A. O. Smith Partners with Panasonic to Bring a CO2 Split HPWH to Market

A. O. Smith, one of the major US water heater makers, has released a new heat pump water heater called the Voltex X, built with Panasonic. Unlike most heat pump water heaters, where the compressor and tank sit together in one unit, this is a "split" system: the compressor sits outside the home and connects to an indoor tank through water lines. That design is aimed at homes that don't have room for a standard heat pump water heater, like apartments and mobile homes.

The Voltex X uses CO2 as its refrigerant, which lets it work in cold weather down to -25 degrees Fahrenheit and heat water quickly without needing a backup electric heating element (a feature that normally makes these units less efficient when it kicks in). It comes in five tank sizes, including a smaller "low-boy" option for tight spaces, and can supply one home or apartment per unit. Installers surveyed for the story put pricing around $4,000 to $4,500, which is more than a typical standard heat pump water heater ($1,600 to $3,500) but in line with other split systems.

If you're considering a heat pump water heater but don't have space for a standard tank-and-compressor unit, this adds another option to look into. Things to ask about if you go this route: how the outdoor water lines handle freezing weather, since that's still being tested, and the added electrical work, since the system needs both a 240-volt outdoor connection and a separate 120-volt line to the indoor tank.