America's most trusted water heater brand unveils new smart home offering, providing homeowners maximum energy savings and leak protection for the lowest cost of operation
ASHLAND CITY, Tenn., Oct. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- A. O. Smith, the world's largest manufacturer of commercial and residential water heaters, has launched the most energy efficient water heater available today with its new Voltex® AL (anti-leak) smart hybrid electric heat pump water heater line, designed to offer homeowners plenty of hot water at the lowest possible cost. Just in time for Energy Awareness Month and ENERGY STAR® DAY on Oct. 12, the new A. O. Smith Voltex AL residential heat pump water heaters feature integrated smart home connectivity and leak protection technology to provide homeowners with exceptional energy savings and added peace of mind.
"Heat pump technology continues to play an increasingly important role in decarbonization and efficiency efforts across the country," said Francois Lebrasseur, utility sector manager for A. O. Smith. "In addition to helping combat the effects of climate change, switching to a heat pump water heater is an easy step for homeowners to significantly lower their home's energy bills and carbon emissions, produce substantial upfront and long-term savings, and deliver plenty of hot water."
Water heaters are the second highest source of energy usage in the home. On average, they use more energy than a refrigerator, dishwasher, laundry washer and dryer combined. Designed to help drastically reduce energy usage, heat pump technology is by far the most efficient way to heat water in the home, regardless of fuel type. The new A. O. Smith Voltex AL heat pump water heaters are three times as efficient as standard electric water heaters, saving homeowners up to 78% in annual energy bills. By dramatically decreasing the cost of operation, homeowners can save up to $521 per year on utility bills.*
In fact, the Voltex AL heat pump water heater includes the highest overall efficiency on the market today with a Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) of 4.02 (66-gallon model), and the highest 50-gallon efficiency available today of 3.8 UEF. For additional up-front savings, a federal tax credit is available and many utilities and energy organizations across the country offer incentives for purchasing A. O. Smith's ENERGY STAR® certified heat pump water heaters – including instant rebates as high as $1,000 in some states. To find which incentives are available in your area, visit hotwater.com.
A. O. Smith's new Voltex AL heat pump water heaters are equipped with iCOMM™ technology to support new connected anti-leak technology, including integrated leak detection and a smart anode to extend the life of the product. Using the A. O. Smith mobile app, homeowners can remotely manage their water heater to improve performance and increase savings, including monitoring schedules and energy usage, as well as adjusting temperature levels and the operating mode. For added peace of mind, the smart sensor alerts homeowners immediately through the app if a leak is detected, and an optional shutoff valve accessory can be added. At 45 dBA, the new Voltex AL heat pump water heater operates with significantly less noise and is the quietest model currently on the market.
An industry first, A. O. Smith's new smart anode adapts to local water conditions to protect the unit and extend the life of the water heater by sending an alert through the mobile app and on the unit's control panel when it needs to be replaced – a primary cause of terminal failure in water heaters. Instead of requiring a professional to visually inspect it once per year for maintenance, these notifications provide proactive alerts when the anode should be replaced. Additionally, the Voltex AL line features built-in demand response intelligence that connects with local utility smart grid programs to automatically shift electricity usage during peak periods for the lowest utility rate available, helping homeowners save even more money without any added effort – unlike other models available today, which require manual utility data entry.
A family-founded business with 148 years of American manufacturing expertise, A. O. Smith's family of brands offers over 1,000 ENERGY STAR® products. In 2022, A. O. Smith was named an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for the fourth consecutive year and received its second Sustained Excellence Award for year-over-year contributions to support America's clean energy transition – a designation only a handful of water heating manufacturers have achieved.
The new A. O. Smith Voltex AL line is available in 50-, 66- and 80-gallon size tank options to suit each individual home's unique hot water needs. For more information about A. O. Smith and the new Voltex AL heat pump water heater, visit http://www.hotwater.com.
*Comparing 66-gallon Voltex AL heat pump water heater against pre-2015 similarly-sized standard electric tank type water heater using DOE EF to UEF conversion rates. Savings may vary.
About A. O. Smith Water Heating
America's most trusted water heater brand, A. O. Smith is the world's largest manufacturer of commercial and residential water heaters. The company brings a 148-year history of innovation and American manufacturing expertise to developing industry-leading, high-efficiency water heating products that are designed, engineered and assembled in the U.S. From creating the industry standard glass lining in 1933, to introducing the first 95% energy efficient water heater in 1986, A. O. Smith has continuously led the water heating industry with a tradition of innovation for almost a century. Today the multi-generational, family-founded business offers a wide range of water heaters – from standard gas and electric water heaters to high efficiency heat pump and tankless models – to meet every home's unique water heating needs. For more information, visit http://www.hotwater.com.
Media Contact
Cindy Young Vanhoutte, A. O. Smith, 1 512-585-0394, [email protected]
SOURCE A. O. Smith
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