Tankless Water
Heaters
Discover what the rest of the world has known for 75 years
By Joe Brewer
“Have you
ever thought of going tankless?” asks the Bosch USA website.
Imagine, a houseful of guests for the holidays. You are worried that
they will run out of hot water in the middle of a shower! Now you
have to figure out who gets to shower first, or whether you can even
run the washer or dishwasher. You’ve got better things to worry
about. A tankless water heater may be just what you’ve been waiting
for.
Tankless water
heaters are a far more efficient way to heat water. A tankless water
heater heats only what you need, for as long as you need it. When
you open the tap, a tankless water heater senses the flow and then
an electronic igniter starts the water heating process. The water
flows through the heat exchanger and is heated instantly to the temperature
that you select. The hot water is then delivered to the taps that
are open.
A person doesn’t
use hot water 24 hours a day, but with the traditional tank system
you are paying to heat and reheat the same water even when you are
away.There are so many advantages of having a tankless water heater
in your home. It’s safe, reliable, and environmentally sound.
The tankless
water heater:
• Saves you up to 70% on your water heating costs.
• It’s so small; it can be mounted on the wall, saving valuable
floor space.
• It’s designed with replaceable parts and is built with
materials that last a lifetime such as copper, stainless steel, and
aluminum.
• It will not develop corrosive leaks (like a storage tank heater)
saving you from expensive water damage to your home.
• It maintains its efficiency throughout the lifetime of the
unit.
• Because tank-style water heaters store hot water, minerals
can build-up inside the tank. Those minerals can bake from the heat
onto the walls of the tank, and onto the heating element in electrical
models, thereby reducing heat transfer. This process will decrease
the tank’s efficienc over time.
With proper care,
this could be the only water heater one needs in a lifetime! The water
heater specialists at A-Boy Supply can help you choose the size and
model to suit your needs, based upon the maximum flow of hot water
needed at any one time. A-Boy Supply, specializing in electrical and
plumbing, sells tankless water heaters that are capable of handling
one shower at a time, and others that can sustain a maximum of three
showers at one time. Units equipped with a microprocessor control,
such as the Rinnai 2532 or 2424, use feedback from water flow sensor
to adjust the burner’s gas flow and delivers a consistent water
temperature. This is an important feature if you have small children
or elderly persons in your home.
In addition to
home units, models are also available for commercial operations such
as restaurants, hotels, motels, and schools. These models can easily
replace expensive to operate boilers.
Units are available
to mount outdoors as well as indoors, and can be installed in closets,
basements, attics, and garages. A tankless water heater can however
leak if it is exposed to freezing temperatures. Therefore, you must
take care where you place your tankless water heater.
A-Boy Supply offers
the three major brands: Bosch, Takagi, and Rinnai. Units start at
approximately $550 for a Bosch 125hx one-shower unit to the Rinnai
2532ffu whole-house heater for $1,300. There is also a tax rebate
offer through the state of Oregon, which will allow you to recoup
up to $340 of your investment.
A-Boy also offers
and recommends a survey of your water heating system from its qualified
technicians to determine the best unit for your application and water
heating needs.
Call the store
nearest to you to schedule a free estimate or contact Columbia Contracting
Services at (503) 225-0774. |
