Hot water heating consumes a good chunk of the average
households energy bill. Doesn't it make sense to accomplish this
necessity as efficiently and economically as possible?
The standard tank type electric, gas or oil fired hot water
heater has a thermostat that clicks on and off 24 hours a day
burning fuel to keep the tank contents at a narrowly defined
temperature. It clicks on and off because the tank, no matter
how well insulated, constantly radiates heat to the external
environment.
These type of hot water heaters have been around a long time and
have proved fairly reliable only coming to attention when the
pilot needs a relight or an older model starts leaking from
corrosion or suffers from internal deposit buildup.
Needless to say, each of these on off cycles consumes energy,
and wasted energy if the heated water is not being immediately
consumed.
Gaining in popularity to address this energy waste is what is
called the tankless hot water heater. Electric tankless water
heaters only use electricity when they are called upon to create
hot water on demand. Along with the fact that a tankless water
heater can save energy and thus money, tankless water heaters
can generate hot water at a more consistent rate resulting in a
more reliable temperature.
There are a growing number of electric and gas tankless water
heaters available on the market. Having such a wide choice makes
it much easier to find a unit that falls into a specific price
and size range. Since these units are tankless, they require
less space and can be more flexible in their location.
While most electric tankless hot water heaters can be installed
by the consumer, there are technical considerations such as
voltage, amperage, or circuit breakers which may be best left to
qualified techs who handle the equipment on a regular basis.
Now, just as you thought you got rid of that water tank, there
is one other consideration to ponder. Adding a solar component
to your hot water system. With or without the tankless system,
any freely preheated water coming into the process will save gas
or electricity.
Many solar designs incorporate an insulated storage tank like
our old reliable discussed above but without the non renewable
energy source. In warmer climates where freezing isn't a
concern, a direct solar heated water circulating system can be
employed from the collectors to the tank. In colder climates a
drain back or heat exchanger type system can be considered.
Whenever you have sunshine you can have lots of hot water stored
up even if the insulated tank does radiate off some BTU's.
Other than the initial installation cost, routine maintenance
and small energy inputs in the form of circulation motors if
required, the hot water is created from a renewable energy
source. When required, that extra boost from the tankless system
can provide very economical and consistent hot water.
If the right circumstances are present, like designing a new
house or living in the country, and you burn wood or pellets or
whatever, you can install hot water heating coils in the firebox
and route them to your solar storage tank. This adds an extra
boost especially when it is really cold or at night when you
have a good fire on.
If you happen to have a windgenerator or access to surplus
electricity (like photovoltaics) that isn't being consumed,
stored or sold back to a utility, you can use a dynamic loading
switch to 'dump' any extra energy into that hot water tank.
It is all a question of circumstance and the degree of multi
system integration one wants to consider and employ. These are
all appropriate technologies that can work in sync, in this case
to provide the ultimate in economical but luxuriating hot water.
Article by: Henry Ramsey
www.HappyThoughtLifestyles.com
About the author:
Henry Ramsey is a former national news correspondent who
specializes in writing about sustainable communities and
appropriate technologies. He was a classic car collector who now
rides an electric bicycle. To learn more visit:
http://www.HappyThoughtLifestyles.com
