Tankless Hot Water Heaters, Efficient, Effective, Endless.
Posts tagged propane
Home Depot Tankless or Rinnai
May 12th
Bosch vs Rinnai Tankless
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There has been quite the buzz regarding tankless water heaters lately. Claims of their superior energy savings and efficiency have been touted by every company pushing the units. Yes they do reduce the amount of gas or propane you use but they also provide endless hot water. If you take a 45 minute shower your more than likely using more energy than you would with a conventional tank that simply runs out of hot water after 20. Yet if you are reasonable and shower for the same duration, you have great potential to see some real energy (and money) savings with a tankless water heater.
Now that you know you want a tankless you have two options…
Option 1 – Go to your nearest Home Depot and purchase one from there, then hire a gas fitter and a plumber to install it
or
Option 2 – Look for a professional tankless installer who has the specialty to preform a stand-up job.
Being the person purchasing the system cost will obviously be a factor and I guarantee Home Depot will be the cheapest option (If cost is your only driving force you should click the link and head to Home Depot now).
For those of you that stuck around I will explain why the second choice is probably the best choice.
Firstly if you call around to a few tankless installers you will quickly realize that none of them sell Bosch tankless heaters (Bosch is the only tankless brand Home Depot sells). The reason why these companies don’t offer this brand is due to the fact they offer extended warranties and guarantees. They are on the line for the products they sell and thus they go with quality products they know will stand up and remain reliable.
Enter Rinnai.
Ask these same tankless installation companies if they sell the Rinnai brand tankless water heater and I bet you find that 99% of them do. Rinnai tankless water heaters are built to last and this is why industry professionals install this brand. Lets compare the Bosch and Rinnai tankless models and see some of the differences.
Bosch Aquastar Tankless Water Heater 1600H compared with Rinnai R75LSi Tankless
Bosch Tankless Verses a Rinnai Tankless
| Bosch 1600H | Rinnai R75LSi | |
|---|---|---|
| Tankless Weight | 33 Pounds | 50 Pounds |
| Power Input (NG) | 30,735-117,000 Btu | 15,000-180,000 Btu |
| CSA Certified | Yes | Yes |
| GPM | 0.6 – 3.5 GPM | 0.6 – 7.5 GPM |
| Energy Factor | 0.8 or 80% | 0.82 or 82% |
| Heat Exchanger | Residential Grade | Commercial Grade |
| Cost or Price | $939 + installation and Vent | $2850 or $39.95 rental |
As you can see there are some definite differences, probably the most glaring is the amount of hotwater that can be provided. The Rinnai is able to produce more than twice as much, meaning you won’t run into problems when running more than one appliance or faucet..
Of course this doesn’t take into account all the benefits that you get from a professional install like:
- Proper venting, tankless systems have very specific code requirements
- Correct sizing so that you always have enough hot water
- Additional warranty and workmanship guarantees
- Maintenance guarantees, service plans, and emergency tech service.
Sure any Ontario Home Depot has the cheapest system but I hope I clarified why they’re some much cheaper. Now those of you still left reading option 2 and didn’t click on the Home Depot link you are obviously interested in a tankless. These systems can’t go in every home due to venting issues so we send out a technician to make sure everything will work and what size tankless your home would need. This is a free service, so just fill out the form below and we will call you to schedule a time for someone to come by. Typically only 15-20 minutes.
Technicians are fitting and sizing tankless water heaters in all of the greater Toronto area as well as, Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Etobicoke, Mississauga, Rexdale, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Markham, North York, Scarborough, Im sure I have missed some cities but you get the idea, if in question just send us an email.
Microwave Tankless Water Heaters….
May 11th
Microwave Tankless
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Giant microwaves to heat water instantly? Is this real? And can it actually work?
A microwave (like in a microwave oven) is generated by a magnetron at a frequency of 2.45 gigahertz, this is the 
exact frequency that targets water molecules and gets them vibrating faster and faster, thus heating up.
The principal behind a microwave tankless water heater is basically the same as your microwave oven at home just on a larger scale. Cold water will simply pass through the unit where it will be bombarded by microwaves actively exciting the molecules to the required temperature. The warm or hot water will then pass through the pluming system to the source of demand.
Effectively this is making hot water produced by electricity actually a reality. There are electric tankless water heaters, sure, but they require massive amounts of power and don’t reliably produce enough water to supply a modern home. Wanderport, a manufacturer of these systems is claiming upwards of 6-7 gallons per minute which is directly on par with conventional tankless systems.
What’s potentially so great about these systems?
First off there is no venting needed, no holes in the walls, no venting proximity restrictions; these are huge barriers that gas or propane tankless systems face. On that same note, the conventional tankless systems sometimes require home owners to upgrade supply lines as units can consume upwards of 199,000 Btu’s.
Secondly a microwave unit has an efficiency of 99% and emits no pollution. The unit also doesn’t degrade over time as a conventional tankless does with calcium deposits and buildups in the various heat exchangers that they need.
So what’s the chances of you getting a microwave water heater in your home in the near future?
According to Wanderport, quite realistic. In fact they have a product on the verge of being released. Its already won an advanced technology award from the
Toronto Construction Association.
Check out the future of water heating here.
Rent a Rinnai
May 6th
Rent a Rinnai Tankless
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A tankless water heater can be an expensive upgrade for a homeowner. Sure the system will save you money on natural gas or propane but there is a large sum of money to come up with initially that takes a while to recoup.
Renting a Rinnai Tankless
We facilitate the renting if Rinnai tankless systems which only cost $39.95 a month, there is no installation fees and any breakdown or maintenance fees are completely covered as you are only renting the system. Tankless systems have a lifespan of over 20 years, if after a set period of time you decide you want to purchase it, no problem.
The Federal Government removing their portion of grant money has reduced the incentive to purchase these units and thus booting the value in a rental system. In all likelihood you are probably renting a conventional tank already why not upgrade to unlimited hot water and save a bunch of money off your gas bill (in most cases it easily offsets the additional rental costs.
Call or send us a quick E-Mail to find out more.
Takagi Condensing Tankless Review
Mar 16th
Takagi Condensing Tankless
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Here is the Takagi T-H2 Condensing Tankless hot water heater, there’s a lot to cover so lets get started.
Takagi Tankless Benefits
- PVC venting
- 95% efficient
- 4.6 GPM in dead of winter
- 8.5 GPM in the summer
- Direct vent capability
Info
The T-H2 model is available as a direct vent or an Outdoor model only. Takagi’s T-H2 “2nd Generation High Efficiency Tankless” unit, is a very energy efficient tankless unit (up to 95% in thermal efficiency) in the Tankless industry. The T-H2 was apparently designed for residential and light commercial use and offers Takagi’s Easy-Link to join multiple units.
The T-H2 can provide upwards of three showers’ worth of water simultaneously in colder climates.
The T-H2 can be vented with PVC, providing 0 clearance for DV installations. PVC venting can be used in all applications and apparently Takagi says that 3″ exhaust venting is now available (previously it required a 3″ intake and a 4″ exhaust).
The primary heat exchanger is made of “Heat Resistant Alloy” HRS35 Copper, Takagi has also added a “High Corrosion Resistant Stainless Steel” #316L secondary heat exchanger to recover waste heat from the vent stack before it leaves the unit to preheat the incoming ground water. This second heat exchanger and the resulting condensation that forms from the high efficiency operation, classify it as a “Condensing” Water Heater.
Download the official Takagi T-H2 Manual Here. Must have a PDF viewer.
Specifications
| Natural Gas Input | Min. 13,000BTU | Max. 199,000BTU |
| LPG Input | Min. 13,000BTU | Max. 199,000BTU |
| Gas Connection | 3/4″ NPT | |
| Water Connection | 3/4″ NPT | |
| Condensate Water Drain | 1/2″ NPT | |
| Natural Gas Pressure Inlet | Min. 5.0″WC | Max 10.5″WC |
| LP Gas Pressure Inlet | Min. 8.0″WC | Max. 14.0″WC |
| Weight | DV = 73lbs. | |
| Dimensions | 25.6″ x 18.5″ x 12.4″ | |
| Ignition | Electronic Ignition | |
| Electrical Supply | AC 120V (60 Hz) | |
| Water Pressure | Min. 15psi | Max. 150psi |
| T-H2DV Manifold Pressure | Natural: 3.15″WC | Propane:4.6″WC |
As we all know Canada can has winter, and this affects our ground water temperature. The higher the tankless has to heat ground water up the lower the output flow of hot water is. Ontario’s ground water fluctuates with the coldest temperatures occurring in February and the warmest is September. Toronto, Hamilton, Brampton, Scarborough, Mississauga for example are places that rarely see ground water temperatures dip below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Thus its safe to assume a minimum of 4.6GPM in the worst of conditions.
Download the official Takagi T-H2 specifications sheet here. Must have PDF viewer.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a condensing tankless that is relatively cheap and flexible for installation the Takagi condensing unit is definitely one that you should consider. This unit is $2575 our price and the Suggested Retail is $3920, which is considerably more.
Fill out the form below if you are at all interested in this or any other Tankless Water Heater.
GE Hybrid Electric Water Heater
May 11th
GE Hybrid Electric Water Heater
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Heating water for showers, laundry, dishwashers and other household needs can account for up to 25 percent of a home’s total energy cost. General Electric hopes that they figured out a way to persuade
homeowners to upgrade from a conventional electric storage-tank water heater to its new heat-pump water heater, expected out in the fourth quarter of 2009. A heat-pump water heater is quite common in Japan, but GE’s 50-gallon Hybrid Electric Water Heater represents the only U.S. version from a major manufacturer. This is an electric conventional style tank that holds between 40 and 60 gallons.
This heat-pump technology being used works be allowing heat to transfer from the air to the water stored in the insulated tank. (The conventional style tank will also retain some traditional electrical heating elements, which will kick in when needed.) GE claims this new water heater will use 2,300 kilowatt hours annually, about half that of a standard electric water heater. Those savings could help defray its cost, which at $1,200 to $1,500 American is higher than purchasing a conventional tank.
Realistically if you have gas or propane service at your home it would be much more efficient and cost effective to go with the new tankless water heaters that are available. Additionally since the unit is absorbing heat from the surrounding air it has to give off cool air which in Toronto and surrounding area means that your furnace will have to then work to heat that new cool air.
This may be an interesting product for any cottages or homes with electrical service only.
Tankless Rental
Jan 23rd
Renting a Tankless System
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Is a tankless rental the right option?
I hate to get in to this and fuel the recession right now but if money is tight then renting a tankless water heater might be the right thing to do.
A tankless rental works out to be a cheap investment for your home as as the cost for the unit is fixed every
month and the amount of natural gas, propane or even electricity consumed is reduced significantly. On top of that a rental system has the installation cost, and the venting kit built into the rental price. Currently systems are renting from around 35 to 50 dollars per month. The price does vary according to the size of the unit required for the house. If you live in a 4000 sq foot home you will need a larger tankless than a 2000 sq foot duplex. Is renting a tankless the right option for you? This is really up to your financial situation, the cost of outright purchasing a system is between $1500 and $3500, renting might work out more cost effective in many cases.
If you are interested in finding out more about a tankless rental systems please fill out the form and we will have someone contact you within 1 business day to discuss your options.
Tankless Installation Time
Dec 14th
How Long Will A Tankless Take to Install?
This can be a difficult question to answer as there are a number of factors that need to be taken into account. They range from
- Relocation – Does it make sense to move the tankless closer to hot water demands? does this involve moving the gas lines? Is there a venting issue that requires it moved?
- Size / Mounting - The Tankless is significant smaller then a full sized convential tank, this allows it to be mounted numerous locations.
- Venting – All tankless systems have unique venting requirements this may play a factor in its positioning, get a free evaluation here.
- Type – Do you want a propane, natural gas or electric tankless system? These factors can all play a part in tankless installation times.
The installation crews are scheduled to do 2 tankless installs per day, so most installs rarely go past 4 hours (quite a few have been installed in less than an hour). If you decide to go ahead with the tankless system, be that rental or purchase its a safe bet to allocate 4 hours for the install.
