Water heater manufacturer A. O. Smith (hotwater.com) is launching the next generation of its Voltex® Hybrid Electric Heat Pump water heaters — units that could save consumers $437 a year or more compared with standard electric water heaters. The improved line includes 50-, 66- and 80-gallon versions of the increasingly popular Voltex residential heat pump water heater.

“The A. O. Smith Voltex line quickly established an impressive reputation in the industry because of its almost unbelievable energy efficiency, consumer cost savings and ease of installation,” said David Chisolm, A. O. Smith’s vice president of marketing. “The new and improved Voltex utilizes the same ground-breaking technology while giving installers more flexibility to meet the specific hot water needs of families and small businesses.”

These next generation Voltex units, still ENERGY STAR® qualified, are some of the most energy-efficient heat pump water heaters available on the market. Voltex can reduce water-heating costs by as much as 71 percent, saving consumers $437 or more annually compared with standard electric models. Along with higher efficiency and better savings, the new Voltex models are dual voltage — both 208 and 240 VAC capable — and are the quietest heat pump water heaters on the market, operating at just 51dBa.

The Voltex Hybrid Electric Heat Pump achieves market-leading energy factors and performance by heating water with ambient heat captured from the surrounding air.

The new models feature four operating modes that maximize efficiency by matching heating requirements to environmental conditions, including a vacation mode programmable up to 99 days.