See which water heater type costs least to run at your utility rates — with heat pump payback vs. a standard electric coil.
Your Household & Rates
Sets default gallons/day — override below anytime.
Advanced — temperatures, UEF & premium
Annual Operating Costs
Baseline daily BTUs: —
Standard electric coil—
Inverter heat pump—
Natural gas—
Propane—
Heat pump payback vs electric coil
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Enter valid rates to see payback.
Practical tips & common mistakes
Heat pump water heaters need air
HPWHs exhaust cool, dehumidified air — install in a space with at least ~1,000 cu ft or duct to outdoors for best COP.
Ignoring standby loss
Tank insulation and inlet temperature matter as much as fuel type. An old electric tank in a cold garage skews payback.
Right-size first
Oversized tanks cycle more and waste standby energy. Match gallons to household and peak back-to-back shower demand.
UEF vs EF
Uniform Energy Factor is the current label metric. Older EF ratings on vintage units are not directly comparable without conversion.
Note: UEF (Uniform Energy Factor) and utility rates vary by model and region. This is a planning estimate — not a substitute for equipment spec sheets or utility bills.