Post #1588855
2026-04-23 17:19 UTC
Replies (3)
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@ramenshaman@lemmy.world 2026-04-23 17:54
Theoretically you could use a heat pump to heat water that would generate “waste cold”, but heat pumps typically don’t get nearly hot enough to heat water as much as a gas water heater does. I suppose one could be made but it would be very difficult, I think. It would need to use the ambient air in your house and suck enough heat out of it to heat your water, and if your house is about 72°F / 22°C and you want water at 130°F / 54°C (which is pretty typical) that seems like a challenge, especially since water is so much denser and has a higher heat capacity. I have a portable A/C with a heat pump and it starts to struggle to heat my apartment once it gets down to 45-50F outside and it struggles to cool once it gets above 95F.
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@zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2026-04-23 17:54
A lot of newer water heaters use essentially an air conditioner type system to heat the water and blow cold/sool air away from it. Obviously only useful if you have your water heater in an area that can make use of said a/c, but I did and it was glorious.
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@homura1650@lemmy.world 2026-04-23 17:55
I can get you half way there with a heat pump water heater.