RHEEM® INTRODUCES 120 VOLT PROTERRA® PLUG-IN
HEAT PUMP WATER HEATERS
New
Units with Innovative, Smart and Sustainable Design, Launch in California
ATLANTA (July 18, 2022) – Rheem®, a leading global
manufacturer of water heating and HVACR products, is launching two versions of
the 120-Volt ProTerra® Plug-in Heat Pump Water Heater. Providing advanced
solutions for California contractors and homeowners seeking a drop-in gas
replacement, the ProTerra Plug-in Heat Pump Dedicated
and Shared Circuit models boast high-efficiency performance, up to five times
of a standard gas water heater, without the need to upgrade the electrical
panel for 240V hardwired service.
With
sustainability at the forefront of these innovative designs, the ProTerra
Plug-ins’ industry-first 120V Heat Pump technology results in installations
with minimal to no electrical work. The 120V ProTerra Plug-in is available in two
versions, allowing users to explore the Dedicated Circuit or Shared Circuit
models. The Dedicated Circuit model offers the largest compressor in the
industry and delivers the fastest heat pump water heater (HPWH) recovery on the
market, performing similarly to a standard gas water heater. The Shared Circuit
design offers HydroBoost mixing valve that extends the hot water in the tank
for maximum output performance and requires no electrical work.
“The 120V ProTerra Plug-in models are a gamechanger for
California,” said Ankur Maheshwari, Director of Global Product Management and
Decarbonization Lead at Rheem. “Many cities throughout the state have gas bans
and efficiency requirements, which make HPWH the ideal option for new
construction and replacement. Rheem provides our California customers with a comprehensive
solution to meet both their sustainability goals and hot water performance needs.”
Market demands and ongoing
feedback from plumbing partners served as the catalysts for the latest
expansion of the ProTerra family of HPWH. With minimal clearance requirements and the
ability to fit in a standard tank footprint, the units were designed for quick
and easy retrofit installation, effortlessly fitting in tight spaces.
The ProTerra Plug-in models
utilize the Rheem EcoNet® app’s Wi-Fi controls, allowing for convenient
operation and monitoring. Capabilities include adjusting water temperature, scheduling
and tracking energy usage from a smart phone. The EcoNet app will also alert
users with updates on the unit’s system health, with the goal of keeping hot
water flowing in the home. The Shared Circuit model is demand response ready
with built-in EcoPort (CTA-2045 port) which easily connects to utility programs
for additional energy cost savings.
ProTerra Plug-in models are best suited for use
in most regions of California where average ambient temperatures remain above
37°
F throughout the year. Rheem provides an online selector tool to help
homeowners identify their ideal HPWH solution. Homeowners and plumbing contractors
in California can also benefit from incentive and rebate programs providing
additional cost savings.
The development of ProTerra
Plug-in HPWH technology began in 2019
with the roadmap to decarbonize California’s buildings, which included plans to
replace gas-burning appliances with electric versions (CA Title 20).
Previously, HPWHs needed 240V hardwired service.
Replacing a gas water heater with a 240V HPWH in older homes presents a challenge, as common
100-Amp electrical panels often have no capacity left to add high energy-draw
appliances like a 30-Amp water heater. The 120V plug-in solves the electrical challenges
of replacing a gas water heater.
Prior to its public release,
performance of the 120V ProTerra Plug-in was validated in a field study
facilitated by the Advanced Water Heating Initiative, a U.S. Department of Energy-affiliated
collaborative that aims to realize the carbon and energy savings of HPWH by
scaling adoption. In conjunction with public utilities like PG&E, SCE
and SMUD, the trial leveraged a Rheem ProTerra Plug-in Heat Pump with
HydroBoost and LeakGuard™ (a Shared Circuit model) as the first of 32 HPWHs that were installed in single family homes to prove
they sufficiently met demand. Overall results of the study will be released
following the completion of project’s remaining installs, but the
120V ProTerra Plug-in units installed to-date
have demonstrated they are an ideal, plug-and-play retrofit
solution that deliver on homeowners needs.
ProTerra Plug-in comes with a 10-year
limited tank and parts warranty. For more information, please visit www.rheem.com/ProTerra.
About Rheem
Founded in 1925, Rheem is America’s #1
water-heating brand with products available in more than 80 countries. Paloma
Co., Ltd.® of Nagoya, Japan, acquired the iconic Rheem brand in 1988. Today the
company’s portfolio of premium brands include Rheem®, Intergas,
Friedrich, Raypak®, Ruud®, Eemax®, Richmond®, Splendid®, Solahart® and EverHot™
as well as commercial refrigeration brands Russell®, Witt®, ColdZone® and
Kramer®, which are part of the Heat Transfer Products Group (HTPG®) division.