Heat naturally moves from warmer places to cooler places.  Heat pumps use electricity to move heat in the opposite direction, from cooler places to warmer places, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer.  Your refrigerator is a heat pump, moving heat from inside the refrigerated cabinet (cooler place) into your kitchen (warmer place).  An air conditioner is a heat pump, moving heat from inside your home (cooler place) to the outside summer air (warmer place).

A Heat Pump Water Heater collects heat from the ambient air, concentrates it via a compressor, and uses it to heat the water in the tank.  Although they can be placed in unheated spaces, such as a basement or garage, even in winter there is enough heat in the surrounding air for HPWHs to work in our climate.  Heat pumps require electricity to run, but can deliver more energy than they use.

Depending on what type of water heater you are replacing, you can receive a rebate from CMLP of $185 or $750 when you install a HPWH.  

Watch a 3-minute video of an area homeowner talking about his heat pump water heater.