Tankless Hot Water Heaters
Due to rising energy costs and people becoming more environmental aware tankless hot water heaters are growing in popularity. They can deliver instant clean hot water on demand and they are relatively simple to install for a qualified professional.
As the name indicates tankless water heaters heat your water without the need of a storage tank. Essential there are 2 types of heater, an electric and a gas powered heater. What fuel type of heater is the first decision you will need to make when considering a tankless water heater.
With an electric heater the water is heated by an electric element and in a gas heater the water is heated with a gas burner. Also with gas heaters you need to establish whether you are using propane or natural gas and you will also require the correct gas venting. This is usually made of stainless steel, galvanized steel or aluminum. You will need to ensure that you have the right category of venting and that it complys with the manufacturers guidelines for the appliance you are installing
As the water is heated on demand you will never run out of hot water as can happen when the hot water was stored in a tank. The size of your tankless hot water heater is the next thing to consider. On average they supply hot water at approx 2- 5 gallons a minute and you have to decide if you want to supply the whole of the property or have a smaller unit that will heat the water specifically for say the dish washer. The number of people and the number of appliances together with whether they are all using hot water at the same time will be the determining factor in the size you will require for your home.
You can find out more about tankless hot water heaters by clicking here.
Can I install a electric tankless water heater in my RV?
I have a fifth wheel camper with 30amp service. Unfortunately last fall I wasn’t able to winterize my camper in time for a hard freeze and froze and broke the water heater holding tank. Since I have the water heater out now I was thinking it may be time to switch to a tankless rather then replacing the old unit it. Is there a unit that anyone could recommend? Basically all I’m looking for is a hot shower that lasts for a lot longer then the 6 gal heater that was originally in the camper. Any help would be great, thanks.
Well, you may be getting the idea by now, that your idea or dream, of a hot shower that lasts longer than it takes you to get undressed, is so much smoke and mirrors. I’ve been doing water heaters for a long time and as the previous answers said, the only instant water heater that runs on 120 volts, is a small, undersink, point of use unit, that’s used mostly for making instant coffee or tea, maybe a quick wash of the hands. All the larger household sized units require 220/240 volts to operate. As far as I know, not too many camper hookups provide that much juice when you plug in. I thought about gas, but I don’t know if anyone makes one in an LP type. That would be your only hope.
Insider Going Green Energy Tips
Step one is to hire an energy auditor. We need to turn to the experts, to people who are best at it when we need something done. They could tell you about what is making you poorer by heating and cooling your home as well as other areas.
If you are not sure where they are located then just run a google search. Perhaps you might consider looking up the yellow pages otherwise. These guys have got some high-tech tools which include infrared cameras, pressurizing fans, moisture meters and smoke blowers (or pencils).
He might even get a brand new house fan fitted to the outside doorway. It creates pressure, holding out a smoke pencil could help you understanding where you are becoming poorer. He might want to use a moisture meter to figure out extra moist places of your house. High RH or Relative Humidity can make a home’s inhabitants feel uncomfortable and add to high energy costs.
Second step is to find effective solutions. I have got a problem. You have found a guy to investigate it. Now is the time to fix it. Mostly he is going to suggest solutions. Sometimes you might be able to fix it yourself or at times you might need those experts to do it for you. It may be as simple as caulking gaps on the exterior of the homes siding with a good silicone sealant and adding insulative foam electric outlet sealers to go behind your home’s electrical outlet switch plates with plug in outlet covers to reduce drafts and air loss.
Other more extensive energy saving features may aid in lowering fuel costs as well. Among these are adding attic insulation, Low E glass windows, high SEER HVAC system (13 or better), tankless water heater and Energy Star appliances.
Couple example cases, this place had absolutely no insulation in the walls, though it did have a little insulation at the attic. On pier and beam with hardwood floors, there was no insulation underneath the home as well. On acting on the experts suggestion, believe it or not, the gas and electricity bills dropped down. It’s a perfect way to check your energy efficiency.
This expert is going to help you determine how to modify your house into an energy effective place which conserves energy. She conducted another audit on this one model 2 story with zoned HVAC. There was one heater and an aircon unit at all levels. At this audit, she learned more about the way air flow works. Apparently if you leave the bedroom doors open, then the HVAC is going to work better. So if you get an expert, he is going to help you modify older homes in energy effective, even though they weren’t meant to be that way.
Chris Jensen
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