Ashland City, Tenn. – Leading water
heater manufacturer A. O. Smith is upgrading its line of Voltex® Hybrid
Electric Heat Pump water heaters for use in all climates, including colder
climates and adding a duct kit accessory that enables installation even in
limited-space applications.
Already
significantly more efficient than a standard electric water heater, A. O. Smith
engineers refreshed the Voltex line to improve performance specifically for
homes that routinely deal with cold weather. The manufacturer has created a
duct kit attachment compatible with all Voltex models, including 50-, 66- and
80-gallon capacities, which will allow users greater versatility in
installation.
These
improvements have qualified the Voltex for the highest level of the Advanced Water Heater
Specification, developed by an alliance of Northwest utilities, energy
efficiency organizations and market partners to advance higher performing heat
pump water heaters. It’s the only “out-of-the-box” water heater currently on
the market that meets this efficiency specification.
The updated
engineering in the Voltex family ensures excellent performance even when the
units are processing cooler air and winter groundwater, according to David
Chisolm, vice president of marketing for A. O. Smith.
“The new
Voltex Hybrid Electric Heat Pump is a substantial leap forward in technology,
reducing water heating costs by as much as 71 percent for some homeowners,”
Chisolm said. “Contractors can now confidently recommend a Voltex water heater
to customers anywhere from southern California to northern Maine, and that can
add up to $437 worth of savings annually compared with standard electric units
for their customers.”
The northern
climate engineering and duct kit accessory will enable installers to recommend
the super energy-efficient Voltex in more residential applications with fewer
limitations tied to space and local temperatures, according to Chisolm.
“We’re
constantly working to improve our products in both performance and energy
efficiency,” Chisolm said. “We’re thrilled to work with Northwest utilities
look forward to providing this technology to an entirely new group of
homeowners.”
The Voltex
delivers efficiency and performance by heating water with ambient heat captured
from the surrounding air. For maximum performance, the manufacturer previously
recommended installation in spaces with at least 700 cubic feet.
The new duct
kit accessory, which connects seamlessly to Voltex models, eliminates the space
requirements by allowing contractors to pipe air in and exhaust air out of
adjacent rooms.
Though the
models maintain the same profile, contractors will notice some style changes
that make installation easier, including better plastic doors and a redesigned
junction box.
The new
Voltex models are the quietest heat pump water heaters on the market, operating
at just 51decibles. All Voltex models feature four operating modes that
maximize efficiency by matching heating requirements to environmental
conditions, including a vacation mode programmable up to 99 days.
The 2015
updates to the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA) mandated that
heat pump technology be used for residential electric water heaters larger than
55 gallons. The Voltex family meets and exceeds minimums set by these
requirements and serves as a natural replacement option for 66- and 80-gallon
standard electric water heaters.
The ENERGY
STAR®-qualified Voltex Hybrid Electric Heat Pump will qualify for the existing
federal energy efficiency tax rebate and most state and local utility rebates.
Contractors can find rebate information at Hotwater.com.
For more
information about A. O. Smith and the Voltex family of hybrid electric heat
pump water heaters, visit www.hotwater.com.