¤¤ Tankless Water Heaters ¤¤

Three brands of tankless hot water heaters have been identified as potential sources of deadly carbon monoxide emissions, prompting a voluntary recall of the systems by Rheem Manufacturing, and Paloma Industries Inc. before they make people sick - or worse.

Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning range from flu-like symptoms, to dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, or fainting spells. If you have any, or all of these symptoms, open the windows of your home and seek medical attention immediately.

In February, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission together with CSA International cited three models of the Power Vent Tankless Water Heater because of a defective switch caused by the shifting of components inside the heater when it was moved, likely just before installation. Even if the heater was hooked up by a licensed professional and inspected, a filter door may not work properly, leading to the release of deadly carbon monoxide into the home.

That's exactly what happened to Matt Varble in Clinton, Illinois. When the carbon monoxide detectors went off in his brand-new house on Christmas Day last year, he couldn't trace the source and installed a costly air exchanger to ward off the deadly emissions. It wasn't until later, when he was poking around the Internet and read about the recall on LawyersandSettlements.com.

He realized only then that his expensive tankless water heater, only a few months old, was the likely culprit.

Tankless water heaters were designed to be more efficient and better for the environment than hot water tanks, because they heat water on demand. Instead of the traditional round water tank that's always full and takes energy to keep the water hot - the tankless system is a rectangular box with piping at the top and bottom, and heats only what you need.

The problem has to do with the way a tankless heater works. It requires more air to operate than traditional hot water tanks, and also needs to be properly vented. As well, the air filter door needs to be in just the right spot for the tank to operate safely. Shipping may have affected a switch that controls the positioning of the filter door.

This door is the thing that has everybody worried. If the switch is defective, and the filter door is out of whack, you could wind up with carbon monoxide poisoning.

Affected are three models of the Power Vent 199,990 BTUH Tankless Water Heater under the brands Rheem, Ruud, Richmond, Rheem-Ruud, and Paloma. The recall went into effect on February 21st 2007 and affects $55 million dollars worth of indoor tankless water heaters. In the United States and Canada, the manufacturer will repair the defect for free, although Illinois' Matt Varble would prefer a replacement unit. He paid three times what it would have cost him for a traditional hot water tank, only to be faced with a situation that may put his family at risk.

He's not alone. 42,000 tankless systems were sold to contractors and consumers from May 2004 until December 2006, and all are included in the recall.

Homeowners should be aware of the type of system they have, and if it is tankless - make a note of the model and serial number and contact the manufacturer right away. You'll find the information on the rating plate - which is a small, silver sticker located on the lower, right-hand corner of the front panel.

If the filter door appears to be out of place, or if you have been feeling ill for no apparent reason, DON'T use your hot water and consult your doctor, or go to the hospital for potential C02 poisoning. A blood test will show if you've been exposed to carbon monoxide, which can be deadly.

Like having a smoke detector, it's always good advice to install working CO2 detectors on every level of your home, outside sleeping areas, to protect you from accidental exposure to carbon monoxide, regardless of the source.

As for a defective tankless hot water system, it's the manufacturer's responsibility. If you have fallen ill, or if you have spent your own money on repairs or upgrades where the tankless hot water heater is found to be at fault, you should be compensated.

By Gordon Gibb
http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/00794/water-heater-recall.html

Labels: tankless water heater, water heater, water heaters

It's spendy, but it's efficient, tiny, quiet, green and pays itself off in a few years. It's called the "tankless" or on-demand water heater — and it won't sit there wasting dollars by running hour after hour when you don't need it.

A heated coil — usually by gas or propane (although sometimes electric) — fills with water and gets very hot, very quickly when you turn on the shower, dishwasher or faucet. It continues heating the water as long as you leave that faucet on.

The smaller units, starting at $700 (uninstalled) will meet one demand point — but you can't run the dishwasher and take a shower, says Brian Lambert of Grover Electric in Medford. For about $1,000, you get a larger one that serves both. Prices top out at about $1,500; so, units initially cost two to three times more than the traditional water heater.

On-demand water heaters face a problem as the new kid on the block, but Josh Spoklie of Ferguson Bath & Kitchen Gallery in Medford says he sells 25 or 30 a month. This is about a fifth of the number of traditional water heaters he moves.

The tankless units are little guys — about the size of a small suitcase — and can be hung on the wall of a closet, as long as it's an outside wall, so exhaust gases can be vented. It's safe and silent and has an energy-efficiency quotient of 92 to 98 percent.

Aside from startup and retrofit costs, the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy lists drawbacks as:

They won't turn on unless they can supply half to three-quarters of a gallon per minute.
They sometimes won't supply simultaneous uses, especially in winter when incoming water is colder.

The high cost can be retired in about 31/2 to 4 years with reduced energy bills, Spoklie says.

Equally attractive are a slew of rebates and tax credits: $200 from Avista for switching to gas, a $340 tax credit from the state and a $150 tax credit for water heaters with at least 95 percent efficiency. The state tax credits for energy-miser appliances are at www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/CONS/RES/tax/waterheaters.shtml.

If you get a modest on-demand water heater and find you need more heating power, you don't have to upgrade — just get another one and link them in series, says Don Sample of Budge-McHugh Supply in Medford.

If you want a testimonial yourself, ask around at restaurants, where chefs need lots of hot water every moment — they are big buyers of demand water heaters, says Terry Powell of Modern Plumbing in Medford.

"They pay off quick in a restaurant," Powell says. "They will stay up with any demand."

Bruce Fiero of Will Power Electric, a green energy installer in Phoenix, says tankless water heaters run you about $1,000 installed and, because your water heater is not "on" all the time, will definitely make a dent in your heating bill.

John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at jdarling@jeffnet.org.
http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070510/LIFE/705100308

Labels: demand water heater, tankless water heater, water heater, water heaters

Tankless water heaters have no hot water storage (hence tankless), but can quickly raise water temperature by as much as 50 degrees F (~30 degrees C). They can do this with a flow rate ranging from 4 gallons per minute (GPM) to as much as 9 GPM. Tankless heaters are also much smaller than conventional water tank heaters, which can be a consideration for smaller homes where space is at a premium.

Depending on usage patterns, a tankless water heater can provide hot water much more efficiently than a regular tank heater. One manufacturer's information lists an annual operating cost (based on 2004 prices) of $166 for their tankless heater versus $210 for a conventional natural gas water heater, and propane and electric conventional heaters are even more expensive to operate.

Tankless water heaters can allow "endless showers." Since the water is being heated as it is needeed, there is no concern about running out of hot water, while a conventional tank heater has a capacity, after which the hot water runs out and water that has entered the heater tank needs to be heated

Tankless heaters may not be for everyone, however.

Supply water temperature can be a factor. Regions with cold winter ground temperatures may have incoming water that is 40-50 degrees F, which may not be able to be adequately heated for hot water needs. More temperate locations will likely be better for tankless water heater installations.

Tankless water heaters also have a much larger fuel supply requirement. In order to provide such a drastic temperature change, simple physics dictates that they need to use a lot of energy very quickly. Over the course of its life, the tankless heater doesn't use as much fuel as a conventional water heater, but when it uses fuel, it uses a lot of it very quickly. This can make retrofitting a tankless heater into an existing home difficult, because the gas line to the existing water heater may not be large enough to supply the needed gas for a tankless heater.

Are they right for you? As I'm increasingly fond of saying, it depends. A home for a larger family where multiple water uses (more than one shower at a time, washing clothes or dishes while showering, etc.) may put more demand on the system than it is able to supply hot water for. But a home for a single individual or a couple who are careful about not crossing their water use, they may be a way to have significant energy savings.

Labels: demand water heater, green, tankless water heater, water heater, water heaters

20. Plant drought-tolerant plants instead of high water consuming grass to make your outdoors a different shade of green.

21. Compost.

22. Use larger windows on the south side of a building for greater heat gain in the winter.

23. Use cellulose insulation because manufacturers add borate or borax to fire proof, insect proof and mould proof your home.

24. Kirei board is an eco-product made from the Sorghum plant in China. It is an engineered panel product used in interior architectural millwork (www.kireiusa.com).

25. Marmoleum flooring is made from cork, limestone and natural resins. It comes in many colours and can add a retro feel to your renovation (www.themarmoleumstore.com).

26. Engineered flooring is 1/4-inch thick hardwood laminated with plywood to create a stable floor that stretches our hardwood resources (www.bhkofamerica.com and www.kahrs.com).

27. Install a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) and increase the air quality in your home.

28. More green home sources: www.ecologicalhomeideas.com, www.greennest.com, www.debraslist.com, www.organicmatressstore.com and www.greenbuildermag.com, a new magazine by Hanely Wood.

29. One of the best and most informative books available for going green is Green Building Products, The GreenSpec Guide to Residential Building Materials. It's edited by Alex Wilson and Mark Piepkorn and contains valuable information on new appliances to smart insulation. It's co-published by Building Green and New Society Publishers.

http://www.canada.com/findit/realestate/story.html?id=1b39e0dc-2469-48d2-8907-cf34d7048be0&k=17112&p=2

Labels: green, tips

There are many ways to save energy and live the green life, says Paul Denys, a 23-year veteran of the design and renovation industry, who has won design honours for thoughtful restorations of heritage homes.

Old or new, his 29-point approach to sensible design ranges from scaling down our living spaces to buying the most energy-efficient appliances available.

The owner of Denys Builds Designs volunteered to share the knowledge and sources he's gained during a career of small-scale renovations and restorations.

1. Compact living: Denys' first and most important premise to green living is to downscale your spaces, especially when considering an addition.

2. Light touch: Use fluorescent lights and infra-red motion detector light switches in bathrooms, hallways and storage rooms.

3. Dim down: Check out Lutron Maestro fade dimmers at www.prolighting.com. You'll use less electricity and your light bulbs will last five times longer.

4. Day lighting: Before building or adding to your home, carefully look where you will use energy-efficient windows. Then add more natural light with Solatubes (www.solatube.com), an alternative to skylights and switching on a lamp.

5. Recycle: You don't have to always use new products when renovating. There are great architectural doors, flooring and other materials in shops nationwide.

6. Avoid large use of concrete: It's durable and long-lasting, yet takes a lot of energy to manufacture.

7. Turn to bamboo: It is a fast-growing grass that matures in as little as seven years, grows anywhere without fertilizers or pesticides and releases 35 per cent of oxygen back into the air.

8. Wash time: Commit to smaller, longer-lasting, energy-efficient appliances, including the 18-inch Miele dishwasher. This little baby will hold as many dishes as an American-built, 24- inch dishwasher. Also, consider dishwasher drawers.

9. Low flush: Use low-flow toilets and low-flow showerheads.

10. Instant hot: Tankless water heaters are hot commodities, including the Rinnai tankless water heater (www.rinnai.us).

11. Fire's burning: Consider an alcohol-burning fireplace, forget about the need for a flue and never have to fret about heat escaping up your chimney (www.ecomartfire.com/canada/home.php).

12. Old is sometimes good: Did you know that a 100-year-old-window can be weather-stripped for as little as $250 and it will be as air tight as a new version that can cost as much as $2,500.

13. Fence us in: Look beyond cedar and pine when looking to build a fence. Think of bamboo (www.bamboofencer.com).

14. Fresh air: Use green cleaners, low-VOC paints.

15. Rainy days: Save rain water in a barrel.

16. Donate: Give your old kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanity to charity.

17. Test all plaster, insulation and floor material made prior to 1983 for asbestos.

18. If you're stripping old wood work use a steam box or industrial garment steamer.

19. When reproducing a clear finish on interior wood trim, it's best to use a Clear Bull's Eye Shellac, and when staining wood, use a mild solution like vinegar and steel wood to ebonize wood (www.naturalhandyman.com)

Labels: green, tips

UNC Asheville seniors ran a race of wits with the sun, collecting as much heat as they could to heat two barrels of water on the quad.

“You wouldn’t believe how many people have stopped by and asked, ‘What are you doing?’” said Yusef Fahmy, the director of the engineering department at UNCA.

With the focus on green building and energy efficiency, Fahmy said the engineers should tackle the practical problems of designing and building a solar water heater.

Two teams of seniors in the Mechatronics program competed Monday with two designs for the solar collectors, which were computerized to follow the sun crossing the blue sky and the green quad. Fahmy awarded points for the smaller and more efficient designs as well as for the highest temperature achieved.

The larger device seemed to be ahead with a barrel temperature reaching 81.5 degrees by mid-afternoon. The team had wrestled with both the mechanical and the electronic components, getting the counterweights just right, according to senior Jonathan Crook. The slightest variation of 2 degrees in aligning with the sun could reduce the collector’s efficiency by nearly half.

The second device was focused much tighter on the sun’s rays. The team had designed for a variation of up to 20 degrees, said senior Moises Escobedo.

The team also had rigged the collector for wireless data and a remote control they could control from the classroom inside the science building.

While they had only achieved about 71 degrees in their barrel, the more compact system was about equal in efficiency with the larger one, Escobedo said.

“I had never heard much about solar water heater,” said senior Adam Burdette. “It’s been rewarding to see how much heat you can generate. I hope one day to have a home that could run on solar power, hydroelectric power and possibly wind. It would be nice to have the electric company pay me for power.”

http://citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770508148&source=rss

Labels: solar water heater, sun, water heater, water heaters

PlumberSurplus.com brings you a video buying guide on Tankless Water Heaters, their variations, uses, and the selection process.

Labels: tankless water heater, tips, video, water heaters

Water heaters generally run on either electricity or gas, depending on what type of fuel source is prevalent in your area. Both versions run similarly and come in sizes from twenty to over one hundred gallons. Before purchasing a new water heater, there are a few things that should be considered.

The type of fuel to be used is a determining factor in which unit to choose. If you already have gas hook ups, a gas generated water heater will be your best bet. These generally save on energy costs. However, electric units can be run anywhere and if this is your primary fuel source, an electric water heater should be purchased. Costs to convert the fuel source from electric to gas may be prohibitive so it is best to use whichever fuel source is already installed.

Before determining the capacity of the water heater, look at your family’s needs. Also, think about the future and whether your family will increase. Purchasing a water heater is an investment and future growth should be looked at to get one that will suit you for many years. Determine how often hot water is used in your home to decide whether you have high or regular demand for hot water. For a family of two, choose a water heater that has at least a thirty gallon capacity or up to a fifty gallon capacity if hot water is used often. Families of up to four should consider a fifty to eighty gallon tank, and families with five or more should start at fifty gallons and may go to one hundred twenty if there is a high demand.

The number of gallons the water heater can heat per hour is called the recovery rate. This is also a consideration in buying a water heater. If you have several people in your home who use hot water at the same time, a higher recovery will be beneficial. However, if you have a more typical hot water use pattern, a lower recover rate can be chosen. Water heaters with lower capacities and lower recovery rates will be less expensive.

Water heaters come in a variety of dimensions. Ensure you have the proper space available to physically install it in the designated area. You will not usually have to sacrifice capacity to get a water heater with smaller dimensions. Every water heater is tagged with an energy efficiency rating. Choose the most efficient rating you can afford as this will help save on energy costs.

Water heaters are not difficult to purchase but there are a few things that need to be considered. Determine the capacity, size, fuel source, and energy efficiency needed for your home. Compare prices to determine the model that will best suit you and your family for years to come.

By: Gray Rollins -
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Labels: tankless water heater, tips, water heater, water heaters

Tankless or instantaneous water heaters provide hot water only as it is needed. They don't produce the standby energy losses associated with storage water heaters, which can save you money. Here you'll find basic information about how they work, whether a demand water heater might be right for your home, and what criteria to use when selecting the right model.

How They Work

Tankless water heaters heat water directly without the use of a storage tank. Therefore, they avoid the standby heat losses associated with storage water heaters. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit. Either a gas burner or an electric element heats the water. As a result, demand water heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water. You don't need to wait for a storage tank to fill up with enough hot water. However, a demand water heater's output limits the flow rate.

Typically, demand water heaters provide hot water at a rate of 2–5 gallons (7.6–15.2 liters) per minute. Gas-fired demand water heaters produce higher flow rates than electric ones. Sometimes, however, even the largest, gas-fired model cannot supply enough hot water for simultaneous, multiple uses in large households. For example, taking a shower and running the dishwasher at the same time can stretch a demand water heater to its limit. To overcome this problem, you can install two or more demand water heaters, connected in parallel for simultaneous demands of hot water. You can also install separate demand water heaters for appliances—such as a clothes washer or dishwater—that use a lot of hot water in your home.

Other applications for demand water heaters include the following:

• Remote bathrooms or hot tubs
  
• Booster for appliances, such as dishwashers or clothes washers
  
• Booster for a solar water heating system.
  

Although gas-fired tankless water heaters tend to have higher flow rates than electric ones, they can waste energy if they have a constantly burning pilot light. This can sometimes offset the elimination of standby energy losses when compared to a storage water heater. In a gas-fired storage water heater, the pilot light heats the water in the tank so the energy isn't wasted. The cost of operating a pilot light in a demand water heater varies from model to model. Ask the manufacturer how much gas the pilot light uses for the model you're considering. If you purchase a model that uses a standing pilot light, you can always turn it off when it's not in use to save energy. Also consider models that have an intermittent ignition device (IID) instead of a standing pilot light. This device resembles the spark ignition device on some gas kitchen ranges and ovens.

For homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, demand water heaters can be 24%–34% more energy efficient than conventional storage tank water heaters. They can be 8%–14% more energy efficient for homes that use a lot of hot water—around 86 gallons per day. You can achieve even greater energy savings of 27%–50% if you install a demand water heater at each hot water outlet.

Selecting a Tankless Water Heater

Demand water heaters cost more than conventional storage water heaters. However, you may find that a demand water heater may have lower operating and energy costs, which could offset its higher purchase price.

Before buying a tankless (demand) water heater, you also need to consider the following:

• Size
  
• Fuel type and availability.
  
• Energy efficiency (energy factor)
  
• Estimate costs.
  

Installation and Maintenance

Proper installation and maintenance of your tankless water heater can optimize its energy efficiency.

Proper installation depends on many factors. These factors include fuel type, climate, local building code requirements, and safety issues, especially concerning the combustion of gas-fired water heaters. Therefore, it's best to have a qualified plumbing and heating contractor install your demand water heater. Do the following when selecting a contractor:

• Request cost estimates in writing
  
• Ask for references
  
• Check the company with your local Better Business Bureau
  
• See if the company will obtain a local permit if necessary and understands local building codes, etc.
  

If you're determined to install your water heater yourself, first consult the manufacturer. Manufacturers usually have the necessary installation and instruction manuals. Also, contact your city or town for information about obtaining a permit, if necessary, and about local water heater installation codes.

Most tankless water heaters have a life expectancy of more than 20 years. They also have easily replaceable parts that extend their life by many more years. In contrast, storage water heaters last 10–15 years. Periodic water heater maintenance can significantly extend your water heater's life and minimize loss of efficiency. Read your owner's manual for specific maintenance recommendations.

Improving Energy Efficiency

After your demand water heater is properly installed and maintained, try some additional energy-saving strategies to help lower your water heating bills. Some energy-saving devices and systems are more cost-effective to install with the water heater.

Labels: demand water heater, tankless water heater

Who hasn’t experienced the aggravation of running out of hot water halfway through a shower? Maybe the in-laws are in town and using all of your hot water or perhaps you just have a conventional water heater that is about to die. Whatever the cause, a tankless water heater could be the solution you are looking for. Although it may sound like bad science fiction, the truth is that a tankless water heater really works and is far superior to the old-fashioned gas or electric “tank” water heaters.

In a conventional water heater, be it gas or electric, hot water is stored in a tank. While this may keep a ready supply of hot water on hand for immediate use, the fact remains that the hot water just sits around when not being used. In time, the heat will dissipate and the water heater will need to reheat the water. This is a complete waste of energy and it is simply costing you money.

A tankless water heater, however, does not store hot water for later use. Instead, a tankless water heater only produces as much hot water as a person needs. So, when the hot water faucet is turned on, the tankless unit provides as much hot water as necessary until the faucet is turned off. You can literally leave the hot water faucet on for hours and the tankless water heater will continue providing as much hot water as needed. You never need to worry about running out of hot water again during a shower when you install a tankless unit in your home.

One of the biggest problems with conventional “tank” water heaters is that they leak. No matter how great of a unit you buy, the fact remains that they will start leaking water as time goes on. After all, they are constantly filled with water! That water can damage anything in the area and cause you one huge mess. A tankless water heater, on the other hand, does not store water and therefore will not leave you a big mess to clean up one day—because it doesn’t leak!

Another big advantage of a tankless water heater is its size compared to conventional units. A standard “tank” water heater may be several feet tall by 3 or more feet in diameter. But a standard tankless water heater is generally no larger than a standard laptop—although it may be a bit thicker. The point is, however, that it is generally no problem at all to mount a tankless water heater to your wall.

In truth, a tankless water heater will never force you to take a cold shower again because it never runs out of hot water. Plus, tankless units save energy (and money) compared to conventional “tank” water heaters because they don’t have to keep a large tank of water up to temperature all day long—even when not in use! Leak-free and compact, a tankless water heater is even more convenient than traditional units. So if you are tired of running out of hot water and dealing with messes because of leaking water heaters, look into a tankless water heater today and see how this modern marvel can change your life.

By: Jim Kapowski -
Sustainable Living Articles @ http://www.articlegarden.com
Tankless Water Heater Hub is an information site that contains links, a directory and other Tankless Water Heater Information. It can be found at: www.tanklesswaterheaterhub.com

Labels: tankles water heater