Boost Heat Pump Water Heater

A method for providing hot water on-demand, the method comprising:

• receive, by a controller of a water heater, an indication of demand for hot water to be supplied by the water heater, wherein the water heater comprises a heat pump for heating the water, a first heating element for supplementing the heat pump in heating the water, the first heating element configured to draw less than a maximum current from a power source, and a second heating element for heating the water, the second heating element configured to draw the maximum current from the power source;
• determine, by the controller, that a current temperature of the water in a heating chamber of the water heater is less than a temperature setpoint;
• activate, by the controller, the second heating element to heat the water in the heating chamber;
• determine, by the controller, that a threshold amount of time has passed since activating the second heating element;
• and
• disable, by the controller and based on the determination that the threshold amount of time has passed, the second heating element.

A water heater comprising:

• a heating chamber configured to hold a fluid;
• a heat pump for heating the fluid;
• a first heating element for supplementing the heat pump in heating the fluid, the first heating element configured to draw less than a maximum current from a power source;
• a second heating element for heating the fluid, the second heating element configured to draw the maximum current from the power source;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• receive an indication of demand for hot water;
• determine that a current temperature of the fluid in the heating chamber is less than a temperature setpoint;
• activate the second heating element to heat the fluid in the heating chamber;
• determine that a threshold amount of time has passed since activating the second heating element;
• and
• disable, based on the determination that the threshold amount of time has passed, the second heating element.