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Tankless Hot Water Heaters, Efficient, Effective, Endless.
Posts tagged Electricity
Tankless Issues – The Facts and the Fiction
Nov 15th
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.
- 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 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
Tankless
Conventional Tank Water Heater
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
Does a Tankless Water Heater Save Money?
Apr 7th
Tankless Systems Save
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Tankless systems are very effective at saving you money. This only makes sense as they only provide hot water on demand. They don’t heat water and then hold it, continually maintaining that temperature.
You wouldn’t leave your car running all night so that it was warm in the morning would you? Well that’s what your hot water tank does day in and day out.
Our tankless water rental tanks have been unaffected by the drop of the government grants. If your living in the 
greater Toronto area, and place like Brampton, Mississauga, North York, Hamilton, Richmond Hill, Thornhill, and Markham. You are very likely renting your conventional tank and paying upwards of $20-$30 a month for a system worth $700 at most. Upgrading to a tankless and we take care of returning your old tank, and installing a tankless. All for roughly $10 more a month and you have a system valued at nearly $4000 providing your hot water.
- Tankless systems are more reliable
- Tankless water heaters are more energy efficient
- They provide endless hot water
- You get unlimited tech support
- Unlimited emergency service and repairs
These systems are proven energy and money savers, sure they cost a little bit more a month to rent but you easily make that up in the natural gas or electricity reduction savings.
Contact us to find out more
End of Government Grants for Tankless
Apr 4th
Grants End
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In a surprise announcement on Thursday April 1 2010, the Federal government suspended the Ecoenergy retrofit program. This program aided homeowners in upgrading their existing HVAC equipment to more energy efficient models, thus reducing greenhouse gases that homes emitted substantially. The program was axed due to its popularity, more than 3 times more Canadians participated than the Government had anticipated. Typical government fashion, lets end anything that is actually working and making a change. This puts more than 2000 energy auditors and countless other support staff out of jobs, and that’s only in Ontario.
Can I Still Get An Audit?
Unfortunately, you can not get an audit anymore. There are no more grants available for tankless water heaters from Federal or Provincial governments.
- The Ontario provincial government was matching all grants, this has also ended.
- This isnt the end, there will be incentives from companies and manufactures to try and maintain the low entry cost for a tankless water heater.
- Check back here as we will be following the situation and posting any updates.
I Have Had My D-Audit, Will I Not Get My Grants?
- If you have had your D-Audit but nit your final E-Audit then you are lucky. The Government will still honour all rebates and upgrades that you do. You have until April 1 2011 to perform any upgrades and have your final E-Audit. I would recommend that you look into upgrading as much as you can over the next year, you can get $1500 back on a new furnace and $750 on a tankless water heater, and even more on roof and wall insulation. Your in a good situation, I would definitely take advantage of it.
Is a Tankless Water Heater Even Worth It Now?
- Even though you are not able to get the grants for a tankless water heater the cost to benefit is still greater than having and maintaining you conventional tank water heater.
- Natural Gas and Electricity prices are only on the rise, any system that can cut their use by over 40% will net you savings.
- If you need a loan to purchase a tankless rates are still exceptionally low
- Our rental rates haven’t changed, you can still rent a tankless for $39.95 a month
Give us a call or send us a quick email and we will call you, quotes and information are always free.
Solar and a Tankless
Feb 19th
Solar And A Tankless Heater
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There is starting to become a buzz around solar hot water systems. If you have a good, knowledgeable contractor a solar water system can work quite well with a tankless hot water heater. 
Here are a few of the advantages that you can expect when combining the two systems.
1. The preheated water coming from the solar water heating system will increase the flow of hot water out of a tankless unit. The reason is due to the fact the tankless has to heat pre-warmed water reducing the necessary temperature rise. The amount of hot water a tankless can provide depends on the input temperature. The greater the temperature rise necessary the slower the water can travel through the heat exchanger and the slower the output flow. Incoming water at 45F vs. 70F vs. 100F will have very different results on the output of a tankless system.
2. The water is already warm or even hot from the solar rays before entering the tankless unit and therefore the added wait time associated with a tankless unit can be reduced or even eliminated.
3. Its important when combining a tankless and solar water heater to consider a tankless unit that recognizes incoming temperature as well as outgoing and is able to fully modulate its burner (therefore only burning the necessary amount of gas to raise the temperature to the appropriate amount).
4. With the right tankless unit and an appropriately sized solar system you may find that your tankless rarely need to run. In fact some people have found that their gas bills are now costing only a few dollars as opposed to a few hundred dollars.
These Solar systems can be a little tricky in Ontario and Toronto as we have winter and the solar system (if it fails) could experience freezing. This would rupture the thermal cells in the collector rendering it ineffective. It may be necessary to use a glycol system to prevent freezing if electricity goes out. Your contractor should be able to provide all necessary info, or fill out the contact form and we can help.
Tankless Water Heater Facts
Jan 12th
Tankless Facts
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- 25% of every household energy dollar is spent making domestic hot water. Heating water with a conventional tank is the third largest energy consumer in your home (behind furnace and A/C).
- Electricity is the WORST way to heat hot water while natural gas and propane gas are much more efficient. Based on national fuel price averages of $1.46/ccf and $0.09/kwh, the cost/100,000 BTU’s is $1.46 for natural gas and $2.64 for electricity. Just under 60% of North American households have access to natural gas, and if you don’t, propane gas is available to almost everyone and is still a better value than electricity. In addition electric water heaters have only a small fraction of the capacity of gas water heaters. So if you like expensive, short showers, with cold water at the end, use electric; otherwise gas would be a better choice.
- Modern gas fired tankless water heaters are the best alternative available to today’s homeowners to reduce their residential energy consumption. A typical gas fired tankless water heater cost about 2-1/2 times as much as a standard tank water heater. However it will pay for itself in just a few years or less, and will last twice as long as a tank.
- If you are considering a tankless water heater Rinnai is likely the best choice. On average a new Rinnai is installed somewhere in North America every 3.75 minutes. Rinnai has shipped over 30 million tankless water heaters world wide.
