I need to replace the water heater in a house I’m renting to one of my kids.  The house is located in Central NY, zone 5.  The current heater is propane.  

I’d like to replace it with an electric heater and am considering an air source heat pump style heater since they are supposed to be more reliable and longer lived than regular heaters as well as having lower annual operating costs.  

What are good brands and models to look at? 

Does it make sense to duct the exhaust air to the outside of the building in the winter rather than increasing the house’s heat load by keeping the exhaust air inside?