Indirect Water Heater Basics

Water Heater Comparisons: Indirect Water Heaters and Instantaneous Water Heaters

Thursday, April 28, 2011 by Gerry Clisham

In the previous post (click here for this post) we discussed the characteristics of traditional gas and electric of water heaters. These are the most common types of water heaters, however they are also the least efficient model. These also have the shortest expected lifespan. In this post we will discuss Instantaneous Water Heaters and Indirect Water Heaters.

Instantaneous Water Heaters
Instantaneous Water Heaters are a relatively new product in the market. These water heaters heat domestic hot water only on demand, eliminating the storage tank and stored water volume. Eliminating the storage tank also eliminates the standby heat loss from the stored water. This energy efficiency has created interest as the energy costs have risen over the last few years. While most people measure traditional water heaters by their storage volume (somewhat incorrectly), instantaneous water heaters are measured by their maximum flow rates. These flow rates are important as they will determine how much water can be used at one time. Instantaneous water heaters are promoted by saying that you will never run out of hot water, which is meant to deal with the fact that traditional water heaters, with their slow recovery rates, will run out of hot water. Instantaneous water heaters will continue to produce hot water as long as requested, but you can get cold water from the shower if you use too much at one time. Instantaneous water heaters have an estimated life of 15 to 20 years - however regular maintenance is required. Scale will accumulate on the heat exchanger that must be removed periodically.

Indirect Water Heaters

Indirect Water Heaters are a perfect option for homes with existing boilers. Because they utilize the boiler as their heat source, they have the simplest configuration. Boiler system water is used to heat the domestic water. Most indirect water heaters pump the boiler system water through a coil in the domestic hot water storage tank. The heat is then transferred from the coil to the domestic water. The Smart Indirect Water Heater uses a unique tank-in-tank design that surrounds the entire domestic water tank with hot boiler system water. This results in a very high heat transfer rate and therefore a very fast recovery rate. Therefore a 40 gallon Smart water heater will supply more hot water than a 40 gallon traditional gas water heater. In fact the recovery rate of the Smart is twice as fast as a traditional gas water heater and four times as fast as an electric water heater.

When combined with a high efficiency boiler such as Triangle Tube's Prestige Solo boiler, indirect water heaters are very energy efficient. They do not have the flue or chimney that is in a traditional gas boiler therefore their standby losses can be minimized Triangle Tube's Smart Indirect Water Heater is surrounded by 2 inches of expanded foam, and minimizes the heat loss to 1/2 degree F per hour. This translate to a cost of $0.05 per day to maintain 40 gallons at temperature with natural gas.

Coil-in-tank indirect water heaters will accumulate scale on the hot coils in the tank. As this scale accumulates the efficiency of the tank decreases and the recovery rate gets longer. The Smart Indirect Water Heater surrounds the domestic tank with hot boiler water, minimizing scale formation. As fresh cold domestic water enters the tank, the inner tank is designed to expand and contract, dislodging any scale. Therefore the tank will retain its high efficiency throughout its life. And speaking of life, the Smart Indirect Water Heater comes with a limited Lifetime Warranty for residential installations. So the Smart Indirect Water Heater will be the last water heater you ever buy.

Conclusion
Indirect Water Heaters are among the most efficient ways to produce domestic hot water. It is important when considering any water heater that you look not only at the storage tank volume, but more importantly in how much water the tank can deliver. Due to the unique tank-in-tank design, the Smart Indirect Water Heater is among the most reliable, most efficient, and most desirable water heaters you can select.

Water Heater Comparisons are about more than Gallons of Storage

Thursday, April 21, 2011 by Gerry Clisham

When deciding on household appliances, one of the most important, yet least considered is the water heater. Hot water is important not only for showers and baths, but also for clothes washers, dish washers, and just warm water at the sink. We all want hot water on demand and now there are many ways to get it. The key is to determine the best and most efficient water heater that will fit your needs.

Traditional electric water heaters feature electric elements that heat the water. These are simple to install and have a low purchase price. Unfortunately in most of the country, where electric rates are $0.15 or higher per kilowatt-hour, they have one of the highest operating costs. Electric water heaters also have the lowest recovery rates. Recovery rates are the amount of time it takes to bring water up to the desired storage temperature. To compensate for these low recovery rates, electric water heaters need to store more water. Therefore most homes require at least 40 gallons of stored water to meet their demands. Minerals in water will gather at the hottest points in a water heater. Therefore electric water heater elements, which provide the heat to the water, get coated with these minerals over time

. This causes 3 problems. First, it reduces the efficiency of the elements since the minerals act like an insulator, preventing the heat from transferring to the water. Second, since they are preventing heat transfer, the mineral deposits lengthen the recovery time. Therefore, over time the recovery rate will decrease. Third, when the elements can't transfer their heat to the water, they become hotter. This increased heat acts to destroy the elements and eventually they will burn out and need to be replaced.

Traditional gas water heaters use natural gas or propane to heat water. The water heaters operate much like a pot of water on a stove. These water heaters have a chimney, or flue that takes the burned gases to the outside. As the gas travels up the flue it continues to heat the water. Unfortunately this flue also creates a lot of heat loss since it is uninsulated. As a result traditional gas water heaters have the highest standby heat losses. The high temperatures of the burning fuel provides a recovery rate that is twice as high as an electric water heater. As a result, a traditional gas water heater requires less stored water to meet hot water demands. The minerals in the gas water heater will collect at the bottom of the heater near the combustion. Over time this lowers the recovery rate and decreases the efficiency of the unit. Eventually these deposits can cause leaks and the failure of the water heater.

In the next post we will discuss instantaneous water heaters and indirect water heaters. There are two types of indirect water heaters. Coil-in-tank varieties, and the unique stainless steel Tank-in-Tank variety known as the Smart water heater from Triangle Tube. Indirect water heaters work with boilers in home with radiant heating.

Indirect Water Heater stores 40 gallons of Hot Water for $0.05 per day

Monday, January 24, 2011 by Gerry Clisham

Being green means doing what's best for the environment, and in some cases it requires some sacrifice. But if you install a Smart Indirect Water Heater from Triangle Tube, there are big benefits for both you and the environment.

Hydronic heating is the most energy efficient and comfortable way to heat your home. Hydronic heating uses a boiler like the Prestige modulating boiler to heat hot water that passes through baseboard, in-floor, or traditional radiators. One of the other benefits of a hydronic heating system is the ability to use an indirect water heater, which is more energy efficient, more reliable, and more productive than traditional gas or electric water heaters.

One of the benefits of the Smart Indirect Water Heater is that it is completely surrounded by insulation, unlike traditional gas water heaters that have an uninsulated and drafty flue pipe through their center. By using 2 inches of foam insulation a Smart indirect water heater is so well insulated that the standby heat loss is only $0.05 per day !

A nickel a day is a small price to keep 40 gallons of hot water ready for use (based on natural gas at $1.25/therm). Many people are considering installing instantaneous water heaters to avoid paying for standby heat loss. But in their quest to be green, they are having to wait for the hot water to respond, and also are limited in the amount of water they can withdraw at one time. In addition, the installation and maintenance costs may outweigh any cost savings possible.

In contrast, the Smart water heaters provide instant hot water response to as many demands as needed until the tank is depleted. But even then, the unique design of the Smart tank reheats water at an industry leading pace. Designed to eliminate energy robbing limescale, the Smart keeps performing efficiently throughout its life - which is a long one that is guaranteed by a limited lifetime warranty.

Take full advantage of your hydronic heating system and make a comparison between the Smart tank and any other tank type or instantaneous water heater. When you add up all of the benefits to a Smart Indirect Water Heater, you will see that selecting it truly is the Smart choice.

How limescale ruins common water heaters

Monday, November 29, 2010 by Gerry Clisham

The most common cause of failure in traditional gas and electric water heaters is limescale build-up. During normal operation, especially in hard water areas, minerals in water will accumulate on the hottest parts of the water heater. In electric water heaters this would be the heating coil, and in traditional gas water heaters this would be the tank area near the burner.

Over time this build-up acts as an insulator, causing the water heater to work harder and harder to heat the water. This reduces the energy efficiency of the water heater by up to 50%. The water heater will eventually fail due to this excessive heat. Coil-type indirect fired water heaters provide a longer service life, however limescale does accumulate on their coils decreasing efficiency and eventually leading to failure.

In comparison, Triangle Tube's Smart Indirect Fired Water Heaters practically eliminate limescale build-up and failure due to the unique tank-in-tank design. In the Smart water heater design, a stainless steel inner tank containing the domestic hot water is surrounded by boiler system water in an outer tank. The boiler system water heats the entire surface of the inner tank, eliminating areas of heat concentration. In addition, the stainless steel inner tank is allowed to expand and contract slightly as cold water enters the tank. This movement dislodges any limescale that does accumulate and allows it to pass through the system.

The Smart indirect fired water heater is available for use with traditional boiler systems while the is designed to work as an integral part of a green solar water heater system. Triangle Tube's Smart indirect water heaters can be paired with the Prestige boiler for optimum system efficiency.

Smart Indirect Water Heaters – The Efficiency Leaders

Friday, November 19, 2010 by Gerry Clisham

Energy Efficiency is important to everyone these days. Whether you are striving to save money, or are simply looking to minimize your carbon footprint, green products have a bigger following than ever. Heating the hot water consumes up to 25% of the energy use in your home, so it is important to look at your water heater efficiency to minimize your energy consumption.

Many people are considering combination or instantaneous water heaters to reduce their energy costs. Instantaneous water heaters heat hot water directly, eliminating the storage tank, and therefore eliminating the standby heat loss that occurs while the hot water is not used. This is a good solution, especially if your house has only one or at most two showers. If you have a larger family with more extensive hot water needs, a Smart Indirect Fired Water Heater may be more appropriate.

Smart Indirect Fired Waer Heater Triangle Tube's Smart Indirect Water Heaters work with homes that have an existing boiler. These water heaters use the boiler system to heat the hot water through a unique tank-in-tank system. The large surface area of the inner tank allows for rapid heat transfer, allowing for a small tank to replace much larger traditional water heaters.

But the most important factors in the Smart’s energy efficiency are its insulating jacket and the boiler efficiency. When a SMART tank is paired with a high efficiency boiler,, like Triangle Tube's Prestige boiler it can heat the water using nearly 25% less energy than a gas water heater. In addition, the Smart tanks are surrounded by 2 inches of foam, which limits heat loss to less than ½ degree F per hour. The result is that standby losses can cost less than $0.05 per day.

With no moving parts, Triangle Tube’s Smart indirect fired water heaters are very reliable. In fact they come with a limited Lifetime residential warranty. The efficiency and reliability of the Smart indirect water heaters make them an excellent choice for today’s green homes.

How to Select a Replacement Water Heater

Monday, October 11, 2010 by Gerry Clisham

The Federal Government is now providing tax rebates of up to $1500 to homeowners replacing their existing water heater with a qualified energy efficient model. While most of us wouldn't consider replacing a water heater until it begins leaking, with the incentives set to expire at the end of 2010, it may make sense to make the replacement now, especially if your existing model is long past its warranty period.

When selecting a replacement water heater there are more choices than ever. If your house is heated by a boiler, one of your options is an Indirect fired water heater, where the domestic water is heated by the boiler system. This post will discuss some of the advantages of these water heaters. Some of the important features to consider are Energy Efficiency, Hot Water Production, and Longevity.

Energy Efficiency – In a water heater comparison, Indirect fired water heaters are recognized as the most energy efficient and longest lasting design by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. This energy efficiency relates both to the ability of the water heater to retain its heat, and to the efficiency of heating the water. Triangle Tube's Smart indirect fired water heaters are completely surrounded by 2 inches of expanded foam insulation. This provides a blanket so efficient that standby heat loss is minimized to less than ½ degree F per hour – or in dollar terms – less than 5 cents per day.

Traditional gas fired water heaters are much less efficient because they contain an un-insulated flue pipe through the center of the water tank. The tank loses heat through this flue, as well as the surrounding insulated jacket. In addition, gas fired water heaters burn much less efficiently than the Prestige Boiler that would heat a Smart water heater.

Hot Water Production – Nobody wants to be in the shower as the hot water runs out. It is important that your water heater is sized to meet your needs. As your needs change, will the water heater be able to keep up? Triangle Tube's Smart models feature a unique tank-in-tank design that maximizes the heat transfer from the boiler to the domestic hot water. This allows for more hot water output from a smaller tank, which saves money not only on the initial purchase but also on the on-going energy costs.

Other indirect water heaters feature a heating coil which generally has less heating area and is prone to limescale build-up. Over time, this build-up can increase the heating time by over 30%. And traditional gas and electric water heaters can’t compare to the production of the Smart, which produces four times the amount of hot water of an equivalent electric model, and twice the amount of a standard gas model.

Longevity – Who wants to come home from vacation to find a flooded basement from a leaking hot water heater? It is important to consider the reliability of the water heater when making your choice. Traditional electric and gas models are sold by the length of their warranty, generally 3, 6, and sometimes 12 year warranties. With the Smart series, you have the confidence of a lifetime replacement warranty.

With the many water heating options available today, it can be difficult to select one model from another. When you consider the Energy Efficiency, Hot Water Production, and Longevity of the Triangle Tube Smart indirect fired water heater, it is clear to see why it is the preferred brand of so many contractors and homeowners. Click here to see an animation showing the unique Smart design. Contact Triangle Tube today to find out more.