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When it comes to heating water efficiently for process, HVAC or domestic usage there are no doubt plenty of options out there to consider, and each has their benefits. In the past ten years, the market has exploded with nearly every manufacturer introducing high-efficiency boilers and water heaters. So for consumers, we already have the benefit of plenty of options, each with their own set of unique benefits.
A.O. Smith, one of the world's leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment, has recently introduced yet another option. According to the company’s website, their best selection of high efficiency water heaters currently includes their VoltexTM Hybrid Electric, EffexTM High Efficiency Gas, NEXT HybridTM Gas and CirrexTM Solar water heaters. For an overview, product video and general product information, you can compare all of these options side by side at http://www.hotwater.com/newproducts/index.html.
The VoltexTM, EffexTM and CirrexTM models are all ENERGY STAR rated as well and each could warrant their own article, but for now we’ll focus on the NEXT HybridTM Gas water heater. A.O. Smith touts NEXT as ‘the new milestone in water heating—built for the way people ACTUALLY live and use hot water’ by combining the best features of tankless and traditional water heating technologies by decreasing the standby losses associated with traditional tank-type water heaters (300 Btu/h compared to 700 Btu/h for a 50 gallon storage type gas water heater) and eliminating something called ‘cold water sandwiches’. These sandwiches they speak of are sudden interruptions in the hot water stream or ‘bursts of cold water’ occasionally delivered by instantaneous water heaters after there have been intermittent uses.
Plus, like almost any other energy-efficient product purchase nowadays, it’s eligible for up to a $1,500 federal tax credit, even though it isn’t ENERGY STAR rated (yet). The NEXT operates at up to 90% thermal efficiency, a measure of the completeness of fuel combustion, otherwise phrased as the ratio of energy out over energy in. A.O. Smith compares this to standard 78% efficient conventional or 84% tankless gas water heaters in terms of overall performance improvement.
From the website, ‘The NEXT Hybrid water heater features a patented heat transfer process that utilizes a secondary heat exchanger to capture the heated flue gas from the tankless unit and route it back through a buffer tank to extract additional heat. The combined effort of the two technologies creates a superior, more energy-efficient performance’.
I can’t phrase an explanation of the actual technology behind the NEXT better than A.O. Smith’s marketing materials, but in paraphrase NEXT utilizes hot flue gasses (a byproduct of combustion) that would otherwise be venting waste heat to preheat water stored locally within the heater, making the overall effect a gas instantaneous heater with added heat exchanger and buffer tank.
NEXT has a smaller footprint than a standard 50 gallon gas water heater, but at 189 gallons of hot water delivery for the first hour, provides nearly double the performance. The internal storage allows this model to quickly and efficiently meet and maintain peak demand like clothes washing, showers, etc simultaneously with a properly sized and engineered system.
NEXT also comes with an interactive control panel with pre-programmed modes and simplified troubleshooting, making operation simple for the average residential consumer. Pricing looks to be about $1,999, which is more (1.5 to 2 times more than a similarly sized instantaneous unit) but installation costs can be realized through implementation of smaller gas line sizes and inexpensive venting materials associated with low-temperature flue gasses.
Decreased installation cost and additional energy savings, coupled with the tax credit make this system a viable option when considering replacing your home water heater and are looking for energy-saving options.
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A year of trouble
Mon, 12/12/2011 - 20:35 — AnonymousThis water heater is definitely not ready for prime time. I've had it about a year now. It has never worked for more than a week at a time. We had to put a prefilter on it and we still have to go in and blow out the internal screen weekly. E35, E37 errors are frequent. Now we are getting two E35s a day. Our plumber is frustrated. AO Smith does not want to replace the board--but I don't know if it would help anyway. Everyone is out of ideas. Steer clear. Unless AO Smith can come up with some effective mods this should be consigned to the scrap heap.
Cold Water Sandwhiches
Thu, 11/03/2011 - 01:16 — AnonymousKinda like the sales ad that those Amish built edenpure companies use to describe their heat. It's a gentle warmth from floor to ceiling. Yeah right. Simple 6th grade science taught me that HEAT always RISES. There is no even comfy heat from floor to ceiling unless you put in floor radiant heating. $400 dollars for a 1500 watt heater. A hair dryer puts out 1500 watts. So do a few light bulbs. All for a lot less than $400.00 This hybrid technology reminds me of my sister that bought those really expensive $1000 a piece washer and dryers that used less water and blah blah. A couple of $400 circuit boards later, she went back to El-Cheapo dials and knobs and throw the bastards away when they quit working. Some people will never learn. Don't be so green that you are fucking retarded. Learn a few things and research. There is NO free lunch. Energy can't be created or destroyed, it can only be harnessed and used to fuck you out of every last penny you own.
Hybrid vs Conventional
Thu, 11/03/2011 - 00:58 — AnonymousThey state conventional is 78% efficient. This hybrid is 90% efficient. Conventional is about $300 dollars. or maybe $400.00 This Hybrid is $2,000 -$3000.00 Both last an average of about 10 years. Conventional uses no electronics to go bad. Very simple. Just plug in the gas line and light a fuse. Hybrid has filters and electronic controls and all sorts of bullshit to go wrong. for 12% more efficiency. YOU ARE A FUCKING DIPSHIT STUPID FOOL TO BUY HYBRID! LOL! ROFLMAO! Obama the fucking asshole himself couldn't give me one of these if I got to see some one bith slap Bernake to take delivery. This is a way for the government to take your money and give it to the fuel companies. Hell, they already did it with their banker friends. More electronic crap to malfuntion when you least expect it fo pennies a year savings. DON"T BE A FOOL! You will NEVER ever recap your money. Tankless is the same deal. WAY to high priced for what they are. Smoke and mirrors. Welcome to the new GREEN america. LOLOLOLOLL! Bend over rover.
Hybrid
Wed, 01/25/2012 - 22:46 — AnonymousWow so much hate for a water heater. Now I understand why the US is becoming a third world country with a First world Military.
The Military continues to advance, with sophisticated electronic systems and is the most feared and powerful army in the world. However some of its citizens are morons who want to live in the fifties using old antiquated technology with little to no understanding of what needs to be done to regain your previous position in the manufacturing world.
Also read a book as you also have very little understanding of economics or history.
your review
Thu, 12/15/2011 - 15:51 — AnonymousDid you fall off the first step of the evolutionary and hurt yourself,you moron?
angry?
Sun, 11/27/2011 - 11:55 — AnonymousYou seem somewhat angry. Too much fiber in your diet?
Regarding "This is a way for the government to take your money and give it to the fuel companies." It would seem the whole idea is the opposite...to use less energy and NOT give it to the fuel companies. Oh, and a correction, the banker friends are not Obama's, they are the friends of 'W' Bush who got us into this mess. Libertarians, see what no regulation will get us. Big business taking risks, getting a big BONUS and handing US the bill. Enjoy.
ps Clean up the language if you truly want to communicate. (i.e. grow up?)
hey
Tue, 07/26/2011 - 22:58 — AnonymousHi! I was so fascinated to learn all these. This is great stuff. Thanks for sharing mate.
Hybrid
Thu, 04/28/2011 - 08:47 — AnonymousIts like all this energy saving equipment if the Government must offer tax breaks its not as good as the free market driving a product. Believe me when a product delivers the shelves want hold it. i still preferr a standard tank with gravity flow hot water delivery it's proven to save energy and water.
Richard
Initial problems, but working OK Now
Tue, 03/01/2011 - 15:31 — AnonymousMy HYB-90N was installed in early January. There were initial problems with the circuit board, maybe due to the electrical circuit it was plugged into. I don't know -- I'm not sure it was ever actually figured out. My contractor and plumber worked with the help desk at AO Smith and local service rep, and got the board replaced (twice) in a fairly timely fashion. I have no doubt everyone was working on it diligently, but the second board had to be shipped from the manufacturer in Canada. I was without hot water for several days. The unit has been up and running now for about six weeks, and I'm more or less happy with it so far. I haven't had to clean the filter yet, like Anonymous from Vancouver has to do every week or so.
Disappointment: the "small storage tank" is a whopping 25 gallons. It's like a conventional gas water heater with a tankless-style heat engine strapped to the side. I would have preferred a smaller tank, but at the time I made the purchase, I couldn't find documentation as to the size of the tank.
Concerns:
-- My unit is installed in the attic. I'm waiting to see how all that fancy electronic gadgetry responds to the summer heat and humidity.
-- No "Energy Factor" has been published for this unit because, according to the manufacturer, "no method for calculating an Energy Factor has been developed for this new hybrid technology".
-- It's not qualified for Energy Star rating because of its large storage tank and high input BTUs. I have filed for a "Efficient Equipment" rebate from my local gas company anyway. I'm waiting to see whether the HYB-90N qualifies.
My goal in purchasing the unit was to be supportive of energy-efficient new technology. There are other choices that could have accomplished this goal, and would probably have been a better choice for my small home and low hot-water requirements.
Followup to my previous comments
Sat, 05/14/2011 - 19:47 — AnonymousMy HYB-90N has been installed and working for about four months. It did actually qualify for a rebate from my local gas company, even without a published Energy Factor. Turns out, the unit is listed as a commercial water heater, not residential! AO Smith provided me with the information I needed to file the rebate application and it was accepted. Hooray!
One more thing, though, to add to my list of concerns: The thing is LOUD!! I have a small, 1950's, ranch-style house. The water heater is in the attic about 10 feet away from the area above the kitchen. When I use the hot water in the sink, I hear a distinct roar when the water heater kicks in. At first, I thought "Huh. A helicopter flying over. Or maybe the neighbor is working on his motorcycle again, or mowing the lawn?" Then I realized it happened every time I ran hot water in the sink. And every time someone took a hot shower. Hmm. So next time it happened, I poked my head into the attic, and sure enough: There was the water heater roaring away up there. It doesn't bother me much, but I know the noise level would bother other people.
All in all, I doubt I would buy this unit again. But like I said before, I'm always happy to support new technology and help the industry figure out what will and won't work for us, the consumer.
Ao Next Hybrid in Vancouver, Wa
Mon, 01/03/2011 - 02:26 — AnonymousBe prepared for problems with this hot water heater we have had 2 mths and about every 1.5 weeks we have to turn the water off, Open the front door to it, remove the water filter and Blow it out. You just remove it and blow thru it and reinsert it, its connected on the left side of the unit after you open the door and reach around behind the stainless steal hose.. It errors out with a E35 code,(No water flow) but trust me its got 80 psi of water to it.... Its like when you remove the filter it fools it to thinking its fixed... Buyer Beware! MAKE SURE U have access and be prepared for Issues!!!!!
estimated time frame
Thu, 12/30/2010 - 11:18 — AnonymousNeed a gas hot water heater. When can we expect this one to be on the market?
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