Ward Burton is one of the most acclaimed drivers in NASCAR history with a victory at the 2002 Daytona 500 and multiple wins at Darlington, considered the toughest course on the NASCAR circuit. Burton knows it takes solid, dependable equipment to succeed on the track, and he applies that principle to his home life too. Read more
State Water Heaters
Ward Burton is one of the most acclaimed drivers in NASCAR history with a victory at the 2002 Daytona 500 and multiple wins at Darlington, considered the toughest course on the NASCAR circuit.
Burton knows it takes solid, dependable equipment to succeed on the track, and he applies that principle to his home life too. He began his relationship with State Water Heaters in the 1990s when he selected a large State gas unit to handle the hot water needs of his Halifax, Virginia home.
A believer in State durability, Burton partnered with the company as an official ambassador for the State brand. He uses State products not only at his primary residence and vacation homes, but also at all facilities operated by the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation. Continuing in his father’s footsteps, Ward’s son Jeb is now part of the State racing team in his #8 Chevy.
When it was time to update the water heater in his North Carolina vacation home, Burton took advantage of the opportunity to select a unit that would reduce both energy usage and his utility bills by installing an 80-gallon ProLine® XE hybrid electric heat pump.
“It’s the best water heating technology on the market today if you want to start seeing immediate savings,” said Dwayne Kincaid from Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Wilmington, NC, the company that installed Burton’s new State unit.
Burton chose heat pump technology because it’s more than twice as efficient as a standard electric water heater. It will lower water heating costs by 70 percent or more, paying for itself in 2-3 years. “That’s just one of the many reasons why I have State water heaters in all my homes and foundation properties,” said Burton.
Created for the way people live and use hot water, the ProLine® XE heat pump’s four operating modes; efficiency, hybrid, electric, and vacation, will allow for Burton to customize the water heater’s performance to his lifestyle. With just one touch, the heat pump can go into vacation mode, maintaining tank temperature at 60° F during vacations or extended absence to reduce operating costs and provide freeze protection. “It gives owners of vacation or rental properties the peace of mind of knowing that they’re not throwing money down the drain,” says Kincaid.
“Over the years, I’ve done a lot of events with State dealers and contractors,” he said. “They’re great people who make and maintain great products.”
For more information, visit www.statewaterheaters.com.
State Water Heaters has launched the new iCOMM Connectivity Platform, breaking down old barriers surrounding remote monitoring and hot water management, placing control firmly in the hands of commercial plumbing contractors and facility managers. The new iCOMM Connectivity Platform is available via the State Water Heaters app on iOS- and Android-ready mobile devices. All State Read more
State Water Heaters has launched the new iCOMM Connectivity Platform, breaking down old barriers surrounding remote monitoring and hot water management, placing control firmly in the hands of commercial plumbing contractors and facility managers.
The new iCOMM Connectivity Platform is available via the State Water Heaters app on iOS- and Android-ready mobile devices. All State ULTRA FORCE® SUF® models now come standard with onboard Wi-Fi, which makes remotely connecting and interacting with ULTRA FORCE water heaters easy and free.
Another benefit of the iCOMM Connectivity Platform is flexibility. According to Jeff Storie, director of marketing for State Water Heaters, commercial water heater customers ranging from small businesses to chain operations could benefit from the system’s real-time data and alerts.
“The iCOMM platform makes it easy to monitor and maintain commercial hot water systems from virtually any smartphone or tablet,” Storie said. “Commercial contractors and facility managers will appreciate the app’s ability to show them their customers have the hot water they need to run their businesses.”
Installers will find the latest iCOMM system easy to set up. Connecting and registering an iCOMM-compatible ULTRA FORCE water heater involves updating or installing the State Water Heaters app, connecting to the building’s Wi-Fi network and completing the step-by-step app sign-up process. Once connected, users can interact with one or multiple heaters on the app, adjusting temperature and differential, viewing status and fault history, and setting custom alerts.
State Water Heaters first unveiled iCOMM for water heater connectivity in 2009. The system operated through a desktop application that monitored a water heater hardwired to the Internet, said Matt Schulz, the product manager leading the new iCOMM rollout.
“State Water Heaters’ new iCOMM platform is designed for commercial applications, such as institutions, multi-family housing, restaurants and hospitality spaces that will benefit from its ability to provide mobile two-way communication. These services come all at no cost for hardware, subscriptions or any other fees,” Schulz said. “The new iCOMM service provides total transparency into water heater usage, remote adjustability and convenience that will allow our customers to save time and gain peace of mind.”
Installing a commercial hot water system is rarely an easy task. Each business has its own distinct challenges: Setups and infrastructure are different. The amount of hot water a business needs varies. Commercial building rules must be closely followed. Oh, and if the installation is not performed properly, the system may not work or, worse Read more
Installing a commercial hot water system is rarely an easy task. Each business has its own distinct challenges:
Setups and infrastructure are different. The amount of hot water a business needs varies. Commercial building rules must be closely followed. Oh, and if the installation is not performed properly, the system may not work or, worse, fail prematurely.
Now, add the pressure of a can’t-miss deadline, a looming inspection that has to be approved and television cameras recording every move of the installation.
Jason Wandrey and his team at Cal-West Construction never choose to work under these circumstances, but this was an unusual project. This renovation would be featured on SPIKE TV’s Bar Rescue.
For those who have never seen the docu-reality series “Bar Rescue,” here’s how it works: In each episode, host Jon Taffer, a nightlife consultant who has started and flipped more than 600 bars, revamps a struggling bar business.
In this episode, Taffer’s team embarked on making over The Tradewinds, a neighborhood establishment in charming, downtown Cotati, California, near Sonoma wine country. As part of The Tradewinds transformation, “Bar Rescue” sought to expand food service capabilities, which requires more food preparation space, more cleaning area and more hot water.
Wandrey, president of Santa Rosa, California-based Cal-West General Construction, Inc., agreed to perform the kitchen upgrades, which would have to be completed in a tight timeframe to match the show’s production schedule. The bar would close on Thursday and need to be ready for customers on Saturday evening.
With 120 minutes to go before a scheduled inspection with the health department, his contractors had completed installing new sinks and connected the existing water heater to the system. But they ran into a problem.
“The existing 50-gallon natural gas hot water system was functioning, but it couldn’t keep up with new demand, and we had none of the parts and pieces you need for a water heater installation,” Wandrey said. “The challenge was that the health inspector was coming in two hours, and we had to have their approval so the bar could reopen.”
Acting fast, the team specified a commercial water heater to support The Tradewind’s two three-pot sinks, one two-pot sink, a dish washer and bathroom sinks. Wandrey chose a commercial gas State Water Heaters ForceTM 90+, a light-duty power direct vent heater with 96 percent thermal efficiency and a rapid recovery rate.
During the accelerated but smooth installation, Cal-West easily upgraded the gas line from ½-inch to a ¾-inch supply line to feed the 100,000 BTU input into the tank. The water heater fit in the location, and there was no conflict with sizing the pipe.
The 50-gallon Force 90+ is designed to generate a constant flow of 4 gallons per minute, more than enough hot water for this bar. It’s an ideal option for small businesses looking to save space and reduce energy costs.
“They pulled a rabbit out of their hat at the last minute when they showed up with a new water heater,” Wandrey said. “It was an extreme circumstance, but our crew kept a clear head and pushed through to get it done.”
The water heater upgrade didn’t make the director’s cut, but it has made a difference for management and employees providing hot water for cleaning dishes, glassware and cutlery.
The food service program made possible by the Force 90+ has helped The Tradewinds increase the bar’s sales by 25 percent, according to Bar Rescue.
Eric Loria, one of The Tradewinds owners, told cameras: “I feel more like a proud owner than I’ve ever felt.”
Location:
The Tradewinds
Cotati, California
Products Used:
· State Water Heaters ForceTM 90+
· 50-gallon commercial gas light-duty power direct vent heater
· 96 percent thermal efficiency
ENERGY STAR® qualified
Helical internal heat exchanger for maximum heat transfer and energy savings
· Commercial-grade glass lining, protected by two anode rods
· Uniform Energy Factor of 0.88
· Rapid recovery rate of 129 gallons per hour (90°F temperature rise)
· 6-year limited warranty
· Meets Ultra-Low NOx emission requirements