Installing Heat Pump Water Heaters in Small Spaces: Lessons from the Amazing Shrinking Room
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Residential heat pump water heaters (HPWH) are an effective way to reduce energy use, operating costs, and CO2 emissions. Research has shown that the ultimate operating efficiency depends as much on the installation conditions as the equipment selection itself. This course will share what we learned from a series of practical, shrinking room experiments about why, and how much, the installation spaces impact efficiency and, most importantly, practices for successful installations. We will dive into space requirements and venting strategies for heat pump water heaters to enhance both new construction and retrofit installations. The results provide actionable guidance for manufacturers, designers, engineers, installers, and owners. In addition to sharing the results of the laboratory tests, the presentation will also discuss the thermodynamic principles behind them. The session will provide participants with practical guidelines and design tools ready to implement as well as a framework for predicting how different design choices are likely to affect HPWH performance in a given installation space.
(GMT -07:00) America/Los_Angeles
- Start date: April 22, 2026 02:00 pm, end date: April 22, 2026 04:00 pm
- Time zone: (GMT -07:00) America/Los_Angeles
- 1 event
- Attendance type: Full online
- 1 Host
- Video conference tool: Custom tool
- Duration 2 hours
- 1 event
- Full online
- Custom tool
- 2h
1 Host
-
NSNicolas Saroni – PGE Host
Ben Larson
Ben, founder of Larson Energy Research, is a scientific researcher and consultant with over 15 years professional experience. Ben has a multifaceted professional and academic background covering research design and management, physics, numerical modeling, and emerging technology. He has specialized expertise in heat pump-based appliances and how mechanical systems in a building interact and affect total energy use. His practical experience includes equipment energy use testing, in both the field and lab; developing models to analyze and forecast equipment energy efficiencies; and designing equipment specifications.
Sam Larson
Sam is an associate at Larson Energy Research, managing laboratory and field research on heat pump water heaters and HVAC equipment. He was a contributing author on the “Amazing Shrinking Room” research project and also consults on water heating standards.
- Introduction and safety message
- How the size of the room a HPWH is installed in affects its efficiency
- How to improve efficiency in a small space through increased ventilation
- How the temperature of exchange air affects ventilation
- Comparative advantages of passive convection and forced-air approaches
The objective of this course is that at the conclusion, participants will be able to:
- Understand how the temperature and flow rate (the thermodynamic principals) of the HPWH thermal resource (the air) effects efficiency
- Identify installation locations that are problematic for efficient and effective HPWH operation
- Identify at least two techniques for improving installed HPWH efficiency in small spaces
- Become facile with altering existing floor plans to accommodate HPWHs in a way that maintains their efficient operation
See below
CRH – Ravalli HPWH Training Flyer