Boilers and Water Heaters: Demand for Efficiency Heats Up

Part 1: Small Storage Water Heaters Feature Low Initial Cost

Part 2: Tankless Water Heaters Provide Unlimited Hot Water

Part 3: Condensing Water Heaters Reduce Installation and Repair Time

Part 4: Solar Water Heaters Help Minimize a Facility's Electrical-Power Generation

Part 5: How to Implement a Hot-Water-Maintenance Program

Condensing Water Heaters Reduce Installation and Repair Time

By Winston Huff - January 2009

Condensing, gas water heaters are more than 92 percent efficient. These heaters can function as a complete system with the interconnecting piping, equipment, controls, and valves installed at the factory, which reduces installation requirements and simplifies repairs.

Condensing, instantaneous heaters do not require storage tanks while meeting demands for hot water. Technically, these heaters are tankless, but smaller units typically are referred to as tankless, and larger units are referred to as instantaneous.

The condensing tank and instantaneous heaters have single-point connections that can reduce installation costs and provide one point of contact if problems arise.

In facilities where the demand for hot water exceeds the capability of small, tankless water heaters, managers should specify condensing heaters, while using instantaneous steam heaters where available. Managers can include these heaters when calculating for LEED’s energy and atmosphere credits.