GE Profile™ GEOSPRING™ Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heater - Ambient Temperature and Energy Efficiency

How does the air temperature around the water heater affect the energy efficiency and energy savings performance of the GE Profile™ GEOSPRING™?

Energy Efficiency Claims

Energy efficiency claims are based on standard Department of Energy (DOE) water heater test procedures that are conducted at an ambient air temperature of 68°F with an incoming water temperature of 58°F and a set temperature of 135°F.

How Ambient Air Temperature Affects Energy Efficiency

As the temperature of the air around the GEOSPRING hybrid heat pump water heater drops below 68°F, there is less heat in the air, This means the heat pump works longer to pull the necessary heat from the air to heat the water. Since the heat pump works longer, the energy efficiency is slightly reduced.

To put this in perspective, at a 68°F ambient air temperature, the GEOSPRING saves up to 67% of the energy consumed by a standard electric water heater. At 50°F, the UEF (unified energy factor) is reduced to about 50%. This means that even at ambient air temperatures as low as 50°F, GEOSPRING can still save more than 50% of the energy used compared to a standard electric water heater. That's still a very substantial amount of energy savings.

If the temperature drops below 35°F, the amount of heat in the air has dropped too low for effective heat pump operation, and the GEOSPRING will switch off the heat pump and operate its standard electric elements to heat the water. This occurs regardless of the operating mode that is set. When operating the standard electric elements, the unit will have the same efficiency as a standard electric water heater; however, it will switch back when the air temperature is warmer.

Ambient Air Temperature

The ambient air temperature being discussed is the temperature of the air surrounding the water heater, not the air temperature outside. Many water heaters are found in garages, basements, and attics. Even when the air temperature outside is below freezing, the air temperature surrounding the water heater is still usually above 35°F. The GEOSPRING's heat pump will operate to efficiently heat the water.

The opposite is also true for temperatures above 68°F. There is more heat in the air, and the heat pump becomes more efficient at heating the water. This efficiency increases with ambient air temperature up to 120°F. Above 120°F, the unit again switches off the heat pump and energizes the standard electric elements to heat the water. Air temperatures above 120°F in residential settings are uncommon and this is rarely expected to occur.

Support

Your Owner's Manual & Installation Instructions is a great source of information about installing, using, and maintaining your GE Profile™ GEOSPRING™ hybrid heat pump water heater water heater. You can even find troubleshooting tips and where to get service or additional support at the back of the manual.

Have a question about the GEOSPRING? Call us at 1-800-943-8186.