Water Heaters

By: Tom Kelly, Bosch Thermotechnology Corp.

Earth Day is just around the corner, which means concerned citizens are thinking about planting trees, cleaning up trash in their neighborhood, taking shorter showers, and biking or walking instead of driving.

Of course, good behavior one day a year doesn’t really make much of a difference in the long run. Actual lifestyle changes on a large scale are what really impact the planet’s future, and a change that’s good for the Earth and the wallet is a win-win situation. An option contractors and plumbers can present to homeowners that will improve their carbon footprint by saving energy and water – as well as help them pocket some extra cash in the long run – is a tankless water heater.

Not many people think about how much their water heater affects their total energy use – in fact, most people don’t think about their water heater at all; it gets installed in a closet and forgotten about as long as it’s working.

But even if a homeowner never thinks about their water heater as long as they’re getting a warm shower out of it, it’s still using energy to heat water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – even when no one is actually in the shower. All this unnecessary energy use adds up: Water heating is the second-highest expense in a home, accounting for about 18 percent of a utility bill after heating and cooling, according to Energy.gov.

Lower utility expenses are one reason residential homeowners are looking at tankless water heaters, which heat water directly without the use of a storage tank. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit, and either gas or electricity heats the water.

A global water heater study from Persistence Market Research recently showed that tankless water heaters are greatly expanding in popularity in North America; in fact, the study predicts that by 2020, the market in North America could surpass $4.3 billion.

Tankless heaters have a few key advantages for residential homeowners:

Long-term savings: The initial investment in a tankless water heater is greater than that of a conventional storage water heater, but tankless water heaters will typically last longer; they have a life expectancy of more than 20 years, compared with 10 to 15 years for conventional heaters. They also have easily replaceable parts, which can extend their life by many more years.

Tankless water heaters have lower operating and energy costs, which can offset its higher purchase price. Homeowners also can recoup some of the initial cost via tax credits for residential energy efficiency and installation costs. There also may be Energy Star incentives and rebates available depending on region of the country.

Energy and water savings: The United States Geological Survey Water Science School estimates that the average person uses about 80 to 100 gallons of water per day. Going tankless can greatly reduce that amount.

According to Energy.gov, for homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, tankless water heaters can be 24 percent to 34 percent more energy efficient than conventional storage tank water heaters. Even in a home that uses more than twice that – 86 gallons per day – a tankless heater can yield an eight percent to 14 percent energy savings. A homeowner can achieve even greater energy savings of 27 percent to 50 percent by installing a tankless water heater at each hot water outlet.

Tank-style water heaters’ efficiency – already lower than a tankless heater – decreases over time due to sediment buildup. As a result, a homeowner pays higher utility bills that continue to increase over the life of the tank heater.

Continuous hot water: Even though the tankless water heater is saving energy by not keeping water constantly hot, the heater will zap water to the right temperature on demand – no more worrying about running out of hot water if there are multiple people showering in a row or if the dishwasher is running, as long as the homeowner has purchased the appropriately sized heater for his or her needs.

Fresher water: Because of the on-demand nature of the heaters, hot water isn’t sitting in a 50-gallon tank for an extended amount of time.

More space: Tankless heaters are generally small and wall mounted, meaning they take up a much smaller footprint than a regular heater, which usually needs its own closet. Models designed for outdoor installation free up even more space in the home.

By presenting the ways a tankless water heater can save energy, water and money for a homeowner, a plumber or contractor can give customers higher-end options for heating water that are better for the environment – keeping the spirit of Earth Day alive all year round. 

About the Author
Tom Kelly is the Applications, Training and Technical Services Manager at Bosch Thermotechnology Corp. Bosch Thermotechnology is a leading source of high quality cooling and heating systems, including tankless, point-of-use and electric water heaters, floor-standing and wall-hung boilers, Bosch and FHP geothermal heat pump systems as well as controls and accessories for every product line.

Rinnai Expands Non-Condensing Series With High Performing Tankless Water Heater at Attractive Price Point

The number-one selling tankless brand in the U.S. rounds out its non-condensing line of tankless water heaters

Rinnai, the number-one selling brand of tankless water heaters in the United States and Canada, has expanded its non-condensing line of tankless water heaters with the introduction of the V94 models. These new models offer consumers the highest performance – nearly ten gallons of output per minute – in the Value series lineup with 199,000 BTU. Available in both natural gas and propane, the V94 non-condensing tankless water heaters offer high performance at an attractive price point, while providing an endless supply of hot water, energy savings, a space-saving design and environmental benefits.

“Our new V94 tankless water heaters are ideal for new residential construction projects, where today’s homeowners are demanding increased energy efficiency without compromising comfort or convenience. By going tankless, they’re able to enjoy an endless supply of hot water while saving energy,” said Susan Mittelbrun, Vice President of Marketing at Rinnai America Corporation.

A recent report from NewHomeSource, a leader in new home topics offering advice from architects, contractors and other experts, ranked energy efficient appliances as one of the top ten features buyers want in new homes.

Other benefits of the V94 non-condensing tankless water heaters include an energy factor of up to .82 EF rating, low NOx emissions and compatibility with pipe cover (PCD03-EWV) and bottom plate (PCD03-SM2-BP).

There are five new models in the V94 value series lineup, which are available this month for purchase through Rinnai wholesale distribution: two V94i models in natural gas and propane for indoor use; a V94Xi available in natural gas only for indoor use; and two V94e models in natural gas and propane for exterior installations.

More details about these models can be found at rinnai.us/water-heater/products.

This new facility was completed in early January with the hard work and planning of HTP’s Field Technical Manager, Chris Bernier and Technical Field Trainer, Brent Brehant, along with several others.

A class schedule has been created and is available on HTP’s website. This schedule allows people to register for the classes online and gives the option for hotel accommodations.

HTP’s Training Center is 2,600 square feet and will consist of both classroom and lab environments. All the classes are hands on and will be using supplied laptops, combustion analyzers, multimeters, manometers, and hand tools.  Live hydronic and hot water heating products will be on display while allowing for troubleshooting sessions, composition testing, and more.

Classes will be taught by Brent Brehant and/or Chris Bernier. If you would like a tour of the new facility, please contact Chris Bernier.

Source: The Grand Opening of HTP’s New Training Center

NEW MODELS FOR BOTH CEILING AND WALL MOUNTED EQUIPMENT SUPPORT 

Perfect for plumbing contractors!

• Ideal for supporting Water Heaters, Water Source Heat Pumps, Fan Coil Units, and Remote Chillers
• Includes a built-in drain pan with 1 1/4” drain fitting (available in PVC or Welded Steel)
• Ceiling Mount attaches to standard 3/8” or 1/2” all-thread rods
• Wall Mount includes all-thread rods & support brackets and mounts directly to concrete or wood/metal studs