Water heater manufacturers appear to be well-prepared for new energy-efficiency rules from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that will take effect on April 16. However, many plumbing contractors, designers and engineers are still assessing how the new requirements will affect the replacement, remodeling and new construction markets. “Contracting firms will need to get their Read more
Water Heaters
Water heater manufacturers appear to be well-prepared for new energy-efficiency rules from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that will take effect on April 16. However, many plumbing contractors, designers and engineers are still assessing how the new requirements will affect the replacement, remodeling and new construction markets.
“Contracting firms will need to get their employees up to speed on the new technologies,” said Chad Sanborn, product marketing manager, Bradford White, in an interview with Perspective Media. “Training on the new products will be critical, as well as education on the details and reason for the change.”
Leading manufacturers like Bradford White, Rheem and A.O. Smith have been developing new models and platforms for several years in preparation for the new standards incorporated in the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA). “Along with launching a new product line, we have also been educating customers and consumers in order to make this transition as smooth as possible,” said Stacey Gearhart, director of product and channel marketing for Rheem’s Water Heating Division, in a recent interview. “Our industry is absolutely ready for April 16.”
The new DOE rules mandate higher energy factor (EF) ratings on virtually all residential water heating products, including gas-fired, oil-fired, electric, tabletop, instantaneous gas-fired and instantaneous electric.
While all affected models will see an increase in the EF requirement, the most dramatic changes are in larger capacity models (see accompanying chart). That’s because the only technologies that meet the EF requirements over 55 gallons are electric heat pump water heaters and high-efficiency condensing gas water heaters.
The DOE estimates that the new 2015 standards will result in approximately $63 billion in energy bill savings for products shipped from 2015-2044. The standard will avoid about 172.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of about 33.8 million automobiles.
“Homeowners will have a lot to gain from the new NAECA guidelines with some saving as much as $365 per year in energy bills,” said Sanborn. “On the other hand, a new type of water heater may need to be considered in order to meet the NAECA guidelines.”
While the operating cost of the new water heaters will be less because of their increased energy efficiency, the homeowner’s maintenance costs may be affected by other factors, such as the integration of electronics, blowers, fans, condensers, or other components.
Another potential drawback is that a new water heater is likely to have lower hot water deliverability than prior models. “For example, a model with less input may be required to achieve the higher efficiency, which will ultimately result in less hot water delivered,” Sanborn said.
On the positive side, homeowners the energy savings from the new technology can help offset some of the product and installation costs. Also, some platforms, such as electric heat pump water heaters, may provide supplemental cooling and dehumidification benefits to the owner.
Design and installation issues
While residential consumers will be happy about the prospective cost savings with the energy-efficient technology, plumbing designers and contractors need to consider other issues associated with the changeover. For example, achieving a higher EF rating often means adding more insulation to the tank, making it larger and thicker. In addition, more insulation may be required for piping and fittings.
Therefore, a post-April 2015 water heater may be larger than the current model and require more space for a replacement or a new installation. “In some rare cases, water heaters may have to be moved to another location if their new sizes cannot be accommodated within the current space,” noted Sanborn.
In other cases, multiple tanks might be necessary to deliver an sufficient supply of hot water to the homeowner, added Gearhart.
Another installation issue is that condensing gas water heaters are usually significantly heavier than standard models. They may also require flue dampers or electronic ignition. Oil-fired products may also need extra insulation, as well as flue dampers or new combustion systems. For contractors, that means many installations that were once a one-person job may now require two people. Service trucks may also need to change to accommodate transporting the taller, wider and heavier equipment.”
Because gas water heaters also have electronic control systems and require 120-volt service, contractors may need to purchase multi-meters for smooth installations as well as trouble-shooting. They may also need to price in the additional time and components, including venting materials and condensate pumps when pricing new or replacement jobs.
Designers, engineers and contractors must also adjust their plans for gas-fired models to include a venting system and a drainage system for disposing of condensate. That means the prior location of a water heater may not be the best site for a new model, which typically requires a large room or a duct to an adjoining room. With electronic cycling, the new EF models are also likely to produce more noise than standard models.
The commercial market
In a prior interview, Sanford said the upcoming EF mandate will have little effect on most of the commercial market. “The change only affects water heaters with inputs of 75,000 BTU/hr or less, which are typically installed in residential applications,” he said. “However, some light duty commercial applications, such as small office buildings or small apartment complexes, will fall under this category.”
Since plumbing engineers typically specify commercially rated products on their projects, the impact will be minimal for those installations. However, some small businesses with low hot water demands use a small residential water heater to save on equipment costs.
Large apartment and condo developments will be affected by the new rules if the design calls for individual water heaters for each unit. Builders and developers of these projects will have to work with their designers and architects to make sure residences are designed with adequate space to accommodate the new platforms.
Learn the new landscape
Water heating professionals encourage contractors to learn all they can about the new product lines and the NAECA standards. “Consumers will rely on their contractors to determine how to get the largest amount of hot water for their homes,” said Gearhart. “Becoming familiar with these platforms allows you to determine the best solution for each installation, and answer your customers’ questions.”
Sanford said Bradford White has been sharing information with industry partners and customers since 2011. The manufacturer also opened an International Technical Excellence Center (iTEC ) to help educate customers and business partners about current and future products.
“Along with our manufacturers’ representatives, we have been conducting NAECA seminars for the past three plus years,” he said. During that time, the company has had NAECA information available on its website and distributed more than 100,000 brochures on the topic.
But as recently as the January 2015 AHR show in Chicago, Sanford spoke with some plumbing professionals, who said they were just starting to pay attention to the matter in detail.
Summing up the situation, Sanford said, “Be prepared! If you deal with water heaters on any level and you are not familiar with NAECA and its effect on products, then speak with your preferred manufacturer, wholesaler or professional installer. The new standards will present some challenges, but they will also present opportunities for those who are ready to help their customers through the transition.”
Noritz is the first tankless manufacturer to offer a condensing residential unit with top-mounted connections and flexible venting through existing B-Vent, making the replacement of 40-gallon, tank water heaters easier and more affordable than ever. Noritz America is revolutionizing the water heater industry, taking tankless-for-tank replacement installation to a new level of ease and affordability Read more
Noritz is the first tankless manufacturer to offer a condensing residential unit with top-mounted connections and flexible venting through existing B-Vent, making the replacement of 40-gallon, tank water heaters easier and more affordable than ever.
Noritz America is revolutionizing the water heater industry, taking tankless-for-tank replacement installation to a new level of ease and affordability, with the new EZTR40 condensing tankless water heater for residential applications. Noritz will be showcasing the unit to contractors with the EZTR40 Roadshow, visiting over 250 locations in the South and West from October 1 to November 20.
Designed to replace a conventional 40-gallon tank-type water heater for two-bath residences in warm-weather climates, the new EZTR40 streamlines the tank-replacement process with three key features:
The EZTR40 vents with two-inch, flexible polypropylene tubing that is threaded directly through the existing B-Vent formerly used by the tank water heater it is replacing. As a result, there is no need to spend time changing out the vent.
In addition, water connections are located on the top of the EZTR40, not the bottom. This allows the flexible hot-and-cold-water lines used by the tank-type water heater to be quickly and easily reconnected to the new EZTR40. Not only does this save time traditionally spent creating new plumbing around the tankless unit, but it also gives the final application a cleaner look.
The EZTR40 uses the same half-inch gas line used by the old tank unit, which eliminates the need to up-size to 3/4-inch run in replacement situations. This cuts labor time by up to half, while avoiding the material cost for new gas piping, resulting in a substantially reduced installed cost to the homeowner.
“Noritz is the first and only tankless water heater manufacturer to offer all these features that make the tank-replacement job more intuitive and straightforward — and therefore quicker and less costly,” says Noritz Marketing Manager Jason Fleming. “With the EZRT40, plumbing installers and their customers get the benefits of time savings and installation ease with all the energy- and space-saving advantages of tankless.”
To make installation even easier:
The EZTR40 includes a step-by-step manual that gives simple, visual instructions on how to install the unit.
To further streamline the installation process, the packaging includes a QR code linked to a five-minute instructional video that can be easily accessed with a smart phone, tablet or laptop on the jobsite.
The EZTR40 is packaged with all the accessories needed for a successful installation.
Measuring 18.3 inches wide x 27.2 inches high x 9.4 inches deep, the unit weighs only 50 pounds, so that a single tradesperson can handle the installation.
Other important features include:
TEMPERATURE SETTINGS: 115°F to 140°F.
BTU INPUT RANGE: 15,000-120,000 BTU per hour, with a maximum flow rate of 6.6 gallons per minute at a 35°F rise in water temperature.
BUILT-IN DIGITAL DISPLAY: In addition to controlling operations, the integral digital display permits basic servicing without the need for a remote device. Located on the lower right of the front panel, this readout assists troubleshooting by indicating flow rates, water temperature and common error codes.
12-YEAR WARRANTY: The EZTR40 protects the environment by heating water strictly on demand, while offering a longer product life cycle than storage tank-type models. The warranty for each unit is 12 years on the two heat exchangers, made of long-lasting, high-grade stainless steel; five years on parts; one year on labor.
For more information on the EZTR40 condensing tankless water heater, visit www.noritz.com/professionals.
Bosch Therm & Greentherm Tankless Water Heaters Have a New Look & Meet or Exceed DOE NAECA Standards
Therm and Greentherm Models Now Join Other Bosch Residential Product Lines with the New White Color Bosch Models Meet or Exceed 2015 NAECA Efficiency Standards Heat Exchanger Warranty Now 10 Years on Therm 210 ES & Greentherm Models When Used in Applications of Controlled Recirculation & Combination DHW- Space Heating Bosch now offers its Read more
- Therm and Greentherm Models Now Join Other Bosch Residential Product Lines with the New White Color
- Bosch Models Meet or Exceed 2015 NAECA Efficiency Standards
- Heat Exchanger Warranty Now 10 Years on Therm 210 ES & Greentherm Models When Used in Applications of Controlled Recirculation & Combination DHW- Space Heating
Bosch now offers its Therm and Greentherm tankless water heaters (TWH) in a new color scheme: Bosch White. These formerly silver-gray painted products are now visually consistent with Bosch’s Greenstar boiler and Greensource heat pump residential product lines.
Bosch Therm and Greentherm products with the new white color scheme will be shipped as the former inventory of silver-gray products becomes depleted.
With the new April 16, 2015 DOE National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA) in place for residential gas-fired and electric water heaters, the energy factor efficiency standard rises from .62 to .82 for gas-fired water heaters and remains at .93 for electric tankless water heaters.
Bosch offers gas-fired Therm and Greentherm TWHs that meet or exceed the standard with energy factors ranging from .82 up to .95. All Bosch electric water heaters exceed the standard with energy factors ranging from a low of .99 to a high of 1.0.
As of April 2014, Bosch has also improved its heat exchanger limited warranty to 10 years on Greentherm models C950ES and C1050ES, and Therm model C1210ES when used for controlled recirculation and combination DHW and space heating applications. Please refer to www.boschheatingandcooling for complete warranty details.
As part of a 100-year old operation, the Wyandotte Adult Detention Center in Kansas City, Kansas, seeks to provide a safe, secure and humane environment for correctional staff, deputies, visitors and detainees. In order to provide the best service possible, the Wyandotte County Jail turned to Lochinvar for an efficiency upgrade that would help the Read more
As part of a 100-year old operation, the Wyandotte Adult Detention Center in Kansas City, Kansas, seeks to provide a safe, secure and humane environment for correctional staff, deputies, visitors and detainees. In order to provide the best service possible, the Wyandotte County Jail turned to Lochinvar for an efficiency upgrade that would help the facility save on water and utilities.
Kansas City-based contractor Lexington Plumbing worked with Lochinvar to design an installation that would provide the utmost advancements in energy efficiency for the county jail. With thermal efficiencies as high as 98 percent and a turndown ratio of 5:1, the fully modulating ARMOR® Condensing Water Heater was the ideal fit.
Unlike a normal bid and spec project, Lexington Plumbing started the conversation with the facilities department about high efficiency. The facility team had initial concerns about the upfront costs and reliability of high-efficiency systems, so Lexington Plumbing provided testimonials and local referrals that had similar installations. When the County team found that the energy savings were real and significant, and the installations highly successful, they were very interested.
“Plumbing Contractors have historically not had payback and high-efficiency systems to sell to the customer,” said Tom Axtell, President of Lexington Plumbing. “For the contractors who have the technical capacity and sales confidence in the product, it becomes a competitive advantage.”
The facility’s original system was comprised of two 70 percent efficient water heaters tied into a vent that extended up through the building. The Lexington Plumbing team removed the old units and installed two 800,000 Btu/hr ARMOR models, stacked with two 500-gallon insulated storage tanks to provide maximum savings. With ARMOR’s flexible venting options, the new units could be vented directly though the sidewall of the building.
Another key ARMOR feature is Lochinvar’s exclusive SMART SYSTEM™ interface, which provides complete control of the system’s entire range of functions, simplifying installation and operation while also offering complete access to performance data and history. The SMART SYSTEM operating control also features a built-in cascading sequencer that allows the two ARMOR units to work together to fire as low as 10 percent of total maximum input and smoothly modulate up to 100 percent as demand increases, keeping operating costs to an absolute minimum.
“We consistently recommend Lochinvar equipment because of their constant innovations and technologically advanced systems,” said Don Lawhon of Lexington Plumbing. “With the installation of the ARMOR units with their SMART SYSTEM control, the facility managers at the county jail can now adjust the firing rate of these units as opposed to using the 100 percent firing rate on their old water heaters. The ARMOR units will fire at the rate needed to keep the water supply at the right temperature – and energy bills where they should be.”
Adding to the energy savings, the SMART SYSTEM’s night setback feature can be pre-programmed to shut off or slow down when the jail is less occupied. In addition, SMART SYSTEM enables ARMOR to communicate seamlessly in real time with building management systems by utilizing an on-board MODBUS protocol.
The unique ARMOR design also protects against the harmful effects of lime scale buildup, which can cause a traditional water heater to fail in as little as two to five years and substantially increase operating costs. For example, just 1/4-inch of scale in the tank can increase operating costs by as much as 25 percent. Since ARMOR heats the water and then deposits it in an unfired storage tank, lime scale buildup does not impair the heat transfer efficiency.
Following the installation, facility managers are extremely pleased with the increase in efficiency delivered by the two ARMOR Condensing Water Heaters, the fact that they have never run out of hot water and that the system has not required maintenance.
“The facility management team at the Wyandotte County Jail was initially attracted to the fuel savings attributed to the Lochinvar units, and they haven’t been disappointed,” said Tom Axtell, president of Lexington Plumbing. “Having a highly efficient system is vital for a facility that uses this much hot water on a daily basis, and they will be able to pay back the cost for the new equipment in two and a half to three years. Now that this project is completed, the facility personnel told us they wish they would have upgraded sooner.”
For more information, visit www.Lochinvar.com.
Noritz America continues to streamline its website (Noritz.com) with two newly redesigned, user-friendly Professionals and Products webpages. Noritz recently added the Noritz University online training portal for convenient access to education resources. “Our main goal is to reassure both the professional and the consumer that they’re getting the right product,” says Jason Fleming, Marketing Manager Read more
Noritz America continues to streamline its website (Noritz.com) with two newly redesigned, user-friendly Professionals and Products webpages. Noritz recently added the Noritz University online training portal for convenient access to education resources.
“Our main goal is to reassure both the professional and the consumer that they’re getting the right product,” says Jason Fleming, Marketing Manager for Noritz America. “We want to make sure we give them everything they need to make an informed decision.”
The new Professionals page has been restructured so that content is easier for trade users to find. Information on tankless water heater models, accessories, technical support and other resources for the trades are now available in one convenient location on the site.
The new Products webpage simplifies the tankless product selection process. Designed to display clearly and legibly on smartphones and pads as well as desktops and laptops, the new page clarifies the characteristics of every product, so that specifiers, installers and end users can select the right product for their particular applications. “Having the information laid out in a side-by-side comparison format helps the professional or a consumer make a decision confidently,” says Fleming.
Added features on the Products webpage include:
Website visitors now have the ability to search by product series, including ecoTough, proTough, valueSolutions and Commercial, as well as Accessories. Users can further filter their searches by Indoor (DV) or Outdoor (OD) models.
A ‘Compare Models’ check box also gives users the option to compare the model number of household bathrooms, climate type, vent type, and minimum and maximum gas inputs (Btuh).
To view the new Products and Professionals pages, please visit www.noritz.com.