Hello Everybody

I was thinking about having an open loop system installed at my place. I've been told that two heat pumps will be required for my square footage. The contractor told me that a connection can be made to my hot water heater and the electical usage for the (electric) water heater will be reduced by about 75%....does that sound about right? I did a search re this question on this forum but did not find anything...I probably just plain missed it. Anyway, I was trying to get the info on this just for more intel on the payback period.

On another note--I contacted my water softener folks and they said my water had one part per million iron....I don't know if that would be an issue with the heat pumps?  Thanks in advance for any info.

Sounds high, but you can search for "desuperheater".

A desuperheater can provide up to a significant percentage of your hot water heater, assuming many conditions.

The conditions are highly specific to the tonnage installed, the configuration of tanks, the loop temperatures, the run-times, your climate, etc.

A friend of mine with closed loop and preheat/buffer tank has seen significant reduction in hot water tank electric usage because his geo unit is providing at least 75% of his hot water. He's also in the deep south and runs cooling almost all the time.

I'm in a mixed heating/cooling zone, and my desuperheater has contributed very little (probably less than 5%) of my hot water production this summer.

It *can* be a very good option to install and hook up. Can you give us info about your climate, water usage, etc?

"I was thinking about having an open loop system installed at my place. I've been told that two heat pumps will be required for my square footage."

I'm disturbed by this statement. To answer your question, it depends but 75% is possible.

Now for my question: What is the manual J load on this house and what sized heat pumps are proposed?
j

Joe asks the much more important questions. Hot water assist is a side show.

That said, my desuperheater has provided all domestic hot water since June. I shut off the main heate. I'm in Florida where we average 15+ cooling degree days per day for months on end.

We may have lost you tightline, but my point was to look long and hard at someone sizing by square feet.
j

Hey Guys, thanks for your responses...I've been out of town in the sticks for a while. I did have another guy out here to give me a bid recently and received some different intel. I should be talking to them soon and I'll get the info you were inquiring about like the J load, and the pumps. As soon as I learn more I'll post.

As far as the water heater..I've heard different figures (for an average as all households are different) as far as heating water as a percentage of the electric bill....like anywhere from 15 to 50 percent. I don't know what mine is and my current water heater is a bit of a dinosaur, so just installing a more efficient heater in itself would make a big difference I'm sure.....but again, thanks for taking the time to respond.