper pipe and assorted fittings and valves, used to connect new water heater
- solder, flux and emery cloth, for sweating copper pipe
- plastic tubing, used to drain condensation from the heater
- tubing staples, for securing the plastic tubing to the wall
- ball valves, used to replace old shut-off valves

Tools for How to Install a Heat Pump Water Heater:
- tubing cutter, used to cut copper tubing
- pliers and wrenches, used to tighten and loosen threaded fittings
- propane torch, used to solder pipe joints
- hammer, for tapping in tubing staples
- utility knife, used to cut plastic tubing

The heat pump water heater is manufactured by General Electric (GE) [bit.ly/2IjLXpg]

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How to Install a Heat Pump Water Heater | This Old House
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