I know about the most common Rheem hybrid water heater modes after being around many of them. They are:
- Heat pump mode
- Electric mode
- Energy saver mode
- High demand mode
- Vacation mode
- Off mode
You can optimize the energy efficiency and the hot water recovery of your water heater by switching between these different modes. Keep on reading to know all about these modes and pick the right one for you.
Table of Contents
How Does A Rheem Hybrid Water Heater Work?
You’d know about Rheem gas and electric water heaters and how they work. But in hybrid water heaters, there’s a component called the heat pump. It uses the air in the surrounding area of the water heater to heat the water.
The main advantage of the heat pump is that it transfers heat using electricity from one area to another. It saves energy by transferring heat instead of generating it. As it essentially takes the heat from the air present around it, the heater will make the surrounding air cooler in the process.
Besides having a heat pump, Rheem hybrid water heaters also have heating elements like regular electric heaters. So, you can use the heater in different modes according to your choice. Keep on reading to find out more about these modes and how they’re different from each other.
How To Switch Between Different Rheem Hybrid Water Heater Modes?
There are six different operating modes in a Rheem hybrid water heater. You can easily navigate between these modes using the keypad on the heater. The heater will be set to energy-saving mode by default when it’s shipped.
So, you’d get your heater in that mode. The process to change the mode is straightforward. You’ll find a mode button on the bottom right of your screen. You’ll see a different mode come up.
If you press the mode button again, that’ll bring another mode. You can toggle between the different modes by pressing the mode button as many times as you want.
That’s how you can do it in models with the ECOnet app and a touchscreen. Here’s a picture to help you understand the kind of models I am talking about:
The exact process in your heater could be a little different if you own a different model. There was no physical button to change the modes. But there are Rheem heaters that have a dedicated mode button that you can press.
However, the process is still the same. If you press the mode button, the mode will change. The only difference is that there will be a physical mode button in some heaters and other units will only have a touchscreen mode button.
Rheem Hybrid Water Heater Modes [Clearly Explained]
You already know how a Rheem hybrid water heater works and how you can toggle between the different modes. But you need to know these different modes and when you should be using them.
That’s precisely what I’ll explain in this section. Let’s look at the different Rheem water heater modes and find out the right time to use them.
01. Heat Pump Mode
When you use your water heater in the heat pump mode, the water will only be heated by the heat pump. The electric resistance elements will be inactive when you operate your heater in this method.
It’s a great mode when it comes to minimizing the power consumption. But the downside is that it’ll take longer to heat the hot water. That’s because the heating process will solely rely on the heating pump. But if you’re okay with slow hot water recovery, you can use this method for energy savings.
02. Electric Mode
It’s the exact opposite of the last mode I talked about. Only the electrical resistance elements will be activated when you use the heater in this mode. The heat pump will be off.
Keep in mind that the power consumption of your water heater will be the highest when you use the water heater in electric mode. You should only use it during the filter and condensate drain maintenance drain periods.
If you use this mode beyond that, all you’re doing is wasting energy. You can also set an electric heat override time. You can set the time anywhere between 1 and 7 days. Once the time passes, the heater will automatically return to the previous mode it was set on.
03. Energy Saver Mode
One of the most commonly used modes in Rheem hybrid water heaters is the energy-saver mode. This mode is set by default during shipping to optimize the heater for energy efficiency.
Both the heat pump and the electric resistance elements can become active when you use the heater in this mode. It doesn’t necessarily mean that both of them will be always working at the same time.
The heating elements will only be used when there’s a need for it. Otherwise, only the heat pump will be active when there’s no such demand for hot water. So, it’s an ideal mode for the right balance between fast recovery and low power consumption. That’s why so many people use it.
04. High Demand Mode
If you want the quickest hot water recovery, setting the heater to high-demand mode is the ideal choice for you. It’s not as energy efficient as using the heat pump or energy-saving mode. But it’ll still provide relatively good energy savings.
According to the Rheem hybrid water heater manual, the heat pump and the electric heating will work simultaneously when you activate this method.
But my experience with it has been a little different. Yes, it’s true that both of them are active when there’s high demand for hot water. But when there’s not such a demand, they’re not used together.
So, that statement in the Rheem manual is only partly true. With that said, it’s still a great option for you if getting hot water fast is your number one priority.
05. Vacation Mode
The vacation mode is self-explanatory, to be honest. But the good news is that you can customize the days the heater will be set in vacation mode. Using the right and left buttons, you can increase and decrease the days that the heater will be in that mode.
With those arrow buttons, you’ll be able to set the heater in vacation mode anywhere from 1 to 28 days. But if you use the hold setting, you can set the heater to vacation mode indefinitely.
Normally, the tank temperature will be maintained at around 65 degrees Fahrenheit when you set the heater in vacation mode. It’s a great option and you can set your heater in this mode when you’ll be away for a while.
06. Off Mode
Finally, you have the “Off” mode where the heater will be completely turned off. Nothing in the heater will run at all when you put the heater in this mode. The WiFi connectivity of the heater will still be on at this stage. So, it’ll take very little energy to operate the heater.
So, that was all the operating modes of the Rheem hybrid water heater. I’ve made a quick summary of the efficiency and recovery times of all the different modes. Hopefully, that’ll make it easier for you to wrap your head around all the operating modes. Here it is:
| Operating Mode | Energy Efficiency | Hot Water Recovery |
| Heat Pump Mode | High | Extremely slow |
| Electric Mode | Very low | Fast |
| Energy Saver Mode | Very high | Fast |
| High Demand Mode | Low | Extremely fast |
| Vacation Mode | Very high | Not applicable |
| Off Mode | Highest | Not applicable |
Rheem Energy Saver Vs Heat Pump Mode – Which Is Better?
If you care about energy savings deeply, the energy-saving and heat pump modes will be the top choices for you. Both these modes are notably great when it comes to energy savings. But you may be wondering which of the two of them is slightly better.
On the surface, it would seem like the heat pump mode would be the most energy-saving option. That’s because the electric heating will be off and the heater will only be forced to use the heat pump. So, it won’t use a lot of energy. The only disadvantage would be that the water recovery period is slow.
However, real-life experiences can be different. I have taken the time to use the heater in heat pump mode and energy saver mode for a month each. And I was surprised by the results.
The energy-saver mode clearly performed better across the board. The heat pump is effective when there’s not a high demand for hot water. But during periods of high hot water demand, the energy-saver mode comes out on top.
The energy-saver mode also had a much better water recovery period. For my usage pattern, the energy-saver mode was the most efficient. However, it can be different for you. So, you do a similar experiment as me to find out which mode is more energy-saving for you.
FAQs:
How do you reset the Rheem hybrid electric water heater?
When the ECO gets tripped, you’ll have to reset the hybrid heater to use it again. Disconnect the power supply to the heater, remove the upper cavity with insulation, and press the reset button to reset the heater.
What is the right temperature to set in Rheem hybrid electric water heaters?
The right temperature always depends on your own preference. But keep in mind that setting it above 120° F increases the chances of scalding. So, keep the set temperature below that if there are kids in your house.
What does Rheem water heater away mode mean?
The away mode in Rheem hybrid water heaters is just a different term for the vacation mode. As you typically use it when you’ll be away from the heater for a while, the mode gets its name.
Are hybrid water heaters more energy efficient compared to normal water heaters?
Yes, hybrid water heaters are known to be at least 2-3 times more energy efficient when compared to regular water heaters. The heat pump makes the heater work less to heat water and that makes all the difference.
Conclusion
Now, you know all about the Rheem hybrid water heater modes in detail. For most users, the energy-saver mode will be the ideal option. But you can play around with the different settings and determine which one of those modes suits your needs the most.
If you decide to run the experiment, then do let us know in the comment below which mode is more energy-efficient for you. Check out my guide on solving Rheem electric water heater problems if you’re interested.