I am really considering one of these. Anyone have experience in a colder climate with one?
We currently have a indirect water heater (Phase III) off of an oil boiler.
But there are a couple issues with it, first the aquastat (temperature control) is a guessing game ~45 dollar part. Second, it is 27 years old. Third, in all that time I doubt it has ever been flushed (we're on well water so you can bet there is some sediment) and apparently the kit is ~$64 to drain this thing; I need to see if I can get a work around. Fourth, it should be plumbed to the boiler with 1 inch pipe, but is plumbed with 3/4 in pipe. Somewhere in all of that lies a problem, it is not putting out near its rated first hour or sustained hot water ratings; this is not normally a problem except when trying to use the giant (and I do mean giant) bathtub. Plus the boiler runs during the summer to provide hot water. Basically the cost and remaining life are unknown.
On the flip side the link posted for a 50 gallon GE heat pump, minus the 10% MMM code, minus the $300 federal tax credit, minus the state $500 rebate, means a 90 dollar water heater. There would be the associate costs of fittings and wiring to get it in (some I already have) and a mixing valve (allows hotter tank temperature to keep anything that might grow in well water down, plus extend the amount of temperature-safe "hot" water. The downside is my location and house mean that the unit would be placed in a unheated basement year-round (roughly 50 F in the winter and maybe 72 F on at the worst of summer) so not really getting as much free heat as other locations. Numbingly cold groundwater, especially in the winter. On the plus side it would either replace or reduce the necessity to run a dehumidifier during the summer months.