Tankless Water Heaters » General Info

EcoEnergy Audit Program Cancelled Again

administrator — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:40:08 +0000

The Harper government has one again cancelled the ecoEnergy audit program early. The audit program was surprisingly cancelled on January 29th 2012, and was not supposed to finish until March 31st 2012.

Why Was The Audit Program Cancelled?

This is a bit of a mystery, as the Conservatives had pledged 400 million in funding to the program from the budget only a few months ago. Now with less than half of that money released as grants to Canadian citizens they have removed any access chalking it up to “fiscal responsibility”. So ultimately the energy audit program in Canada has been destroyed to save 200 million dollars… If you look at how much money the program saves and has saved home owners through efficiency alone that 200 million is a drip in the Billion dollar savings bucket. It’s really unfortunate we have such a pro oil Government willing to discount its citizens so easily.

What Are The Details?

If you have completed your first audit but haven’t finished your upgrades or retrofits then you are still eligible for Government grants and rebates
The program is completely closed to new entrants
Homeowners can receive post-retrofit evaluations and apply for grants until June 30, 2012; the retrofit renovations must be completed by March 31.

If you were hoping to get the rebates associated with a high efficiency tankless water heater then, unfortunately, you’re out of luck at the current moment. Hopefully the program will be reinstated, but as it stands at the current moment you will have to recoup your tankless costs with its efficiency.

Why does everyone rent water heaters in Ontario?

administrator — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:28:07 +0000

No other province rents hot water tanks so why does everyone here in Ontario?

It is a strange province we live in. No one rents their furnace, air conditioner, fridge, stove, washer or dryer. So why do we rent water heaters?

Ontario is in a transitional phase right now as old tank type water heaters are being replaced with the new, technologically enhanced, tankless water heaters. A tankless is well over 90% efficient and heats water on demand, significantly reducing your energy consumption (and energy bills).

With this new transition it’s time for Ontario residents to start owning verses renting their water heater…. here’s why now is the right time to start owning.

A tankless has a much longer lifespan than a regular tank, so you save money.
Tankless systems typically cost more so the rental fees can be more than double
Rental water heater companies don’t care about efficiency, why would they? You’re the one paying the bill.
The Government is offering free rebates to offset some of the additional costs of a tankless.
It will cost you significantly less to own than to it will to continue renting a water heater.

Tankless Math Breakdown – Renting a Tankless Vs Owning a Tankless

Rental Tankless

Monthly Rental Fee - $39.95 plus taxes

Lifespan of 20+ years – 39.95 x 12 x 20 = $9588 plus taxes to rent a tankless.

Owned Tankless

Purchase and Installation Cost – $2400 – $4000 (not including government rebates)

Lifespan of 20+ years – these systems have exceptionally long warranties so you’re likely to get an easy 20 or more years of reliable service.

Conclusion

None of the other appliances are rented in our homes what baffles us so much to assume that a water heater needs to be? Renting a regular water heater verses owning will cost homeowners more than double. It’s time to get out of these ridiculous 10 year contracts and get back to simply owning your water heater and saving money. Technology is revolutionizing water heating systems don’t get locked into a lengthy contract call or email today and see how cheap owning a tankless can be.

We offer free site inspections to provide you with an exact price and to ensure a tankless can be installed in your home.

Call Toll Free 1-855-OWN TANK (696-8265)

Or send us a quick message through the automated form below.

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Energy Audit Program Coming To An End… Again

administrator — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 04:12:53 +0000

The ecoEnergy program that gives homeowners access to thousands in grant money to upgrade and improve the efficiency of their homes is coming to an end.

This program is quite convoluted due to both the Provincial and Federal Governments flip flopping on both funding and support for the ecoEnergy retrofit. I guess when something is as successful as the ecoEnergy program it makes sense that our Government would work to dismantle it.

Moving from a old tank type hot water system to a tankless will net you 315-375 dollars in rebate money depending on the efficiency of your new tankless. You can also add grants up, so if you change out your old furnace or insulate you walls to R-50, then add 750-1250 dollars to that 375 dollars you received for the tankless. It’s definitely a great opportunity for Canadians to take advantage of.

Having an energy audit on your home shows you the home owner intimate details regarding the walls, roof, equipment, insulation, and efficiency of the place you live and call home. It can provide very useful ways to not only save money but get you access to grants that help offset the cost of the upgrades. The ecoEnergy audit retrofit will once again be cancelled on March 31st 2012.

You can find out more on where do get an audit from http://homeecoenergyaudit.ca

If you are interested in the grants and the values that are available you can check them out here on this GRANT CHART

Cold Weather Is On The Way Toronto

administrator — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:00:05 +0000

It’s December and here in Toronto we have seen basically zero snow and above seasonal temperatures pushing our heating season back by over a month. It’s true we have a strong focus on tankless water heaters but we are also able to install and maintain furnaces within most of the Greater Toronto Area. We like to ensure that you have effective HVAC equipment that is the most suitable system for your home.

Fundamentally high end tankless and furnaces are for the most part very similar to low and mid range units. You are going to get some upgraded parts and whole lot more features on the high end units but will you use those features? I know I purchased a high end dishwasher once; it has a whole bunch of features and a ton of buttons. Of all of those options and buttons I use one, and it’s the same button everyday… START. Keep that in mind when purchasing new home equipment, it’s easy to get caught up in all the features.

We always work with you as the home owner to find something that will fit your budget and most importantly generate savings though efficiency. Even a 12 year old furnace is sufficiently less efficient to justify looking into a new system. Remember that this week the cold is going to set in and bring the chills associated with winter, make sure your prepared and have your furnace inspected today.

Get an Inspection

Breaking Your Water Heater Contract In Toronto

administrator — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 01:15:21 +0000

Unfortunately all companies have their own contracts and stipulations that you will likely need to abide by if you are past the 10 day consumer protection act. Most are for between 8-10 years with a set fee to break that contract early (but there exceptions). If you do decide to switch companies most will negotiate price and will actually subsidize or even pay your termination fees to get you as a client. The water heater market is highly competitive so take advantage of that. A rental tankless will cost roughly 39$ – 49$ a month depending on model and size (IMPORTANT – you are still entitled to a government rebate with a rental tankless so look into an energy audit). A regular rental tank should be between 10$ and 25$ a month, again depends on size and venting.

Purchase a Water Heater Outright

A tankless rental company will not notify when the contract is up, they actually hope you forget and keep paying them. If you are past your contract definitely look into just purchasing either a tankless or conventional tank. These systems are incredibly reliable and actually not that expensive to buy outright, you never have to worry about a contract or any cancellation fees and even better, door to door sales people. We offer free quotes for a tankless or conventional tank purchase and installation. See how much here.

The annoying door to door sales.

If you are contacted at your door ask these questions before you even think about letting the sales person into your home.

1. What company do you represent?
2. How long is the contract for?
3. Are there charges to exit the contract if I’m not satisfied with the service?
4. What is the experience level of your technicians and staff?
5. How much higher are your rental rates?

How do Toronto home owners feel about door to door techniques?

A recent poll suggests were not too thrilled.

58% felt pressured into making a purchase or signing the contract presented
61% who purchased experienced “buyer’s remorse”, and regretted signing the contract
70% feel angry and taken advantage of

Popular Tankless Water Heater Guide In Ontario

administrator — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 18:55:55 +0000

Tankless Guides

There has been a significant increase in the types and technology of tankless manufactures as such many homeowners have become overwhelmed by the numerous factors. We aim to provide sound guidance and unbiased help to clients based on our years of experience with tankless water heaters.

Unfortunately, many reviews found online are promotional, this leads many consumers to make an unsuitable and possibly an unnecessary purchase. It’s important to understand that homeowners looking to upgrade to a tankless may need to make changes to their existing gas lines or electrical supply.

In order to select the best water heater, and avoid unnecessary expenses and unjustified purchases, homeowners need both education and guidance. The complexity of some of the latest tankless technologies (like the remote control some come with) forces some people to find a reliable guide whom they trust. Here at the tankless hot water guide we aim to provide this help, and the trust customers are looking for. There are a lot of benefits gained with a properly sized and installed tankless water heater and homeowners can sometimes see their water heating bill cut in half.

If you are interested but don’t know who to trust send us a quick message (here) write down any questions or concerns you have and we will reply with an answer as detailed as possible. If you would rather us contact you via email only simply mention that in the message and we will respect your wish.

Take care and happy tankless shopping.

Efficient Tankless Systems In Toronto

administrator — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 03:47:26 +0000

Efficient Tankless and HVAC Systems In Toronto

We are an Ontario based HVAC and Tankless installation and service specialization team working throughout most of Southern Ontario. We are friendly and knowledgeable and can help you make your home more comfortable for both you and your family. We are able to help you access Government Grants and Rebates to further reduce upgrade costs. Contact us to find out more.

Toll Free 1-855-696-8265

Email Us

A Few of the Brands We Offer

Navien
Rinnai
Lennox
Takagi

Servicing: Toronto, Maple, Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton, Etobicoke, Vaughan, King City, Barrie, Bradford, Richmond Hill, Markham, North York, and all the places in between

A Home Tankless Assesment In Toronto

administrator — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:44:55 +0000

If you’re thinking of having a tankless installed in your home it’s important to do your research and understand what it is you want. Tankless systems have more stringent installation requirements than conventional tank type water heaters. Occasionally a new tankless can be vented right though the same path but it’s not always possible. Having a professional come in and assess your home allows you to tap their knowledge and not only see if a tankless can successfully be installed but also pick the best spot for installation. A Professional can help you decide:

Location For Tankless Installation
Vent Path Options
Electrical needs
Water Path Optimization
Flow Requirements
Brand of Tankless Unit
Help In Accessing Government Rebate Programs

Flow rate is an important issue that should be assessed on an individual house basis. A condensing tankless uses the exhaust heat to pre-warm the incoming water; this is good for Toronto and area locations as our winter water temperature is cold. Having cold winter water decreases how much hot water a tankless can produce, so it is important to ensure you get a system that can provide you with the necessary amount of hot water.

We offer free tankless assessments and can have someone come out to your home to assess firstly, if a tankless can be installed, and then, which system would provide you with the correct hot water quantity. There’s no obligation to purchase anything, but if you decide you’re interested we can work out a quote and leave it with you. An assessment takes no longer than 30 minutes.

Schedule An Assessment Now

Tankless Issues – The Facts and the Fiction

administrator — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:12:13 +0000

Tankless Issues – The Facts and the Fiction

Some people are very resistant to change, I don’t know what it is but some will fight it until the end of time. A recent Toronto HVAC company posted a large article on their website outlining all the negative aspects of a tankless system and how they would never recommend it nor install one. We install both systems and you know what, they both have their positives and negatives. I hope to detail the issues a little further here and let you decide which system you want for your home.
There is no big savings – This is very subjective, here are the facts.

Tankless

A tankless will cost you more money upfront than a conventional tank system. True.
A tankless will last longer -20 plus years.
Unit and Installation costs are more expensive. True.
Efficiency of a tankless remains at or just below initial claims for lifespan.
Much higher efficiency, 82% regular tankless, 98% condensing tankless.
A tankless does require cleaning to maintain such high efficiency (vinegar rinse).
Tankless systems do need and use electricity.
$375 Government grant available for new tankless.

Conventional Tank Water Heater

Conventional tanks loose 2-3% efficiency per year (scale build-up)
Cheaper to purchase and install
Conventional tank lifespan – 12 plus years
Some tank systems need zero electricity
Conventional tank heaters start at between 58% and 68% efficiency

Which system is better on your pocket book? It’s going to be up to you as there is a number of factors, including the price of natural gas, which will likely only rise over time.

Upfront costs are high - Yes, it will cost you more for a tankless than a conventional tank, your homes particular usage will significantly affect a breakeven point and whether a tankless is a good idea or if you should stick with a conventional tank system.

High Tankless Maintenance Costs – Your conventional tank has basically zero maintenance barring anything breaks but it loses 2-3 percent efficiency a year. You can flush a conventional tank and regain some of its efficiency with the removal of scale build-up. A tankless is usually flushed once every year or two, which consists of simply pumping vinegar through the system for 30 minutes or so. All tankless systems should have flush valves already installed and this will maintain the extremely high efficiency ratings. I wouldn’t say that a tankless has higher maintenance costs, its just that no one does it for a conventional tank.

Electricity Use - A tankless does need electricity to run sensors, a vent fan, and a starter, this is true. Some tank type water heaters need zero electricity, but if you have a power vented conventional tank system your water heater is using just as much electricity as a tankless would.

The fact of the matter is that a home really needs to be analyzed to see whether a tankless makes sense or if the home owner would continue to benefit from a conventional tank water heater. I won’t make claims on how much can or can’t be saved because any number would be a wild generalizations and any company that does, shouldn’t be trusted.

As always we do offer free consultations over the phone, or at your home. If interested give us a call or send us a quick message here

Ontario Grants, Rebates a Tankless and Energy Audit

John — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:46:37 +0000

Ontario Grants For Water Heating

Gas — hot water heater up to $375
Solar — hot water system $1,250
Ontario water heater rebates — Get Government of Canada ecoENERGY grants and rebates of up to $1,250 for a new hot water heater. Click here

Hot water heater grants for your home

Take advantage of Government of Canada grants for replacement hot water heater systems:

Canada ecoENERGY — Homeowners can get up to $1,250 in grants from the Canadian government for a new hot water system. The Government of Canada grants up to $5,000 for home energy renovations through the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program, which is in effect until March 31, 2012. Click here for more

Remember not to long ago I talked about how a tankless could be combined with a solar thermal water heater? Well BAM! here are some rebates the Government is offereing that reduce the cost for both the tankless and the solar heater. I wouldn’t expect these to last too long (in fact, around April 2012 is when I would expect to offer to be removed).