Rheem introduces 120V ProTerra heat pump water heaters
USA – Rheem has expanded its ProTerra heat pump water heater range with 120V plug-in models designed to make it easier to replace gas-fired storage water heaters without installing a 240V electrical supply.
The ProTerra Plug-in range uses a standard 120V connection and is available in dedicated- and shared-circuit configurations. Rheem says the approach can reduce the electrical work normally associated with converting a home from gas-fired to heat pump water heating, while retaining a conventional tank footprint.
Reducing barriers to gas replacement
A key focus of the 120V range is retrofit applications. The units are supplied with a factory-installed power cord and are intended to plug directly into a standard outlet, avoiding the need to install a new 240V circuit in suitable applications.
Rheem describes the technology as particularly suited to replacing conventional gas storage water heaters, with side water connections and relatively limited clearance requirements intended to simplify installation.
The dedicated-circuit model uses a 120V, 15A supply, while shared-circuit models incorporate Rheem’s HydroBoost mixing-valve technology to increase usable hot-water output. Shared-circuit versions are available in nominal capacities from 40 to 80 US gallons.
Heat pump efficiency
Rheem says the ProTerra Plug-in can deliver up to five times the efficiency of a conventional gas water heater. Current product specifications list Uniform Energy Factors of up to 3.0 for the dedicated-circuit model and up to 3.46 for shared-circuit ProTerra models.
The units extract heat from the surrounding air to heat stored water and are designed to operate across an ambient temperature range of 37°F to 145°F (approximately 3°C to 63°C).
Smart controls and demand response
ProTerra Plug-in models also incorporate Rheem’s EcoNet Wi-Fi platform, allowing users to adjust temperatures, monitor energy consumption and manage holiday settings through a smartphone application. Selected shared-circuit models include a built-in EcoPort using the CTA-2045 standard, enabling connection to participating utility demand-response programmes.
The technology reflects a wider effort by US water-heater manufacturers to make heat pump systems easier to retrofit into homes previously served by gas, where electrical upgrades can otherwise add cost and complexity to an installation.
