32 HEALTH AND SANITATION
He added that some installers will place units in closets without realising the need for proper airflow. Heat pump water heaters require air movement like a refrigerator.
“ It’ s got to move air around, heat around, and it needs some way of dissipating that,” he said.“ My efforts are purely on trying to prepare the industry and make everybody ready so that you can help educate contractors with us as manufacturers in the home,” Holladay said.
Installation basics Manufacturers commonly recommend about 7 inches( 17.78cm) of clearance around the unit. Holladay said this space isn’ t a strict requirement but is strongly advised because it provides enough room for servicing the heater – including removing the top if repairs are needed – and makes future maintenance much easier.
“ Don’ t just shove it against the wall because you can,” he said,“ but that doesn’ t mean that it’ s improperly installed.”
He emphasised that clearances vary by manufacturer and model, and inspectors should be familiar with each unit’ s specific requirements.
“ Understanding the product is the key to being able to recognise proper installation – the things that can make a difference that you should flag and things that don’ t make a difference, that you shouldn’ t flag.”
Operation notes“ Heat pump water heaters naturally dehumidify, and they’ re going to take out about two quarts of moisture a day,” Holladay said. Their condensate is non-acidic, he added, and may share a drain with an HVAC system as long as the line does not terminate in the water heater’ s drain pan.
He also reminded attendees that noise is not a concern.
“ Every heat pump water heater is less than 50 decibels in sound,” he said.“ Sound is nothing you’ re ever going to fail one on.”
Location flexibility remains similar to traditional electric units.
“ Any place that a water heater exists today that the pipes aren’ t freezing, a heat pump water heater will work,” Holladay said, adding that while it may rely more on backup electric elements in cold weather, the overall savings remain significant.
Efficiency tips For homes converting from gas to electric, Holladay encouraged raising the tank’ s temperature setting. Heat pump water heaters are shipped at 120 degrees Fahrenheit( around 48.89 ° C) because manufacturers are legally required to do so, but that setting isn’ t intended to remain fixed. Higher temperatures can help extend the available hot-water supply, especially for larger families, and California requires tempering temperature limiting valves to protect the public from scalding and shock at the point of use.
Increasing the set point to around 140 ° F( 60 ° C) helps offset the slower recovery rate of electric systems compared to gas, he said, giving households a buffer of additional stored heat while still maintaining safe delivery temperatures through properly installed mixing valves.
He discouraged constant hot-water recirculation systems where possible.
www. plumbingafrica. co. za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline October 2026 Volume 32 I Number 08