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Tankless Hot Water Heaters, Efficient, Effective, Endless.
Posts tagged natural gas
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
Solar Hot Water and a Tankless
Oct 31st
To really reduce your hot water heating charges you could look at adding an active solar water heater in conjunction with a tankless water heater. The rays from the sun would pre-heat the incoming water and then the tankless would simply finish the job. It’s difficult to get a solar water heater to produce water hot enough for today’s household demands, but with the technology in a tankless system it’s a perfect fit. 
Tankless water heaters are smart no, they check incoming water temperature and vary their burners to adapt. So if you have relatively hot water coming in to a tankless it will scale down its natural gas injection to ensure that water out temperature is at your set level. If the burner is scaled down so is your gas bill as only a fraction of fuel is needed.
This is a complicated system and it will be costly, if you are doing this to save money you probably won’t see a breakeven point for a long time. If you’re interested and looking at installing a Frankenstein system you are probable doing it for the environment.
What’s required?
If your installing somewhere in the southern states this will be a lot easier as you don’t have to worry about sub-zero temperatures. Up here in Ontario it’s a definite issue and there are a few systems that can be installed. There is the Active Glycol-based system that circulates food grade glycol and transfers the heat via a heat exchanger to the potable water; this is less efficient but the safest and most popular system in Ontario. The other way is though a drain back system, potable water is forced though the solar collector and drains instantly when the water is shut off. Both these systems work to preheat a tankless systems incoming water supply ultimately reducing the heat and gas needed to raise water temperature to the desired warmth.
These dual systems are not very popular due to the increased expense but a tankless is well suited and designed for a hybrid system. If the idea seems interesting but the price too high you should note that they can be installed in stages, tankless first and then the flat plate solar collector.
Canadian Tankless Water Heater Websites
Oct 20th
Its funny that most of the major tankless companies dont have canadian version of their websites… Canada is a very natural gas dependant country and thus we have this service in the majority of our homes. You would think that a market of 30 million plus might foster a small investment in a geocentric Canadian content specific website. 
Tankless manufactures know that the further north their product is installed the colder the ground water and the more energy is needed to heat the water up to acceptable temperatures. For the most part all of the major tankless companies have successfully overcome this issue. They certainly should work on advertising and showcasing thier advancements. Canadian tankless manufacture websites would go a long way.
Tankless Manufactures with Canadian Sites
- Rinnai – Rinnai.ca
- John Wood – johnwoodwaterheaters.com (honourable mention for haveing a french version)
Tankless Manufactures Without a Canadian Site
- Bosch
- GSW
- John Wood
- Navien
- Noritz
- Paloma
- Takagi
Debunking Some Common Tanklesss Beliefs
Oct 18th
I have read a few articles lately regarding a number of beliefs, ideas, and thoughts on the benefits and opinions of tankless water heaters. I would like to take a few minutes here to verify and nullify some of them.
A tankless water heater will not save you money.
This depends so much on the situation it’s impossible to make any claim that a tankless will not save you money. Here are a few variables that factor in.
- The price of natural gas varies by Province, City, Country, and even supplier and on top of that there is delivery charges, taxes, and additional fees. A tankless can significantly influence these costs instigating either an increase or a decrease (more often than not its a decrease).
- The price of the tankless… this varies again with the size of unit, the brand etc etc. Also be careful of door to door conventional tank type water heater sales people, more often than not those contracts are much higher than the actual cost of a tankless.
- Tankless warranties are pretty similar to a conventional tank type water heater, but…. a tankless is designed to be serviced and have a lifespan of over 20 years. Their heat exchangers are designed to be cleaned of all calcification, whereas you tank type heater is simply designed to be replaced
So take the what you hear about the advantages and disadvantages of a tankless with a grain of salt. If someone has decided it’s not for them and feels it important to rhyme off a few common misconceptions take the time to investigate and see if its right for your home.
Rinnai Rebates
Oct 19th
Rinnai Tankless water heaters are available for Government rebates and incentives. These have been put in place by the 
Provincial Government to spur on the adoption of tankless water heaters in homes. A tankless reduces you natural gas consumption considerable compared to a conventional tank.
The current program is coming to an end (March 2011) but will be replaced with a new (smaller incentive) program. The Government underestimated its popularity and is stuck paying the higher grant values. So if you live in Toronto, Oakville , Hamilton, Mississauga, Etobicoke, Richmond Hill, Maple, Vaughan, etc etc your in luck!
Rinnai Rebate Amounts
- Rinnai R94Lsi – $315
- Rinnai R75Lsi – $315
- Rinnai RC80Hpi – $375
- Rinnai RC98Hpi – $375
From time to time there are additional tankless rebates from the tankless manufacturer or the installation company.
Brampton Tankless
Sep 28th
Are you living in Brampton and and interested in getting a tankless water heater? There are a lot of factors to consider and your best bet is to have a professional come out and assess your particular situation.
- A tankless has very specific venting requirement and each brand has its own set of rules.
- As a tankless consumes a lot of natural gas you may not be able to use your existing gas line.
- Prices vary from dealer to dealer quite a lot so it pays to get several quotes.
- Renting the tankless is an option and you still get Government rebates.
- All this info is free.
If your a Brampton resident looking for a tankless water heater then send us a quick email and we can call you back and set up a free consultation. Or at the very least we can answer any questions you have over the phone.
Upgrading your Furnace?
Sep 27th
If your upgrading your furnace why not have the installer put a take off on the gas line. What I mean by that is….
Sometimes on furnace installations the gas piping needs to be replaced or altered in some way. When you negotiate for your deal get them to throw in a natural gas BBQ take off or maybe one for a gas water heater. basically its a T that’s capped but gives you the option to add appliances to your gas line.
Furnace systems are expensive get them to give you a little extra for your hard earned money!
Thornhill Tankless
Sep 15th
Thornhill
Thinking of upgrading to a tankless water heater and live in Thornhill, keep in mind that if you decide to rent a tankless like 
many companies are offering you can STILL get the rebates that the Government is offering. If you get a quote for your rental tankless system and there’s no mention of the rebates available make sure to question the sales person.
A tankless water heater will provide residents of Thornhill endless hot water and plenty of energy savings. If you have signed on to one of those fixed rate natural gas contracts prevalent in Thornhill you are poised to save some significant energy and money.
Thornhill consists of many single detached homes and the percentage of tankless water heater being successfully installed increases substantially. Get a free consultation for you home and see what sized tankless you should purchase, how much it will cost, and the savings you can expect.
Rinnai RC98HPi
Jul 15th
Features
- Qualifies For Government Grants
- ENERGY STAR qualified
- Up to 96% thermal efficiency
- Condensing technology for greater efficiency and significant hot water energy savings
- Capacity to supply continuous hot water simultaneously to multiple plumbing demands
- Significant space savings over tank-style water heaters
- More sanitary hot water
- Long-lasting design and reduced risk of flooding
- Available in Natural Gas or Propane
- Flexible indoor installation options
- Meets Strict NOx Emission Rules
- 12-year heat exchanger limited warranty for residential installations (5 years on parts, 1 year on labor)
- Pair up with an air handler for efficient home heating
Specifications
- Dimensions: 19” W x 26” H x 10” D
- Weight: 71 lbs.
- Installation: Interior/Residential or Commercial
- Approved Gas Types: Natural Gas or Propane
- Minimum/Maximum Gas Rate (Input BTUs): 10,000 – 199,000
- Hot Water Capacity: 0.4 to 9.8 GPM (35° rise)
- Energy Factor: 0.94 (NG and LP)
- Electrical: AC 120 Volts – 60 Hz
- Connections:
- Gas Supply: ¾ inch MNPT
- Cold Water Inlet: ¾ inch MNPT
- Hot Water Outlet: ¾ inch MNPT
- Temperature Range (Min-Max)
- Residential: 98°-140° F
- Commercial: 98°-185° F (requires MCC-91-1 controller)
- Standard Digital Controller: MC-91-1US (included)
Documents
- Brochure : Rinnai Condensing Tankless Water Heater RC98HPi
- Owners Manuel: Rinnai RC98HPi
- Specifications sheet: RC98HPi Tankless Condensing
Get a Rinnai RC98HPi
Interested in renting or purchasing a high efficiency condensing Rinnai tankless? Get a free quote here and we will have someone come out to your home to see if it can be installed free of charge.
