Buying an HPWH: Choosing Among AO Smith & Other Companies

Has the time come for you to replace your old water heater? If the answer is yes, then you most definitely won’t want to, well, get the same device as the one you have been using for years. After all, these appliances are certainly upgrading, and while you may have been happy with the performance of the one you have been using, you want an upgrade as well. You want to upgrade to something better, as well as more energy efficient.

So, you are most probably considering a heat pump water heater. And that is, without a doubt, a good idea. If you take a look at the AO Smith Heat Pump Water Heater, for example, you will understand that these devices can cut your water heating energy use by up to 70% compared to those conventional electrical models. This is because they work by moving heat from the surrounding air into the water, instead of generating heat directly.

Sure, these may be a bit more expensive initially than those traditional models, but the savings that they bring to the table are sure to offset those costs. And then, of course, there is the fact that you may be able to get some incentives and rebates that could reduce those initial costs, thus making the entire purchase more affordable. Not to mention that finding the right company to provide you with these devices can also have a positive effect on the prices, as well as, of course, on the durability and the performance of the appliance.

Well, that’s just the thing, though. You are here because you are not entirely sure about how to choose the right company. Perhaps you have come across AO Smith and similar ones, and you now may not really know how to choose among them. That is a completely legitimate concern, so what we are going to do right now is talk a bit more about how you can make this choice. That is, about the things to consider in order to make a smart one. 

Check the Sizes and Capacities

I suppose you already understand the importance of choosing the right size and the right capacity HPWH for your household. And those will depend on your general needs and your hot water usage. So, once you have understood what size and capacity you need, what you have to do next is, well, check the tank sizes and capacities offered at different companies. This will help you eliminate any unsuitable ones from the list.

Read more about HPWHs in general: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/heat-pump-water-heater 

Check the Operating Modes and Control Options

Moving on, you should also understand that many modern devices will offer multiple operating models, such as heat pump only, vacation modes, hybrid, electric boost and similar. These flexible options allow you to balance energy efficiency and the performance of the appliance based on your demand. So, check if AO Smith or other companies are offering this option, in case you believe it could be useful to you.

Check the Energy Efficiency Rating

Unsurprisingly, you will need to check the energy efficiency rating as well. Heat pump water heaters are energy efficient, as we have explained above, but they don’t all have the same energy efficiency ratings. So, a higher rating usually means lower operating costs, which is why you should check these before deciding on any model, and before choosing where to buy your new device.

Think About Installation and Support Services

Another thing to know is that great companies will also offer installation and support services, as well as warranties on their work. This protects you financially, as well as helps ensure that you have someone to call in case something goes wrong with the device. So, when checking out AO Smith or similar companies, you should undeniably take your time to inspect whether they are offering these installation and support services, so that you can make a smart decision in the end. Read more about the benefits of heat pump systems, in case you’re not sure about those.

Check Reputation

Of course, you shouldn’t make any kinds of buying decisions before you also check the reputation of the specific companies you are considering. So, if thinking of shopping from AO Smith, for example, or any other firm for that matter, remember to take some time to read a few reviews that have been written by their previous clients, aiming at ultimately choosing a company that is known to be reliable and trustworthy. Reading those reviews will help you check the reputation, as well as the quality of their HPWHs.

Compare the Prices

One final thing to do. Compare the actual prices offered by AO Smith and different companies. Those are sure to differ from one to the other. And your task is to, well, carefully compare the prices, while keeping in mind that you should never choose based on them alone, and that the quality should always be your top priority.