tankless water heaters [RE-wrenches]

[Bill Loesch]

Hi Todd,

Jay properly identified the common _installation_ errors. Just remember that
the (probably) less than 40,000 BTU/h existing tank water heater is being
replaced by a 117,000 BTU/h tankless water heater. That heat has to come
from somewhere and must be disposed of properly. The existing 3 inch tank
venting will definately _not_ work. The gas supply for the "small" tankless
needs to be sized properly. Please, please, please do not install one of the
larger (170,000 and higher BTU/h) models (which are almost universally
_power vented_) into the same flue as the furnace. Any power vented gas
appliance needs its own _dedicated_ sealed exhaust constructed with "special
gas vent" (sealed pipe made with stainless steel that has a very high
resistance to corrosion).

See www.gamanet.org and watch the video titled "Venting Done Right" for a
more extensive explanation of differences in venting natural draft and power
vented appliances.

Take the time to
1) Read the instructions
2) Understand the instructions and
3) Follow the instructions

If you do, you will be very pleased with the endless hot water, improved
water heating costs, space savings and $300 tax credit for many of the units
(regardless of manufacturer).

If you are in a hard (or very hard) water area, you absolutely positively
need to install service valves to allow simplified manual descaling of the
heat exchanger. A more maintenance free installation would include a water
softener. A water conditioner is a less expensive (and IMHO, less effective)
solution to the scaling issue.

Eliminating plumbing crossovers (if present) is also required for the
tankless to work as designed.

Thanks,

Bill Loesch
Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar
314 631 1094

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Todd Cory, Mt. Shasta Energy Services" <toddcory at finestplanet.com>
To: "Wrenches" <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 6:48 PM
Subject: tankless water heaters [RE-wrenches]


>
> Wrenches,
>
> I am working with a client who is looking over specs for tankless water
> heaters. I recently read (somewhere I cannot find the information now...
> of course) about a propane unit that used no AC power or pilot light. I
> believe if I read the article correctly, the unit had a small generator
> that operated off the flowing water to light the propane.
>
> Does this ring a bell with anyone? Is the best way to go? This is for an
> off grid customer so phantom loads are an issue. Pilot lights are also
> undesirable due to the fuel waste.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Todd
> -- 
>
>
>     Todd Cory
>
>
>     KE6SXS
>
> *toddcory at finestplanet.com <mailto:toddcory at finestplanet.com>*
>
>
>     Mt. Shasta Energy Services
>
>
>   License C-10  #811428
>
>
>   P.O. Box 689
>
>
>   Mt. Shasta, CA. 96067
>
> *(530) 926-1079*
>
> * *
>
>
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