Air funnel for a heat pump system of a water heater

A water heating appliance comprising:

• a heat exchanger that draws heat from process air, wherein the heat exchanger delivers the heat to a heat exchange media, the heat exchanger having a polygonal cross-section defining a first area;
• a blower that delivers the process air through the heat exchanger;
• and
• a funnel that directs the process air from the heat exchanger to the blower, wherein
• the funnel manages an air pressure of the process air to be consistent within the heat exchanger;
• the funnel regulates the air pressure of the process air to decrease evenly and consistently between a downstream surface of the heat exchanger and a port that directs the process air into the blower;
• the funnel includes a transition section that engages the heat exchanger, the transition section having a pressure maintenance portion and a pressure regulation portion;
• and
• the pressure regulation portion of the funnel includes a plurality of parabolic panels that extend from the heat exchanger to the port.