Park Vista Apartment Complex, a 392-unit affordable community located in Anaheim, California, faced a challenge typical of retrofitting mid-century developments. Originally constructed in the 1950s and last renovated in the 1990s, the complex relied on gas combustion water heaters that had been in operation for nearly two decades. These units were well beyond their service life expectancy and created efficiency and safety concerns for residents. The team recognized the need for a solution that would cut emissions, save residents money and fit within the physical and electrical constraints of the existing mechanical closets.  

Turning to A. O. Smith for help, Park Vista determined that the Voltex 120V Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) was best suited to their needs. Unlike traditional high efficiency models, the Voltex 120V HPWH is designed to plug into a standard electrical outlet–eliminating the need for adaptors or restructuring. The unit’s narrow profile allowed for a seamless fit into the closets where the old gas units once stood.

“When we were looking at replacing the previous water heaters, most of which were 15 to 20 years old, we knew we wanted and needed to update them to units that are energy efficient, cut down our emissions and save tenants money on their utility bills,” said David Chanin, Future Fit Partners, a company that helps property owners unitilize rebates and incentives. “We selected the Voltex 120V Heat Pump Water Heater for this project because of its electrical capacity and its narrow design, which fit perfectly into the small closets in our apartments.”

Park Vista had a tight deadline to get the new water heaters installed in all apartments. Designed with top water connections, brackets and a zero-clearance design, the Voltex 120V HPWH made installation a breeze for the maintenance team. Originally, the team was installing four units per day, but they were able to ramp up to six units per day due to the Voltex 120V HPWH’s hassle-free installation. 

The transition from gas to heat pump technology is yielding immediate quality-of-life improvements for residents. By upgrading to 40-gallon units, residents now have a more reliable hot water supply. The Voltex 120V HPWH also significantly increased safety as the unit uses electricity rather than combustion, eliminating the fire risk associated with tenants storing items near a flame source. With whisper-quiet operation that eliminates the need for vibration isolation accessories, the Voltex 120V HPWH ensures a quiet environment for residents.  

“A heat pump water heater takes ambient heat from around the unit, compresses it and transfers it into the tank of hot water,” said Jeff Storie, director of brand and field marketing at A. O. Smith. “These units are so efficient that many, if not all, of them are eligible for rebates and utility incentives and are ENERGY STAR certified. The Voltex 120V heat pump water heater was designed to make the transition from gas to electric simple, and it does just that.”

All Voltex 120V models are equipped with A. O. Smith’s leak protection technology, which immediately notifies the maintenance team of small leaks. These leaks can often happen with older plumbing sources and they typically go unnoticed until they become a bigger problem, but with A. O. Smith’s technology, residents now have peace of mind when it comes to their water heater. 

Financially, the impact was transformative for the affordable housing community. The cost of heating water dropped to just one-third of what residents were paying with the previous gas units. This efficiency is being further maximized by a concurrent solar project within the complex. 

The replacement of the old units was made viable through California’s robust rebate programs, which in some instances covered the entire cost of the units. By proactively “future-fitting” these apartments with the Voltex 120V HPWH, the complex has secured a more sustainable, reliable and cost-effective environment for the next generation of residents.