Navien Brings A New Warmth Pump Water Heater To Market With A Stainless Metal Tank

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Navien, a 50 12 months previous firm that leads the market in tankless gasoline water heaters and boilers, is making a giant splash (pun supposed) with its first warmth pump water heater (HPWH), which got here to market this fall. This HPWH (known as the NWP 500) is a deviation for the corporate as a result of it’s one of many few merchandise it produces that has a tank and is absolutely electrical. But, Navien has transferred a number of the distinctive options it consists of in its tankless gasoline water heaters to this new warmth pump, together with a chrome steel tank and a recirculation pump that they manufacture themselves.

Navien’s entrance into the HPWH market can be thrilling information as a result of now over 12 producers are promoting HPWHs within the US, up from lower than a handful a pair years in the past, displaying simply how essential HPWHs have gotten to the water heating trade.

Why Navien made a warmth pump

Right here on the Superior Water Heating Initiative and CleanTechnica, we attempt to carry you interviews and articles on the newest developments in HPWH know-how the identical means we frequently learn in regards to the newest electrical autos. We provide all HPWH producers this chance to get their new and thrilling gear reviewed and profiled by us (at no cost), and, spoiler alert, we’re fairly huge followers of all of this tech.

However we’re particularly when an organization like Navien, which has specialised in tankless gasoline water heaters for many years, involves the market with a warmth pump water heater. Navien is a South Korean firm with a robust give attention to sustainable merchandise. It first introduced its extra-efficient condensing gasoline water heaters and boilers to the North American continent in 2008 and has elevated its market share considerably over the previous 20 years. It now claims the most important market share of any firm for gasoline tankless water heaters.

However Navien has additionally been watching the market transfer away from gasoline and in the direction of decrease carbon and electrical options, with HPWHs turning into the quickest rising market phase. So the corporate determined to increase its choices and, for the primary time, started constructing a water heater with a tank and warmth pump. This was an admittedly “enormous shift” for Navien. However, slightly than put their branding on one other producer’s product (a sound technique for coming to market that others within the trade have chosen to do), Navien determined to make the leap and design and construct their very own warmth pump water heater.

This course of took a number of years and meant that Navien is now coming into a really crowded subject. However, by ready, Navien allowed the HPWH market to mature and likewise acquired suggestions from installers on methods to enhance its warmth pump water heater. It’s now bringing a glossy, black HPWH to market that has gotten robust critiques from a few contractors I’ve talked to who’ve put in them. Listed here are a few the revolutionary options of the Navien warmth pump water heater from our current interview with the corporate.

Chrome steel tank

The primary function to speak about, the one which units Navien aside most from its opponents, is the inclusion of a chrome steel water tank. Most different water heaters have a metal tank, with sacrificial metallic rods (known as anode rods) that appeal to the corrosive components in water and slowly disintegrate so the tank doesn’t. A stainless-steel tank avoids this tank corrosion and anode rod alternative and needs to be extra sturdy.

Why aren’t different water heater producers utilizing chrome steel tanks? Value might be the first motive. Navien thinks that, because of its a long time of expertise working with chrome steel together with the massive quantity it really works with, it will get ok pricing to maintain this premium function price aggressive.

Navien constructed recirculation pumps (coming quickly)

Many properties have recirculation pumps that continually flow into scorching water by way of the pipes in order that when somebody opens the faucet, they’ve scorching water instantly. Whereas these kind of recirculation pumps save water (you don’t need to let a whole lot of water go down the drain whilst you’re ready for it to get scorching), they waste a whole lot of vitality and don’t work nicely with warmth pump water heaters (take a look at a session we did on this matter lately for why). On-demand recirculation pumps, the place the consumer pushes a button, do work nicely with warmth pump water heaters, nonetheless. Navien is the primary producer to introduce its personal recirculation pump that may absolutely combine with the HPWH. This recirc pump will monitor the tank temperature to work additional effectively and successfully in accordance with the corporate. It should even have a timer function in addition to a capability to make use of a push button when somebody walks into the room. Having an built-in recirc pump is nice information for the trade as a result of it’ll make it simpler for properties who need recirculation to put in a HPWH and have it work effectively.

Off-the-Shelf Ducting

Navien can be making its new HPWH simpler to duct. Most HPWHs don’t must be ducted — when you’ve got them in a basement or storage, you’ll be able to simply pull the nice and cozy air from the encircling house and exhaust the cool air into it. However ducting gives householders like me, who’ve a HPWH in a utility closet, the choice to put in a warmth pump and take away the chilly air it produces. Most producers permit their warmth pump water heater to be ducted, however Navien is likely one of the first to design their HPWH to make use of off-the-shelf ducting supplies slightly than a proprietary package. Because of this throughout an emergency alternative, when an installer realizes they could must duct a HPWH, they’ll in all probability have all of the supplies on their truck or be capable of run out and get them shortly. This permits simpler HPWH installs, which is at all times good.

Different cool options

Navien’s new HPWH consists of different cool options too. The corporate centered on lowering sound coming from its HPWH, specializing in the compressor, mounting brackets, and fan. It designed a easy management panel that walks installers by way of setup in a straightforward and easy means. The management display screen additionally adjustments colour when the warmth pump is operating and exhibits how a lot scorching water the tank has, which I believe is cool. Lastly, the water heater can retailer water to 150 levels, which is the second highest temp I’ve seen on a HPWH (behind GE’s 160 diploma HPWH) and means customers can retailer water hotter and get extra of it (with correct scald safety or a mixing valve in fact).

What contractors are saying

This product could be very new, however anecdotal suggestions I’ve heard from installers placing these in could be very optimistic. They are saying the highest options for them of this product are the chrome steel tank, the plug and play recirculation pump, and the truth that the Navien could be very accessible, so it may be repaired. The one downside they’ve talked about to this point is the truth that the models are a little bit bigger than different producers’, which might make them more durable to put in in tight areas.

Navien is focusing closely on contractor coaching for its product rollout. It claims to be constructing on its expertise with tankless water heaters the place it was initially arduous to get installers to embrace that know-how till it centered on coaching and installer assist (which features a assist line that runs 7 days every week).

Go-to-market plan

The Navien HPWH is already delivery and out there to contractors throughout North America. Navien doesn’t promote to customers, so that you’d solely be capable of get one by way of a contractor that installs them. Navien is excited by bringing its HPWH to each the robust HPWH markets (the West Coast and Northeast) together with areas just like the Southeast which have the right local weather (heat) and water heater inventory (electrical resistance) for HPWHs.

All in all, the Navien HPWH is an thrilling new entrant to the warmth pump water heater market. Coming from an organization that solely focuses on gasoline tankless water heaters, it’s an indication of the market shift to warmth pumps and gives a brand new product with revolutionary design and manufacturing for customers to select from.

Try our deep dive interview with Navien and different critiques of HPWHs right here!