It needs to be flushed!

Well, actually I lied, if it’s less than 2 years old it doesn’t. 

BUT

If your tank is any more than 2 years old it really could use a flush to make it more efficient and clean.  A tank will decrease in efficiency by 2-3 percent a year as minerals build up on the heating surfaces.  These minerals effectively insulating the heat from the water forcing your heater to burn more fuel longer to heat the water. 

The best part is that there is a simple solution.

Flushing a water heater requires that vinegar be circulated though the system repeatedly with a small pump for about 30-40 minutes. The acid in the vinegar eats away the deposits that have accumulated on the walls of the heater revitalizing the past efficiency of your water heater. 

Tankless Flushing

A tankless is incredibly efficient and thus incredibly susceptible to scale and mineral build up.  Thankfully, most tankless systems are installed with flush valves so that this process is easy and fast. 

1. Unplug the unit
2. Shut the water and gas off
3. Hook up the hoses
4. Start the pump and run the vinegar thought the tankless.
5. Your done, just reverse the steps.

Conventional Tank Flushing 

This type of water heater is a bit more difficult, but it is just as important to have the system flushed and cleaned.

1. Unplug if necessary
2. Shut water and gas supply off
3. Drain tank
4. Pump vinegar through system
5. Rinse and flush a second time
6. Done, reverse steps to hook everything back up

That should pretty much clean both types of water heaters sufficiently to bring the efficiency back to nearly factory standards.  It is important to have this done on a relatively regular basis and, by chance we offer a flushing service for 99$ for either system.

Toronto and Area Water Heater Flush – $99

Tankless Isolation Valve Install and Flush – $149   

(cheap tankless installers don’t always include the isolation valves)

Related posts:

1. Tankless Flushing Service
2. Descaling Your Tankless Hot Water Heater
3. Periodic Maintenance of a Tankless

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

Related posts:

1. Toronto Tankless
2. Efficient Tankless Systems In Toronto
3. Amana Furnaces Toronto

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

Related posts:

1. Renting a Tankless Water Heater
2. Toronto Tankless
3. Tankless Rental Program

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

Related posts:

1. Get Some Government Grant Money
2. ecoENERGY Grants and Rebates
3. Toronto Tankless

• 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

Related posts:

1. Home Depot Tankless or Rinnai
2. Navien Tankless Installation In Toronto And Area
3. Toronto Tankless

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

Related posts:

1. Tankless Water Heater Facts
2. Does a Tankless Water Heater Save Money?
3. Whats Involved In A Tankless Install?

The T-H2S Flow

Seeing as the T-H2S is one of Takagi’s greenest tankless models offering an average efficiency of 90% with natural gas and 90% with propane. If you choose this tankless model here in Ontario, Toronto, Barrie, or any of the surrounding cities expect a flow rate of about 4.1 GPM or 246 GPH with an input temperature at 40ºF or less.

Takagi states that the T-H2S tankless can provide at least two showers worth of water simultaneously in addition to one appliance.

Features

The T-H2S can be vented with PVC providing zero clearance for direct vent installations.
PVC venting can be used in all applications and a 3″ exhaust venting option is coming soon.
The TH2S utilizes dual exchangers to maximize the unit’s energy efficiency.
The primary heat exchanger is made of copper while the secondary is stainless steel.
This secondary heat exchanger is used to recover waste heat from the vent stack to preheat
the incoming ground water. This is in fact what classifies the TH2S as a condensing
tankless water heater.

Specifications

Interested in a quote for a Takagi? They are always free, Get a Quote!

Related posts:

1. Takagi Condensing Tankless Review
2. Takagi T-K3
3. Takagi T-K3 – $1495.00

Features

This Takagi TK3 tankless has a number of features that allow it to stand out from the pack.

Compact Size: Only 13.8 inches wide, the T-K3 tankless has the ability to be recessed between wall studs for even more space savings.

Low Activation Flow Rate: The Takagi TK3 activates at only 0.5 GPM, which allows the use of smaller water flows in bathroom sinks and showers. This is a pretty standard flow rate now for new generation tankless water heaters.

Parallel Installation: Easy Link technology allows the T-K3 to be installed with up to three other units without the use of an additional control box.

Direct-Vent Conversion: The TK3 can easily use a direct vent conversion to import combustion air from outside.

Eight Temperature Settings: Some tankless manufactures have only 4 preset temperature settings, the T-K3 offers eight separate temperatures. However, if you want a specific temperature than it is required that you buy the TM-RE10 temperature controller.

Longer vent runs: The T-K3 can have a vent pipe run up to 50 feet with five elbows, instead of the normal 35 with three elbows. This can be a great addition if your particular installation has a long vent run.

Synopsis

The TK3 tankless incorporates a number of important features into one new tankless system, and should fit the needs of most high-volume residential applications. As always performance depends on the temperature of the ground water, and with winter water temperatures here in Ontario, Toronto and the Toronto region dipping to the low 40 degrees F range you can expect the T-K3 tankless to produce a flow rate around 4.1 GPM, or 246 GPH.

Specifications

Related posts:

1. Takagi T-K3 – $1495.00
2. Takagi Condensing Tankless Review
3. Takagi Tankless

This ecoENERGY retrofit program has a specific section for tankless water heaters as they’re very high efficiency systems compared to what has conventionally been installed in homes.  In Ontario you can expect a $375 rebate from the Government if you decided to switch over to a high efficiency tankless. 

Several tankless brands are able to deliver the required efficiency and all bring in the full rebate value. If your interested you can read more about the different tankless brands and their specifications below.

1. Rinnai
2. Navien 
3. Nortiz

Eligibility for the ecoENERGY retrofit program in Ontario

New ecoENERGY Participants – If you or the previous owner of your home didn’t have and energy audit completed between April 1 2007 and June 5 2011 than you are considered a new applicant.  All you need to do is sign up and have the initial audit of your home completed – FIND OUT MORE

Past ecoENERGY Participants – If you or the previous owner of your home participated in the program between April 1 2007 and June 5 2011 and the maximum amount of $5000 wasn’t submitted then you can submit another application for upgrades completed on or after June 6 2011. 

Popular Items on the Ontario Grant Table

• Furnaces — high-efficiency gas/oil furnace, up to $790
• Central air conditioners — replacement air conditioner $250
• Hot water heaters — high-efficiency gas water heater $375
• Hot water heaters — condensing tankless water heater $375
• Boilers — high-efficiency gas or oil boiler upgrade $750
• HRV — in home heat recovery ventilator $375
• Solar Thermal— installation of solar hot water system $1,250
• Heat pumps — air-source heat pump that doubles as air conditioner $500
• Geothermal — energy-efficient ground or water source heat pumps, up to $4,375

Ontario homeowners also can take advantage of these upgrades

• Attic or roof — insulation up to $750
• Exterior wall — insulation up to $1,875
• Basement — insulation up to $1,250
• Crawl space — insulation up to $1,000

Interested in an Energy Audit and dont know where to start? Start Here and know information is always free! 

If your interested in a tankless than you want to Start Here

Servicing areas in and around Hamilton, Brampton, Georgetown, Etobicoke, Toronto, Brantford, Barrie, Vaughan, Maple, Nobleton, Bolton, Rexdale, Unionville, Newmarket, Bradford, King, Port Union.

Related posts:

1. Grants For Tankless Are Ending In Ontario
2. Rebates
3. End of Government Grants for Tankless

The lifespan of a Navien is 20 plus years and the manufacture provides a warranty for 15 years on them.  By the time your conventional tank type water heater hits 15 years it will be so full of calcium and build up it you will be lucky if it is achieving more than 20% efficiency.  Meanwhile if you had had one of our Toronto reps come by and install a tankless your system would still be operating in the high 90% efficiency range. 

Servicing the Toronto and area region has shown one thing to us, houses are small and space is important to home owners.  A Navien tankless can reduce your water heaters footprint by over 90% as it simply mounts on the wall.  Take back some of your space with a tankless heater.

Not all Toronto and area homes can meet the venting and positioning requirements necessary and thus its important to understand the requirements that need to be met.  If you live in Toronto or surrounding area we do offer free assesments where some one can come to your home and ensure that a tankless will work for youand your home.  Again this is free for Toronto and surrounding areas.  Otherwise if your handy you can check out the diagram to see for yourself if a tankless will fit.

FIND OUT MORE HERE 

Toronto, Ontario

Related posts:

1. Navien Rebates
2. Navien Tankless Water Tank
3. Navien Condensing Tankless 98%