Instant Hot Water Heaters

The Water heater is one of neglected appliances in homes, usually tucked away in some corner of the garage. We don’t pay much attention to it until it breaks. It has been around in its current form for a long time. It was invented in the 1889 by Edwin Ruud and it hasn’t changed much since then.

It consists of a 40 or more gallon cylindrical container with a gas burner or sometimes an electric element. It heats the water slowly and keeps it hot all the time. Its burner has a pilot light that is burning gas all the time and the main burner comes periodically into action to heat the water again because the water in the container has cooled off.

Well, that goes on day in day out even if the water is never used. That is because the water loses its heat to the surrounding. It is like having a kettle full of water on the cook top all the time. The newer tank water heaters are better insulated than before to reduce the standby heat loss but never the less they lose heat and the water must be constantly reheated. In today’s times where energy has become expensive and will become even more that is a total waste of energy and money. It burdens the environment even unnecessarily and contributes to earth warming and climate change.

Other types of water heaters

Hot water gas heater is not your only option. There are several other heaters, you can use where gas supply is not readily available. For example electric water heater is in high demand and many people prefer electric to gas. However, gas water heaters are still the most popular and majority of people who buy heaters, buy gas water heaters.

Instant hot water heaters

A recent invention is a tankless water heater. This type of heater brings you hot water the moment you turn the tap on. As the name suggests tankless heaters have no storage tank for water, they heat it as you use it. They are also called instant heaters. This is very much appreciated by many people because now they can take bath anytime without having to worry of switching on the geyser 20-30 minutes ahead of time. Also if many people take a shower one after the other, an instant water heater is a great advantage - you will not run out of hot water.

Solar water heaters

Solar water heaters are also a great advance in technology. With light capturing panels installed on your roof, solar heaters use the sun as an energy source. So in theory, solar heater is free all together, apart from the initial installation cost. However, the initial cost is very high. And also if there are several cloudy days, your solar water heater stops working.

And still most people prefer gas water heaters, because it is simple and also economical. It is really much cheaper than any of the electric or solar heaters, including tankless varieties.

Gas water heater disadvantages

There are some drawbacks to gas hot water heaters. First, compared to electric heaters they are slow. Second, you can only use natural gas heater where there is gas supply. But on the bright side, if you want your water cooler, you can turn gas heater down straight away, and get the exact temperature you like.

Over all, it looks like a gas hot water heater is still the best choice for most families. Modern technology is good, but good old gas is proven to be the best.

The Bosch Aquastar models provide you with the best features for the price.  The Bosch Aquastar 2700 ES can provide you with enough hot water in order to run many different hot water appliances in your home. 

For example, you can run a dish washer, shower, and more using the same gas tankless hot water heater.  Unlike a traditional hot water heater, you can have a endless supply of hot water for your shower or other hot water appliances.  One of the best things about this is that you do not need to run your gas bill up using energy that you do not need.  Instead, the Bosch Aquastar will only use energy when you are using the hot water in the tank.  Other than that, your water will remain warm, but it will truly warm up when you need it most.  Bosch will supply you a constant supply of hot water and only turn on when you are using it!

While the Bosch Aquastar is a great model for people who need a large solution for their hot water problem.  Takagi gas tankless water heaters are great for people who either want a large or a small tankless hot water heater.  Takagi has been in the business of water heaters since 1952.  That means that they know exactly what you will need to provide hot water for your home.  Takagi tankless water heaters are both large and small enough to work in any home, apartment or condominium.  The Takagi tankless hot water heater also does not cost as much as the Bosch Aquastar models.  You do not need to worry about how much gas you will use, as the Takagi models are very energy efficient, sometimes even more so than the models that Bosch offers.  

Another thing that is important to consider when you are dealing with a tankless water heater is how much water you are using.  The large model of the Bosch Aquastar can provide you with a large quantity of water that is great for taking a shower and running multiple appliances at the same time.  However, if you are living by yourself, or do not need to run many appliances at the same time, the Takagi tankless water heaters can provide you with the hot water that you need in order to take a shower, run your dishwasher or simply wash your hands.

Tankless water heaters have advantages  and disadvatages, just like everything else. They can supply an endless supply of hot water, and can save energy.

However, they are limited in the amount of hot water that can be produced at one time and they are more expensive to purchase than a conventional storage type water heater.

They also make it take longer for you to get your hot water, since they don't start heating the water until you turn on the faucet. This problem can be solved by using a demand hot water pump, which in combination with the tankless heater can get your hot water to you at less than half the time it would take running the faucet full blast, and the pump doesn’t run water down the drain, so you save not only time, but water as well.

The tankless water heaters also cause an increase in water wastage since you have to let the water run longer to get your hot water. This problem is also solved when using the demand pump.

Tankless water heaters come in a variety of sizes for different applications, such as a whole-house tankless water heater, a source for a remote bathroom or hot tub, or as a boiler to provide hot water for a home heating system.

Tankless hot water heaters are available in propane (LP), natural gas, or electric models.

Tankless water heaters can also be used as a booster for dishwashers, washing machines, and as a backup for solar or wood-fired domestic systems.

You may install one centrally, or you can install one at the point of use, depending on the amount of hot water required. For example, you can use a small electric unit as a booster for a remote bathroom or laundry, or in the kitchen for cooking and instant coffee etc.

Gas units with a standing (constantly burning) pilot light, however, offset some of the savings achieved by the elimination of tank standby losses with the energy consumed by the pilot light.

Moreover, much of the heat produced by the pilot light of a tank-type model heats the water in the tank, heat that is just lost with the instantaneous units.

An alternative to the standing pilot light is an intermittent ignition device. This resembles the spark ignition device on some gas kitchen ranges and ovens. You should check with the manufacturer for models that have this feature.

Small units are usually installed in a closet or underneath a sink, and are usually electric due to the difficulties involved with installing a flue. If the unit is gas, a flue and gas piping will need to be installed, which can cost a significant amount of money. If electric you will probably need 220 volt service run to the location where the unit will be installed, which can also be some what expensive.

Gas-fired models typically have a higher gallons-per-minute output than electric models. The largest gas models, which may provide all the needs of an entire household, are usually installed centrally. The flue required will be larger than that of a gas tank type model.

As with many tank type models, even the largest whole house models may not be able to supply enough for large simultaneous, multiple uses (i.e., showers and laundry).

Home owners are required to meet following conditions before attempting to tankless water heater installation.

If in the US, the installation of tankless water heater should conform with the local codes or, in the absence of local codes, the National Fuel Gas Code ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54. Where as in Canada, comply with CGA B149.(1,2) INSTALLATION CODES and /or local installation codes.

You may plan where you will install the water heater. It is very important to ascertain the correctness of combustion air supply and vent pipe installation. Incorrect installation will cause fatal accidents, such as carbon monoxide poisoning or fire.

When the unit is installed indoors and ROOM SEALED (twin pipe) it is permitted to be located in bathrooms, bedrooms and occupied rooms that are normally kept closed. If the unit are installed indoors and use indoor combustion air, the place must have enough ventilation.

The National Fuel Gas Code does not allow UNSEALED gas fired water heater installations in bathrooms, bedrooms or any occupied rooms normally kept closed.

It is essential that you must vent your heater. You should also ensure that the water heater and its gas connection are thoroughly checked for leak.

Also, note that your water heater is installed away from the gas supply piping system by closing its individual manual gas shutoff valve during any pressure testing at pressures in excess of ½ Psig (3.5
kPa).

The tankless water heater area is kept free of combustibles and flammable liquids. Ensure that you do not locate the heater over any material which might burn.

In order to maintain proper operation of your tankless water heater, the correct gas pressure is critical. See that the gas piping is sized to provide the required pressure at the maximum output of the heater.

There can be instances of overheating. On such situations, turn off the gas supply at the manual gas shut off valve, on the gas line.

Another important point is do not use your water heater if any of its parts is underwater. Get it inspected by a qualified service technician so that you can replace the part of the control system or any gas control which is underwater.

These are some of the important points you have to keep in mind before attempting tankless water heater installation. This will help protect you and your family from possible mishap.

None of the safety issues of tank water heater applies to tankless water heaters. Their burners come on only when hot water is needed, they don’t have a permanent pilot. The gas burner is electronically ignited and if installed outside it constantly monitors the outside temperature and activates its anti freeze circuitry preventing a pipe freeze when needed.

Its electronics also monitors incoming water pressure, flow and regulates outgoing hot water pressure and flow. The highly efficient burner and heat exchanger achieve high efficiency and save energy. Incoming gas volume and pressure is also monitored and in case of a malfunction the unit shuts itself off and provides diagnostic information. Takagi TK 3 is closely related to Noritz 751 and is also able to supply an entire house with hot water.

Another saving aspect of tankless hot water heater is that since you never run out of hot water there is no need to mix the hot water with cold water and therefore the water temperature can be set lower. For example the tank water heater is typically set to 160 to 180 degree F even though the water temperature used for shower is roughly 105 degree F. This is done to not use so much of the hot water in the storage tank and make the hot water last longer by mixing it with cold water at point of use.

With tankless water heater there is no need for this, there is endless hot water and therefore the temperature can be set to 110 degree F and there is no need to mix in as much cold water. That saves energy too because the water is not heated to the higher temperature. Any time cold water is mixed to the hot water that reduces the efficiency indirectly. Tankless water heaters are green products and help reduce the carbon footprint.

If you are buying a new water heater, this is the right time to switch to a tankless hot water heating system. As you probably know, a tankless hot water heating system will save you money going forward. According to estimates, you can save around 20% to 30% from your water-heating bill. The main argument against tankless water heaters is that they are costly compared to conventional tank water heater

It is true that the initial investment on a tankless water heater is higher than a tank water heater. However, it is also to be understood that the subsequent monthly energy bills will be on a lower side than earlier. In fact, tankless water heaters, at an average, will last five to ten years longer than traditional water heaters.

This ensures that you will continue to save on lower energy bills for a long period, suggesting that your initial investment will be repaid fully in due course. In addition, you should also consider that a storage tank heater would need to be replaced again in about ten years, and you are avoiding that possibility too by switching to a tankless water heater, which has a longer lifetime.

Tankless water heaters are more energy efficient with zero standby heat loss compared to traditional water heaters. They only need enough power to heat the amount of water necessary at any given moment. Also, they never run out of water. Because of their smaller size, particularly electric tankless water heaters, they can be installed anywhere you like. If installed near the outlet, you can save the time lag as well. Since electric models do not produce greenhouse gases, they are also environment friendly.

Another criticism is that, with tankless water heaters, your hot water output is divided among all your household fixtures. True, that can not be seen as a drawback , instead it is an added advantage that the a whole house tankless water heating system can solve all your household hot water requirements. Moreover, most of them come with a remote control system. Further, since it is a tankless, you do not have to bother with tank leakage, flooding and related problems.

In addition, most tankless water heater models are eligible for a federal tax rebate of $300. Seriously, put some thought into these points and take a wise investment decision on a tankless water heater.

Before we go further to know how a tankless water heater works, it is important to know how a conventional tank heater operates. In a conventional water heater system, a tank holds and heats water. And, it is a continuous process. Because, you may need hot water any time and it should be readily available.

However, the problem here is that energy is used on a regular basis whether you need hot water or not. In other words, the energy is lost in this process unnecessarily. This is called standby heat loss. And, a tankless water heating system eliminates standby heat loss completely, which makes the water system tankless more efficient and acceptable in preference to conventional tank water heating system.

Water system tankless uses a powerful heat exchanger to optimize its performance. As you may have noticed, heat exchangers are used in air conditioners, refrigerators and car radiators. True to the name, a heat exchanger is a device that transfers heat from one source to another.
In a tankless water heating system, its heat exchanger transfers heat generated by electric coils or a gas-fired burner to the water that comes out of your faucet. In the system, the incoming flow of water activates the heat exchanger as you turn on your hot water tap. When the water circulates through the activated exchanger, it heats the cold water to the level you have preset the temperature. Depending on the model of your system, the water becomes hot within seconds, and ready to use. When you close the tap, the process ends and no energy is wasted.

There are different varieties of tankless water heating systems available in the market today. The main types are Point-of- Use Water heaters and Whole house tankless water heater system. The Point-of- Use Water heaters are small and designed to serve one or two outlets. Because of their small size, they can be installed at any place. If you install it closer to the outlet, you can save the time lag significantly.

Whole-house tankless water heating system is meant for the hot water needs of the whole house, as the name suggests. Obviously, the system is larger and suffers from time lag as it cannot be installed anywhere you like.

Water heating system tankless operates on different energy source, such as, electricity, propane and natural gas. While Point –of Use systems are mostly electric, the Whole-house water heating systems operate on natural gas or propane. There are different factors that will influence your choice of the model you may like to use. And, the most important factor is lower energy consumption or more clearly, the lower energy bills.

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Rinnai R94 Lsitankless water heater system transforms the way today’s households answer their hot water needs. This perfect system can produce and distribute continuous flow of at once without any variation in temperature. This small central heating unit is about 50% more energy efficient than a conventional natural gas water heater. Compared to a traditional electric water heater, Rinnai R94Lsi is up to 70% more energy efficient.

Some of the main features and advantages of Rinnai R94Lsi are as follow:

• The unit is sleek and modern design
• It is a Commercial-grade heat exchanger
• It is lightweight and compact
• Integrated condensate collector
• Energy Factor of .82 for both gas types
• Integrated MC-91-1 digital controller with error code indicator
• Temperature range with controllers: 98°– 185° F
• Satisfies the NOx emission standards

Rinnai R94 system is more energy efficient than the traditional tank water heater, because it only heats water when it is needed. Rinnai senses the demand for hot water flow when a water source is opened and initiates the heating process instantly. The water runs through a heat exchanger and is heated to the chosen temperature set by the user.

The Rinnai R94Lsi gas system takes all alerts from a water flow sensor to regulate the fully modulating gas valve, ensuring a constant water temperature for any desired period. The system automatically shuts off when the water source tap is stopped, and resumes when demanded again. This provides significant energy cost reduction. All new Rinnai tankless water heating systems come with a 10-year limited warranty on the heat exchanger and a 5 year-warranty on other parts.

The basic idea behind the functioning of a tankless water heater is very simple. In short, tankless systems heat water on demand or when needed, instead of heating and storing hot water in a tank. The conventional system of water heating allowed wastage of energy as energy was used to keep the water hot in the tank through out the day, whether you require it or not.

The revolutionary concept of tankless water heater was adopted first in Europe and Asia long ago and only in the early 1990’s the idea made its entry in North America. This was partially due to the rise of energy prices that began almost same period, and when an alternative method of saving energy was thought about. The early models of tankless water heaters in the US and Canada were primitive, generally designed for low-flow point-of-use applications only.

Even then, the idea of saving energy and thereby saving the cost of water heating was a welcome relief. The environment advantages associated with tankless water heater was another bonus.

As the demand for tankless water heater increased, companies competed to come out with more user-friendly features to stay in the reckoning. This has resulted in sophisticated tankless water heaters which are powerful to handle hot water demands of a whole household and many commercial applications.

Let us examine the technological application in a tankless water heater. When you switch on a hot water faucet and set in motion the tankless water heater a flow sensor detects. A series of heating elements then heat the water and will keep up the heating process until the flow sensor identifies that the water has stopped flowing , following the heater is switched off.

That means, in a tankless water heater the heating process takes place only for a short period, as and how long we need hot water, energy is used only for a few minutes per day. This is unlike the unconventional tank water heater where day long heating takes place. This will result in a substantial reduction in energy costs estimated to be 30 to 40%. Further, a tankless water heater will never run out of hot water, which saves you from overheating the water anymore like in the case with conventional heaters.

This suggests additional saving on energy and energy bills besides reducing the creation of hard water scale. In addition, the water pressure is maintained throughout a tankless heater, which will give no chance for problems related to mineral and sediment upsurge.

Another great advantage is the small space the tankless water heater occupies at you home. Normally a typical tankless water heateris available in the size of a brief case and can be installed anywhere you like. The various modern tankless water heaters have different technologies applications ranging from elementary on/off models, to automatic thermostatic control, irrespective of flow rates and the incoming water temperature. Obviously, this suggests differences in the performance though.

We are pleased to arrange here a wide range of top branded tankless water heaters at affordable prices. Explore the store pages for the right model for your household hot water requirements.