The End of Traditional Hot Water Heaters

August 14, 2005 – Vol.10 No.21

THE END OF TRADITIONAL HOT WATER HEATERS?

The 30, 40, or 50 gallon hot water heater in most American homes works round the clock. It will make hot water during the night ready for the morning shower or will make hot water while we’re gone on vacation. (Because we’re too lazy or forgetful to turn it off when we leave.)

Our hot water heaters gobble up gas, electricity or oil to make hot water that may never be needed: a waste of energy, natural resources and money.

Much of the world has embraced tankless, on-demand hot water heaters (a.k.a. instantaneous or point-of-use). The U.S. lags behind.

The new energy bill signed by President Bush into law is set to help change all that by offering a tax credit of up to $300 for homeowners who buy the devices. Not a bad break.

A whole-house on-demand unit can cost $1000 plus installation. The $300 break plus efficiency savings can bring them in the price vicinity of traditional hot water heaters at $250 - 500. Some manufucturers claim as much as 50 percent energy/money savings, but much depends on usage and the technology employed. But, as the price of natural gas, propane and electricity rises the pay-back period for the on-demand systems shrinks.

Some states may also have incentives.

Here’s a few tankless on-demand hot water heater manufacturers

-- Rinnai http://www.rinnai.us/

-- SETS Systems, Inc http://www.e-tankless.com/

-- EEMax http://www.eemaxinc.com/

-- Paloma Industries http://www.palomaindustries.com/

-- Stiebel Eltron http://www.stiebel-eltron-usa.com/

-- Seisco http://www.seisco.com/

-- Envirotech Systems Worldwide http://tankless.com/

-- Termotronic http://www.termotronic.com/

-- Bosch (USA) http://www.boschusa.com/

-- Takagi http://www.takagi.com/