Tomorrow's Technology Today
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Tomorrow's Technology Today
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Summary Throw away your water heater tank and shave ten to twenty percent off your water heating bill. That savings results from elimination of standby losses -- energy lost from warmed water sitting in a tank. And, since water heating accounts for about 14 percent of the average U.S. household energy budget, this can be a significant loss. Tankless water heaters provide hot water when needed without storage, thereby reducing or eliminating standby losses. Tankless water heaters can be used for supplementary heat, such as a booster to a solar hot water system, or to meet all hot water needs.
Details Tankless water heaters have an electric, gas, or propane heating device that is activated by the flow of water. Once activated, the heater provides a constant supply of hot water. The maximum flow rate and temperature rise will be determined by the capacity of the heater. Gas tankless water heaters typically have larger capacities than electric tankless water heaters. Large units intended for whole house water heating are located centrally while in point-of-use applications, the water heater usually sits in a closet or under a sink. Tankless water heaters are rated by the maximum temperature rise possible at a given flow rate. Special features may allow the user to modulate temperature. Efficiency is higher than an equivalent tank type water heater because standby losses are virtually eliminated. Electric tankless water heaters require a relatively high electric power draw because water must be heated quickly to the desired temperature. Residential gas models are available that can heat more than 5 gallons per minute by 60°F. Electric units typically have a lower capacity. Installation Whole house tankless water heaters can be installed centrally to the point of use, such as under a sink Tankless gas water heaters generally require a power vent. Because of the power draw, multiple circuits and/or heavier wire will be necessary for installation of electric units. Benefits/Costs Tankless water heaters are compact in size and virtually eliminate standby losses. They can provide warm water at remote points of use and less water is wasted while waiting for warm water to reach a remote faucet. A tankless water heater can provide unlimited hot water as long as it is operating within its capacity. Equipment life may be longer than tank-type heaters because less subject to corrosion. Expected life of tankless water heaters is 20 years, compared with between 10 and 15 years for tank-type water heaters. Tankless water heaters range in price from $200 for a small under-sink unit up to $1,000 for a gas-fired unit that delivers 5 gallons per minute. Typically, the more hot water the unit produces, the higher it will cost. In most cases, electric tankless water heaters will cost more to operate than gas tankless water heaters. Limitations Tankless water heaters usually cannot supply enough hot water for simultaneous uses of hot water such as showers and laundry. Electric units will draw more instantaneous power than tank-type water heaters. If electric rates include a demand charge, operation may be expensive. More complicated electronics in tankless systems may require more attention than conventional tank units. Code/Regulatory Gas tankless water heaters must be vented in accordance with code. Availability Several manufacturers offer tankless water heaters in a variety of sizes and types. Contact (s) Do you have a specific question about this technology and/or its 'real life' applications? Try the contacts listed below: Advanced Conservation Technology, Inc. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse Controlled Energy Corporation Earthstar Energy Systems Eemax Inc.
Gordy Mitchell
800-824-7337The John Condon Company 1909 22nd Avenue South Seattle, WA 98144 Fax 206-860-8388 http://www.condon-co.com/ Keltech, Inc. Microtherm, Inc. Myson-McNeely-Yuill Corporation Sun Utility Network, Inc. Takagi Industrial Co. Inc. Tankless Hot Water Systems, Inc. Teledyne Laars
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