Skip to content
WaterHeating.caby CANRO Heating & Cooling

Water heaters · System type

Heat-pump water heaters

Electric storage tanks with a small heat pump on top that moves heat from the surrounding air into the water, using a fraction of the electricity of resistance elements. Needs air volume, a drain and a suitable circuit.

Electric
Ballpark estimateBrowse models

In short

A heat-pump (hybrid) water heater is an electric tank that uses a compressor and evaporator to pull heat from the surrounding air, with backup elements for peaks. It can use two to three times less electricity than a standard electric tank but recovers slowly in heat-pump mode, cools and dehumidifies the room it sits in, needs roughly 20 m³ of air space or ducting, a condensate drain and a suitable circuit. Rebates in BC currently apply only when replacing an existing electric tank.

How a heat-pump water heater works

A fan draws room air over an evaporator; a compressor raises the refrigerant temperature and a condenser wrapped around or inside the tank transfers the heat to the water. Because the unit moves heat rather than generating it, its efficiency is expressed as a UEF well above 1 (commonly 3 to 4). Most units are hybrids with resistance elements that take over when demand is high or the air is too cold, at ordinary electric-tank efficiency.

Where it can go

Manufacturers specify a minimum air volume, typically around 20 m³ (700 cubic feet), or ducting to another space, an ambient range in which the heat pump operates, and a condensate drain. The unit cools and dehumidifies its space, which is welcome in a damp basement and unwelcome in a heated closet. Compressor noise is comparable to a refrigerator. Height is greater than a standard tank because of the heat-pump module.

Electrical, capacity and recovery

Most residential units use a 240 V, 30 A circuit like an electric tank; some 120 V models exist. Recovery in heat-pump-only mode is slow, so capacity depends on stored volume and the hybrid mode chosen; 50 to 80 gallon tanks are common. First-hour rating remains the sizing figure, and the unit's mode setting changes it.

Rebates: verify equipment and eligibility

As of September 2026, FortisBC's electricity-customer heat-pump water heater rebate and BC Hydro's home renovation rebate both require that the existing water heater be a standard electric storage tank; switching from gas is routed to CleanBC income-tested programs. Amounts, programs and model eligibility change, so WaterHeating.ca applies nothing until verified for the exact unit and household. CANRO lists heat-pump water heaters among the equipment it installs.

Strengths

  • Far lower electricity use than resistance elements (UEF often 3–4)
  • No combustion, venting or gas line
  • Dehumidifies a damp basement or garage
  • Rebates may apply when replacing an electric tank (verify)

Limitations

  • Slow recovery in heat-pump mode; needs larger storage or hybrid mode
  • Needs air volume or ducting, a drain and a suitable circuit
  • Cools and makes noise in the space it occupies; taller than a standard tank
  • Higher equipment cost; no hot water in an outage

Components that apply

Catalogue

Heat pump models documented

Filter by brand, energy source and venting. Filters do not create new URLs.

3 of 3 shown

Bradford White · Heat-pump water heater

Bradford White RE2HP5010

CurrentSold in Canada
Nominal capacity
50 US gal (42 Imp. gal, 189 L)
First-hour delivery
65 US gal (246 L)
Uniform Energy Factor (UEF)
3.89

The Bradford White RE2HP5010 is a 50 US gallon (189 L) AeroTherm Series G2 hybrid heat-pump water heater with a UEF of 3.89, a 65 US gallon first-hour rating and 4,000 W/3,000 W backup elements, sold in Canada through wholesale channels. It is the entry size of the Canadian G2 range.

ElectricNo venting (electric)
Specifications, manuals and service

Bradford White · Heat-pump water heater

Bradford White RE2HP6510

CurrentSold in Canada
Nominal capacity
65 US gal (54 Imp. gal, 246 L)
First-hour delivery
82 US gal (310 L)
Uniform Energy Factor (UEF)
4.2

The Bradford White RE2HP6510 is a 65 US gallon (246 L) AeroTherm Series G2 hybrid heat-pump water heater with a UEF of 4.20, an 82 US gallon first-hour rating and 4,000 W/3,000 W backup elements, sold in Canada through wholesale channels. It is the middle size of the Canadian G2 range.

ElectricNo venting (electric)
Specifications, manuals and service

Bradford White · Heat-pump water heater

Bradford White RE2HP8010

CurrentSold in Canada
Nominal capacity
80 US gal (67 Imp. gal, 303 L)
First-hour delivery
88 US gal (333 L)
Uniform Energy Factor (UEF)
4

The Bradford White RE2HP8010 is an 80 US gallon (303 L) AeroTherm Series G2 hybrid heat-pump water heater with a UEF of 4.00, an 88 US gallon first-hour rating and 4,000 W/3,000 W backup elements, sold in Canada through wholesale channels. It is the largest model of the Canadian G2 range.

ElectricNo venting (electric)
Specifications, manuals and service

Services for this type

Guides

Frequently asked questions

Can a heat-pump water heater replace my gas tank?

Physically, if there is a suitable circuit, air volume and drain. Financially, current FortisBC and BC Hydro rebates require an existing electric tank, so a gas-to-heat-pump switch is assessed on its own merits and any CleanBC eligibility is verified separately.

Will it keep up with my family?

In hybrid mode with adequate storage, usually. In heat-pump-only mode recovery is slow. Size by first-hour rating in the mode you will use.

Request a consultation

CANRO reviews your hot-water demand, equipment and installation constraints. Requests are confirmed by CANRO.

On-site service in Metro Vancouver, BC. Call to check availability.

Call 604-359-1081Request a consultation

Related

Sources and verification

Facts checked September 7, 2026. Last updated September 7, 2026. Technical reviewer: not yet assigned.

Call 604-359-1081Get Estimate