eas
New Member
Our old electric water heater seems ready to die, so I'm shopping for a replacement. I'll probably install it myself since right now I have a bit more time and a bit less money, though I'll probably also get a couple of quotes, because I'd be happy to pay a pro to do the job and haul off the old one if the price is right.
In any case, in my online research, I've discovered that with rebates and utility incentives I can get a GE Geospring or Rheem EcoSense hybrid heatpump/electric water heater for the same price or less than I'd pay for a straight-up electric replacement. It'll be a bit more work, because I have to put in a condensate pump and install some louvered vents in the wall of the large closet the existing water heater spends its days and nights, but I figure it will reduce the duty cycle of the basement humidifier and cut our electric costs.
I was a little concerned with the relative newness of the technology, but I figured, while these things are more complex than the average hot water heater, they aren't any more complex than a water heater + a refrigerator, and one can go a decade or more without having major problems with either of those.
Sounds like a no-brainer, right? It was, until I decided to read reviews of the GE Geospring. I get the sense that there have been some huge quality control problems, which may have spanned years. Or maybe, they've just sold really well, and the 1% of people with problems have posted about them. Either way, it rattled me.
I'd originally favored the GE because it is a couple hundred bucks cheaper, and would fit in place of the existing unit without having to revise the plumbing, but after reading the reviews, I broadened my search to the Rheem models covered by the rebate (HB50RH & HB50RS). Reviews seemed to be better, but there were fewer of them, and there were enough people with problems to raise my doubts.
So, what do you good people know about these products? Has GE brought quality up to a reasonable level? Are the Rheem options generally reliable, or do they have problems?
Thanks in advance for any perspective you can offer!
In any case, in my online research, I've discovered that with rebates and utility incentives I can get a GE Geospring or Rheem EcoSense hybrid heatpump/electric water heater for the same price or less than I'd pay for a straight-up electric replacement. It'll be a bit more work, because I have to put in a condensate pump and install some louvered vents in the wall of the large closet the existing water heater spends its days and nights, but I figure it will reduce the duty cycle of the basement humidifier and cut our electric costs.
I was a little concerned with the relative newness of the technology, but I figured, while these things are more complex than the average hot water heater, they aren't any more complex than a water heater + a refrigerator, and one can go a decade or more without having major problems with either of those.
Sounds like a no-brainer, right? It was, until I decided to read reviews of the GE Geospring. I get the sense that there have been some huge quality control problems, which may have spanned years. Or maybe, they've just sold really well, and the 1% of people with problems have posted about them. Either way, it rattled me.
I'd originally favored the GE because it is a couple hundred bucks cheaper, and would fit in place of the existing unit without having to revise the plumbing, but after reading the reviews, I broadened my search to the Rheem models covered by the rebate (HB50RH & HB50RS). Reviews seemed to be better, but there were fewer of them, and there were enough people with problems to raise my doubts.
So, what do you good people know about these products? Has GE brought quality up to a reasonable level? Are the Rheem options generally reliable, or do they have problems?
Thanks in advance for any perspective you can offer!