[kalleboo]

All the big Japanese makes have them. They basically look like a water tank with the outside portion of a mini split air conditioner hooked up next to them.

With my power company in Japan, by going "all-electric" (having an eco-cute and induction stove), I qualify for a rate plan where I can trade off solar power peak hours (half price) for the duck curve hours (double price), so I have my water heating only running during cheap hours and cut down on air conditioning during the expensive hours.

Ours is from Mitsubishi and is just the builder-grade one from our fix-rate renovation company. It will connect to the wifi so you can start a bath from an app on your phone on your way home from work. There's also an intercom between the bath and the kitchen so mom can tell the kids to get out of the bath, dinner is done. Traditional Japanese values.

Mitsubishi https://www.mitsubishielectric.co.jp/home/ecocute/

Panasonic https://sumai.panasonic.jp/hp/

Daikin https://www.ac.daikin.co.jp/sumai/alldenka/ecocute/structure

Corona https://www.corona.co.jp/eco/

Noritz https://www.noritz.co.jp/product/kyutou_bath/ecocute/

[numpad0]

btw, "eco-cute" is a pun on cute and kyuto(給湯, "supply hotwater")

[klausa]

The bath intercom always cracks me up. I’m sure it makes sense in bigger, maybe multi-level houses; but I can’t imagine myself ever using it in my 2LDK.

[rawgabbit]

I see the Mitsubishi one uses CO2 as the refrigerant. And the warranty lasts for ten years. And the model for cold regions recommends putting the outdoor unit in an elevated covered stand. I assume to keep the snow and wet away. I will look at the other models later. Thanks again.

[bombcar]

I thought so to until I repurposed some old Cisco phones - the difference between talking and yelling is huge.

[rawgabbit]

Hey thanks. I'll be reading these in-depth. I am fascinated by Japanese appliance tech-wizardry. LOL about the mom using the intercom to get the kids out of the bath.