Member Reviews: GE Hybrid Water Heater

Positive Reviews

trevorc45102

Installed a GE Hybrid

Posted
By trevorc45102

Pros: Works and US made

Cons: Will cool the basement more

Our existing water heater was down to one element (broken one at bottom was rusted into place) after 14 years of service. Read about the new GE Hybrid technology on 11/17 (never knew that it was even in the works until now) and being in the Cincinnati area; was in a limited availability area and able to get this installed today 11/20. It took 3 guys around 3 hours to install (this is new for them as well) and took more work than a regular water heater. The most difficult aspect was the intake and outlet pipe had to be reworked into an "L" shape so that there was room to allow the air filter to be removed. You definitely want to be experienced with soldering pipes etc if you were to do...
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H323

GE hybrid water heater

Posted
By H323

Pros: Saves money

Cons: none

We have a GE hybrid water heater for several months now. We are running it in hybrid mode and have a family of 6 people.  Here's my observations: *dropped my electric bill about $35/mo. *it takes about a quart of water a day out of my basement which means the dehumidifier doesn't have to run as much. * it cools our basement which is good since we have canned goods down there.  
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PlumberPete

A+++

Posted
By PlumberPete

Pros: Very high efficiency and easy to use.

Cons: Needs drain line, larger than average, unheated, space for installation

Hello there, i thought I'd throw another added benefit of the GE Hybrid in there that some of the others don't have, and many may overlook. There are more and more options out there for Hybrids now but as a plumber here in AZ I personally prefer the GE over others due to one reason in particular, the tank. The GE's inner tank is made of glass not metal like most others. In turn this means no rusting out of the tank. Here in AZ the water is very hard and we replace on average 1 water heater a weak due to the tank rusting out and the home owner, in some cases, waking up to a flooded garage. And that usually happens just after the 6yr standard warranty runs out.  So if you live in an area...
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Negative Reviews

Tankmister

Poor quality and performance

Posted
By Tankmister

Pros: None

Cons: Many

I have three issues with this unit. 1. I recently built a new home and I tried to use products that were energy efficient, so I purchased a GE Hybrid water heater as an efficient means of heating our water. Almost from the start the unit has been plagued by problems. It's been leaking oil for months and I contacted GE to let them know and no response. Now the unit has an error code. The technician has so far replaced the main board and two sensors. That didn't work so now they are going to replace the evaporator coil and thermal expansion valve. These guy's are trying their best, but they have no clue as to the problem that is happening. I spoke to a GE rep to see if they could do...
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ricknjaxfl

ANOTHER BREAKDOWN

Posted
By ricknjaxfl

Cons: CONSTANT PROBLEMS AND REPAIRS

Unit worked fine for just under 2 years, then began series of breakdowns.   All parts have been replaced at least once.  GE covered all the repairs I suspect due to so many issues with the earlier models sold.  Technician said all evaporaters are being replaced, defective design.  The latest 2 issues are 1)  Error code for dirty air filter.  Filter is 100% clean, yet stopped unit every 48 hours.  Technician could find no problem but said I must remove cover and vacuum the coils monthly for life of the unit (which is not in the user manual as a needed procedure).  Latest issue 2)  Two weeks after filter error 'repair', have a Heat Pump...
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Peirce

JUNK - Do not buy in

Posted
By Peirce

Pros: ?

Cons: Frequent breakdowns-Very bad for environment

Installed Feb 2010 – 2 breakdowns. Each time compressor coils break open, releasing all Freon gas. They keep breaking because it contains the bare minimum amount of metal thickness in the coil wall. With repeated heatings and coolings – this is a heat pump after all – the thin metal becomes weak and allows all the Freon gas to escape into the atmosphere. Each time, it releases equivalent amount of Freon of 7 refrigerators. We had even paid extra for 3 more years of warranty coverage over the 1 year manu warranty. Were told we could order yet another part, but since it will most likely break again within a few months -  and release more Freon gas – we choose not to keep ruining...
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More Reviews

foxtrot

GE Hybird, buy only from experienced firm

Posted
By foxtrot

Pros: cut my electricai bill by $50 month

Cons: Long wait for parts, service hard to get, Made in China

Bought this from a big box store and bought an extended warranty with it. Installed was about $2300. Mine was the 2nd the store had sold, pre-sale verification of installation location. Now 14 months later it failed and according to the manual it is installed without proper clearance front and back. Called for warranty service from big box store which was a mistake as they took information and passed it to a 3rd party who could not give me information about the service call. Needed to pass error code which would have allowed parts to come with tech. Instead I am waiting for parts a month later and have rescheduled service 3 times. Oh yeah, the big box sent the installer to move the...
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mlwinkle

Break-through in Sustainable Water Heating

Posted
By mlwinkle

Pros: Very high efficiency, doesn't directly use fossil fuel, smart grid interface, sophisticated and convenient user interface, supports multiple modes

Cons: Slower heating than natural gas,must be in large unheated indoor space (garage, etc.),needs drain line, no environmental benefit if coal electricity

I do not own this particular water heater. I have owned a very similar heat pump water heater for the past 7 years (ECR Wattersaver). My water heater has the same capacity (50 gallons) and a very similar energy factor (ECR = 2.47, GE = 2.35). Unlike a conventional water heater which takes all its energy from an outside source (natural gas, propane, or electricity), this water heater uses electricity to move and concentrate heat from the surrounding air to heat water. Because the outside energy source is electricity, the primary energy source for generating the electricity can be renewable. In our home we have enough solar electric capacity to meet all our annual energy. If, on the other...
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