An idea for cooling the garage while charging

[Pwmac]

With Solar, I can understand. II also forgot to mention that ,my electrical panel is maxed out and cannot be upgraded without trenching my lawn to bring in another line from the street (I have 225 service, would need another line to go to 400). Going to the heat pump would replace one 4500 watt appliance with another; adding a mini split would add another large appliance which I can't do.

Do you know what size breaker a heat pump water heater uses?

 

[Steveinarizona]

Do you know what size breaker a heat pump water heater uses?

Based on the specs, it should use the same breaker as a regular hot water heater.

I got my bid back and it did not include any changes to the breakers and it was an "all in" bid.

I have it being installed next week. I will report back.

I saw a different post here from Adnillien where he said that his garage here was in the 89-91 range while he was gone. My garage tends to stay around 90. I will see how it changes, if all all, once I am using the heat pump hot water heater.

 

[Steveinarizona]

Mine too but the AC condensor line is not far away so I am thinking that in my case the installer might be able to tap into that.

I thought I was being smart changing the hot water heater before it started leaking. So my appointment was for next week. Apparently I was not as smart as I thought. On Wednesday it started to leak. Accelerated my appointment for the heat pump hot water heater to Thursday. Used the same company that did my water treatment equipment.

They did need to make a hole in the wall for the drain but they did a good job so the hole was just big enough for the drain line. They couldn't tap into the condensate line from the AC because it is a hot line and they had to use copper pipes.

I don't think it is going to change the temperature in the room much but every little bit might help. I had it in hybrid mode when they first turned it on to make the water hot as fast as possible (in hybrid mode it uses both the heat pump and the two anodes) but then I switched it to heat pump only. I am going to try to see if that is adequate. That would be both an energy saving and a fiscal saving.

They did do a nice job (American Home water and Air). BTW...AHWA told me that they only did the 50 gallon when I inquired about the 65 gallon model. Not sure why. If you go there, ask for Fidel; Fidel is their heat pump guy.

 

[Electrified]

I am thinking that my hot water heater is about ready for a replacement. I remembered seeing an episode of This Old House where they installed a heat pump water heater/ As a heat pump, of course, it draws heat out of the room to heat the water so it will function as a quasi AC system.

What do you all think? Time to replace a standard water heater with a heat pump version?

Install a vent on an exterior wall that you can open and close, then install an exaust fan with a louver on an opposite wall if possible. It's a simple and inexpensive solution to evacuate stale heated air and replace it with fresh outside air. I'm assuming that even in Arizona the outside ambient air is going to be cooler than any vehicle that is cooking off heat from being driven.

 

[Electrified]

Do you know what size breaker a heat pump water heater uses?

It all depends on the capacity of the unit.

 

[hydbob]

Install a vent on an exterior wall that you can open and close, then install an exaust fan with a louver on an opposite wall if possible. It's a simple and inexpensive solution to evacuate stale heated air and replace it with fresh outside air. I'm assuming that even in Arizona the outside ambient air is going to be cooler than any vehicle that is cooking off heat from being driven.

Genuine question, how much heat do EVs expel after driving?

 

[Steveinarizona]

Install a vent on an exterior wall that you can open and close, then install an exaust fan with a louver on an opposite wall if possible. It's a simple and inexpensive solution to evacuate stale heated air and replace it with fresh outside air. I'm assuming that even in Arizona the outside ambient air is going to be cooler than any vehicle that is cooking off heat from being driven.

Actually...no. Outside the temp in the summer often reaches 110 F and the garage temp hovers around 91.

 

[Electrified]

I have a huge glass arch window facing SW and garage facing W. My wife took out the tree in front of that window. I have ordered a shutter to block that window then insulate garage door. My last resort would be air hawk or exhaust vent. I have a non accessible attic above that garage.

An exhaust vent is a great solution, you need to evacuate the heat. As far as your garage attic goes it could always become accesible, or the installer can install a flexible duct between the roof and ceiling penetrations.
Just remember exhaust fans works best when they can pull air from a source that is external to the room being evacuated, and if you really want to cool off a garage you can pull air from an air conditioned room and of course we know that's not an efficient use of energy.

Keep it simple folks

 

[Electrified]

Genuine question, how much heat do EVs expel after driving?

That depends on several factors, what's the ambient temp outside, is it cloudy out or has the sun been cooking the external surfaces of the car, what was the distance and speeds travelled, etc?

 

[Electrified]

Actually...no. Outside the temp in the summer often reaches 110 F and the garage temp hovers around 91.

What does your garage temp rise to after parking the car?

 

[EVCar]

They did do a nice job (American Home water and Air). BTW...AHWA told me that they only did the 50 gallon when I inquired about the 65 gallon model. Not sure why. If you go there, ask for Fidel; Fidel is their heat pump guy.

Thanks, Steve, for the info. I appreciate it.
Will check with Fidel.

 

[EVCar]

What does your garage temp rise to after parking the car?

In mine, it can be in the low 100 in the summer.

 

[Electrified]

In mine, it can be in the low 100 in the summer.

Next time you park the car after your typical commute measure the temp near the ceiling and floor after the car has sat for 20 minutes.

 

[EVCar]

Genuine question, how much heat do EVs expel after driving?

For Az, I think a lot of heat can emanate from the car into the garage.
Here's my simplistic reasoning: the car that has been driven would have, at minimum, the same temperature with the outside environment, which in our case is in the 90 or 100. Now the car is inside the garage, filling up 25% of the space of a 2-car garage, or 16% for a 3-car garage. This ought to heat up the garage appreciably.
Reverse analogy: a glass of water with 25% ice cubes would be a lot colder than without the ice.
If this is a flawed logic, I'm happy to say mea culpa.

 

[Electrified]

For Az, I think a lot of heat can emanate from the car into the garage.
Here's my simplistic reasoning: the car that has been driven would have, at minimum, the same temperature with the outside environment, which in our case is in the 90 or 100. Now the car is inside the garage, filling up 25% of the space of a 2-car garage, or 16% for a 3-car garage. This ought to heat up the garage appreciably.
Reverse analogy: a glass of water with 25% ice cubes would be a lot colder than without the ice.
If this is a flawed logic, I'm happy to say mea culpa.

Not only is the car releasing heat from the body surfaces, it's also releasing heat from the electric motors, the tires, batteries, braking system, and the cooling radiators.

It's not often that I park any of my ICE cars in the garage attached to the house, but when I do it raises the temp of the garage where it's almost stifling. While the Lucid will be parked outside in the carport year round I will pull into the garage after my evening commute and measure temp before and 20 minutes after pulling the car in, the only thing I won't be able to do is see the temp rise from battery charging as the charger will be about 70' away in the carport.

 

[EVCar]

Not only is the car releasing heat from the body surfaces, it's also releasing heat from the electric motors, the tires, batteries, braking system, and the cooling radiators.

It's not often that I park any of my ICE cars in the garage attached to the house, but when I do it raises the temp of the garage where it's almost stifling. While the Lucid will be parked outside in the carport year round I will pull into the garage after my evening commute and measure temp before and 20 minutes after pulling the car in, the only thing I won't be able to do is see the temp rise from battery charging as the charger will be about 70' away in the carport.

I haven’t measured either but the garage does feel hotter while charging. The charging cable certainly is warm to touch.

 

[Steveinarizona]

What does your garage temp rise to after parking the car?

It is hard to say because the temperature in Scottsdale has been pretty variable lately. When my BMW PHEV (530e) is charging, it throws out a lot of heat (from the AC cooling the batteries) but a full charge on that car only takes 2 hours.

I think the reason it is not impacting very much on the garage temperature is that it doesn't have to run that often to keep the water hot.

 

[Steveinarizona]

Thanks, Steve, for the info. I appreciate it.
Will check with Fidel.

A few thoughts for you.

(1) I don't think it is providing much cooling in the garage. Perhaps a tad but not a lot.
(2) It has both a heat pump only setting and a hybrid setting (both heat pump and electricity). My kids are gone and we have very efficient washing machines and dishwashers so I have turned it on to heat pump only which is the most efficient...by far. So far it has been entirely adequate. It definitely takes longer to reheat the water in the tank than if I had been using electricity. My old tank was set to 120; I set this one to 125 which is the upper end of residential recommendations but that should help me because I will use a bit less hot water since I will be using some cold water to get to the right use temperature.
(3) As I said above, I was thinking about upgrading to a 65 gallon tank. The same company makes one but American Home and Air told me that they only did the 50 so that is what I installed.
(4) If your use profile is similar to mine, I think it is a great deal even with little cooling as (a) I will save enough on electricity that within a few years it will have more than paid for the incremental cost) and (b) it is better for the environment. But if you are a relatively heavy user of hot water, so you need to run it in hybrid mode, then it is much less of a great deal.

 

[EVCar]

A few thoughts for you.

(1) I don't think it is providing much cooling in the garage. Perhaps a tad but not a lot.
(2) It has both a heat pump only setting and a hybrid setting (both heat pump and electricity). My kids are gone and we have very efficient washing machines and dishwashers so I have turned it on to heat pump only which is the most efficient...by far. So far it has been entirely adequate. It definitely takes longer to reheat the water in the tank than if I had been using electricity. My old tank was set to 120; I set this one to 125 which is the upper end of residential recommendations but that should help me because I will use a bit less hot water since I will be using some cold water to get to the right use temperature.
(3) As I said above, I was thinking about upgrading to a 65 gallon tank. The same company makes one but American Home and Air told me that they only did the 50 so that is what I installed.
(4) If your use profile is similar to mine, I think it is a great deal even with little cooling as (a) I will save enough on electricity that within a few years it will have more than paid for the incremental cost) and (b) it is better for the environment. But if you are a relatively heavy user of hot water, so you need to run it in hybrid mode, then it is much less of a great deal.

Was just thinking of asking you for feedback.
We’re definitely heavy users. 50 gallons wouldn’t cut it. Will have to ask Fidel why they’re not doing that size.
Also wondering about other brands, too.
Overall, you’re happy with their service?

 

[Steveinarizona]

Too early to judge service other than installation. Installation was excellent. Nice, neat clean work. Wasn't just a replacment in place. Had to move it outside a closet fifteen and that mean running the piping and electrical about fifteen feet through a wall. They also had to disconnect and remove water softening equipment to get the old one out and to do the work moving the heater to outside the closet.

If American Heating and Air can't do the larger model (there are actually two larger models), there are plenty of other manufacturers and installers. Just make sure you get a company that has done it at least a few times before.