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Heater Types

Heat Pump Water HeatersHigh-efficiency electric replacements and hybrid tanks.Condensing Tankless Water HeatersCondensing whole-home flow with venting constraints.Gas Tank Water HeatersStraight swaps when gas storage is still the fit.

Plan Your Swap

Sizing guideCapacity, first-hour rating, and temperature-rise fit.Accessories hubInstall extras, code-adjacent parts, and paid-link accessory picks.Upgrade from NHP50Replacement candidates and projected operating-cost delta.Upgrade from NHP65Replacement candidates and projected operating-cost delta.Upgrade from NHP80Replacement candidates and projected operating-cost delta.Upgrade from NPE 210S2Replacement candidates and projected operating-cost delta.Upgrade from PROE50 T2 RH95Replacement candidates and projected operating-cost delta.HPTA 50 2 vs HPTA 80 2Side-by-side specs, efficiency, and fit differences.HPTS 50 2 vs NHP50Side-by-side specs, efficiency, and fit differences.NHP120 vs PROPH80 T2 RH400 30Side-by-side specs, efficiency, and fit differences.NPE 210S2 vs NPE 240S2Side-by-side specs, efficiency, and fit differences.

Guides & Data

California heat pump guideLocal rates, rebates, and operating costs.Colorado heat pump guideLocal rates, rebates, and operating costs.Massachusetts heat pump guideLocal rates, rebates, and operating costs.Oregon heat pump guideLocal rates, rebates, and operating costs.Washington heat pump guideLocal rates, rebates, and operating costs.DOE 2029 standardsWhat changes in 2029 and which product classes move first.

Brands

A.O. Smith Water HeatersPublished models, product lines, and brand coverage.Bradford White Water HeatersPublished models, product lines, and brand coverage.Navien Water HeatersPublished models, product lines, and brand coverage.Noritz Water HeatersPublished models, product lines, and brand coverage.Rheem Water HeatersPublished models, product lines, and brand coverage.Rinnai Water HeatersPublished models, product lines, and brand coverage.Takagi Water HeatersPublished models, product lines, and brand coverage.
State guide

Heat Pump Water Heaters in Colorado

Local rates, rebates, and climate change which heat pump models make sense.
Colorado operating costs use local energy prices, not national averages.
Electricity16.1¢/kWh
Gas$1.00/therm
Inlet water47°F
Live models35
Colorado electricity is 6% below the national average. Here's what that means for heat pump operating costs.

Running cost in Colorado

Colorado electricity
16.1¢
per kWh (EIA, Dec 2025)
US average
17.2¢
per kWh
Best HP annual cost
$134
A. O. Smith HPTS-50-2
Electric resistance
$725
~4,500 kWh/yr baseline
Gas tank baseline
$200
~200 therms/yr
Colder inlet water (47°F annual average, 37°F in winter) means the heat pump works harder than DOE test conditions assume (58°F). Real-world efficiency will be slightly lower than rated UEF, and winter operating costs will be higher than the annual average.

Why Colorado changes the call

01Energy cost
Colorado electricity is 6% below the national average. That directly affects how much a heat pump saves compared to a standard electric tank.
02Climate impact
Incoming water averages 47°F annually and drops to about 37°F in winter. Colder water means the heat pump works harder and real efficiency is slightly lower than rated.
03Available incentives
State and utility rebates can significantly change the payback period. Check what's currently available before finalizing your decision.

Rebates in Colorado

The federal $2,000 tax credit (IRA Section 25C) expired December 31, 2025. State and utility rebates listed below may still be available. Verify current status at the links provided.

Colorado Heat Pump Water Heater Rebate

$500-$1,000
Who: Colorado Energy Office / Xcel Energy / utility partners
Eligibility: ENERGY STAR certified. Xcel Energy customers eligible for utility rebate. State program has income-qualified tiers.
https://energyoffice.colorado.gov/

IRA HEAR Rebate (Point-of-Sale)

Up to $1,750
Status: Launched in Colorado. Income-qualified: under 80% AMI for full rebate, 80-150% AMI for 50% rebate.
Colorado launched its IRA HEAR program in 2025 through the Colorado Energy Office.

Install requirements in Colorado

Code basis: Varies by jurisdiction (IRC/IPC adopted by most municipalities)

Emissions standards (HB 23-1161)
Effective January 1, 2026, Colorado prohibits the sale of new gas-fired water heaters that do not meet ultra-low-NOx emission limits. This affects both new installations and replacements. Heat pump water heaters are not affected by this requirement.
Electrical
Dedicated 240V, 30A circuit (most models). Some newer 120V plug-in models exist but most residential units require 240V. Check the unit's nameplate for exact requirements.
Condensate drain
Heat pump water heaters produce condensate during operation. A condensate drain line to an approved location (floor drain, condensate pump, or exterior) is required.
Air space
Approximately 700 cubic feet of surrounding air (roughly a 10x10x7-foot room). The heat pump extracts heat from surrounding air. Insufficient air volume reduces efficiency and can cause the unit to underperform. Some manufacturers allow ducting to supplement air supply in smaller spaces.
Noise
Heat pump water heaters produce operational noise similar to a window AC unit (45-55 dB). Consider placement away from bedrooms.

Best fits for Colorado

Annual operating cost at Colorado's 16.1¢/kWh rate. Sorted by lowest annual cost.

A. O. Smith
HPTS-50-2
$134/yr 46 gal UEF 3.80 63" tall
Bradford White
RE2HP50-1NCTT
$135/yr 45 gal UEF 3.89 46.1" tall
Navien
NWP500S050AUMB
$135/yr 44 gal UEF 3.85 63" tall
Rheem
PROPH50 T2 RH400-30
$136/yr 45 gal UEF 3.88 61.75" tall
Rinnai
REHP50BM
$136/yr 46 gal UEF 3.75 66.4" tall
Rinnai
REHP50C
$136/yr 46 gal UEF 3.75 66.4" tall
Rheem
PROPH40 T2 RH400-30
$138/yr 36 gal UEF 3.83 62.3" tall
A. O. Smith
HPTA-50-2
$142/yr 46 gal UEF 3.68 63" tall
A. O. Smith
HPTA-40-2
$145/yr 36 gal UEF 3.60 66" tall
Noritz
NHP50
$151/yr 47 gal UEF 3.46 58.3" tall
Bradford White
RE2H50S
$152/yr 45 gal UEF 3.44 59.1875" tall
Noritz
NHP65
$157/yr 57 gal UEF 3.34 63.8" tall
Bradford White
RE2HP65-1NCTT
$190/yr 65 gal UEF 4.20 44.6" tall
Rheem
PROPH65 T2 RH400-30
$191/yr 59 gal UEF 4.05 64.19" tall
Rheem
PROPH80 T2 RH400-30
$196/yr 72 gal UEF 4.07 74.19" tall
Rinnai
REHP80
$197/yr 75 gal UEF 4.00 74.2" tall
Rinnai
REHP80BM
$197/yr 75 gal UEF 4.00 74.2" tall
Rinnai
REHP80C
$197/yr 75 gal UEF 4.00 74.2" tall
A. O. Smith
HPTS-66-2
$199/yr 67 gal UEF 3.70 61.5" tall
Bradford White
RE2HP80-1NCTT
$200/yr 75 gal UEF 4.00 51.1" tall
Rinnai
REHP65
$200/yr 60 gal UEF 3.90 65.5" tall
Rinnai
REHP65BM
$200/yr 60 gal UEF 3.90 65.5" tall
Rinnai
REHP65C
$200/yr 60 gal UEF 3.90 45.5" tall
Rinnai
REHP65CW
$200/yr 60 gal UEF 3.90 45.5" tall
Rinnai
REHP65W
$200/yr 60 gal UEF 3.90 45.5" tall
Rinnai
REHP65WC
$200/yr 60 gal UEF 3.90 45.5" tall
Navien
NWP500S065AUMB
$201/yr 61 gal UEF 4.03 63" tall
Navien
NWP500S080AUMB
$204/yr 74 gal UEF 4.05 71.6" tall
A. O. Smith
HPTA-80-2
$206/yr 81 gal UEF 3.88 69" tall
A. O. Smith
HPTS-80-2
$206/yr 82 gal UEF 3.88 69" tall
A. O. Smith
HPTA-66-2
$208/yr 68 gal UEF 3.84 61" tall
Bradford White
RE2H65T
$220/yr 64 gal UEF 3.64 63.75" tall
Bradford White
RE2H80T
$223/yr 75 gal UEF 3.59 70.8125" tall
Noritz
NHP80
$230/yr 74 gal UEF 3.48 74" tall
Noritz
NHP120
$236/yr 109 gal UEF 3.38 84.5" tall

Your next click

Sources

Electricity and natural gas rates: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), residential sector, December 2025.

Rebate data compiled from state energy offices, utility program pages, DSIRE, and ENERGY STAR. Rebate amounts and eligibility change frequently. Verify at listed program URLs.

Inlet water temperatures estimated from NOAA climate normals using the Burch-Christensen mains water temperature model (NREL).

Model specifications from ENERGY STAR certified product data and manufacturer spec sheets.

Page generated March 15, 2026. Data freshness varies by source.