Engineered for quiet efficiency: AoFrio’s HPWH fan solution

Low noise

Acoustic targets met — quiet enough for indoor residential installations

Energy efficiency

Up to 70% power savings, helping the manufacturer meet their COP requirements

Proven reliability

10-year design life and IP67 rating, built to perform across a range of environments

The HPWH market is at an inflection point. The 2029 U.S. DOE mandate will require heat pump technology in all electric storage water heaters over 35 gallons – shifting HPWH market penetration from roughly 3% of new water heaters to over 50%. U.S. Department of Energy

Getting the fan-motor system right can be the difference between an HPWH that passes compliance certification and one positioned to capture an outsized share of this growing market.

This is how AoFrio helped East West Manufacturing do exactly that.

East West Manufacturing’s client needed a fan-motor system that could hit demanding requirements across three areas: low noise, high energy efficiency, and consistent real-world performance.

In the U.S. water heating accounts for approximately 18% of the average household’s total energy bills, U.S. Department of Energy and an HPWH that meaningfully cuts energy bills for consumer households translates directly into competitive advantage.

Low noise

Almost all U.S. residential water heaters are installed indoors, so acoustic performance directly shapes the experience in the home. In earthquake zones HPWHs are strapped to the wall, which can amplify mechanical vibration and compound the problem further.

Energy efficiency

The manufacturer’s COP requirements went beyond minimum ENERGY STAR compliance. They were building for a market where energy savings are an increasingly decisive purchase driver — translating directly into competitive advantage.

Real-world performance

The solution had to perform quietly and efficiently across the full range of environments where water heaters are installed in U.S. homes — basements, garages, equipment closets — not just under controlled test conditions.

AoFrio’s engineering team worked closely with East West Manufacturing to modify its fan assembly and meet the HPWH manufacturer’s specific design requirements and performance targets.

The result was a customized 8” ECR 2 fan assembly with precision-engineered blades and housing, built to integrate directly into the manufacturer’s unique HPWH product.

The solution was engineered to reduce both air noise and mechanical vibration, significantly reducing noise while maintaining required airflow in real-world conditions.

Working with a single fan and motor provider meant the OEM received a fully integrated fan system with components built to work optimally as a system, rather than having to mix and match parts from separate vendors.

AoFrio’s integrated fan assembly met all the HPWH manufacturer’s performance targets: low noise, energy efficiency and reliable performance across the full range of installation environments.

AoFrio’s aerodynamically optimized fans deliver up to 70% energy savings versus shaded pole equivalents, contributing to the manufacturer exceeding ENERGY STAR’s UEF 2.20 threshold and meeting their COP targets. Programmable motor speeds gave the OEM further flexibility to tune performance and energy use across different product configurations.

1. For households – The HPWH could deliver lower energy bills, quieter operation in the home, and a dependable supply of hot water.
2. For the HPWH manufacturer – It meant a product built to compete in a market that is accelerating rapidly, and the ability to scale as it does.

Around the world, HPWHs are moving from niche to mainstream, driven by tightening efficiency standards. In the U.S. HPWH sales grew 35% in 2023, the fastest-growing segment in the category, as electric overtook gas in overall market share. The 2029 U.S. DOE mandate set to accelerate that further.

For OEMs everywhere, the window to get ahead of this transition is now.