They are not only considered as one of the innovating brands of all times but are also world leaders in quality products.

Let’s look at why Whirlpool:

Value for money: Whirlpool offers not only high quality products but also a value for money. Each of their gas heaters have been manufactured using advanced technology.

Whirlpool offers a comprehensive warranty on each of their gas and electric water heaters as well.

6th Sense: Whirlpool gas water heaters have been built around their innovative technology called the 6th sense.

The 6th Sense technology is a combination of state of the art engineering as well as highly innovative energy-control systems that ensure intelligent delivery of hot water.

Image courtesy of: http://www.whirlpoolwaterheaters.com

With the help of 6th Sense™ technology, Whirlpool gas water heaters are able to deliver:

• Smarter and better performance
• Highly optimal efficiency
• High durability over the years

Two Options: Whirlpool offers customers two different category of water heaters: gas and electric.

There are 28 models of Whirlpool gas water heaters available in the market today with 4 models having an Energy star rating.

There are also 21 models of Whirlpool water heaters available in the electric heater category out of which 2 models have Energy star ratings.

Non-CFC Foam Insulation: Whirlpool water heaters have been made using a non-CFC polyurethane foam layer of insulation that is situated between the outer jacket and the tank. The two other materials used as insulation include fiberglass, and polyester.

The use of non-CFC polyurethane foam as insulation has made these heaters extremely efficient and prevents any standby heat loss. This also helps in increasing the life of the water heater.

Top 3 Models of Whirlpool Gas Water Heaters

Whirlpool offers water heaters in mainly three categories and they are:

1.    Standard gas
2.    Energy efficient
3.    High efficiency

Whirlpool gas water heaters offer value for money and a host of easy to use controls that make these water heaters a complete system.

The top 3 models based on usage and consumer popularity are:

ND50T122-403 – 50 Gallon Natural Gas Water Heater

Price: $699

The ND50T122-403 is Energy Star rated and has been integrated with 6th sense technology. Some of the salient features include:

• FLAME LOCK® safety system: Reduces any risk of accidental fire
• Unique design: Ensures peak performance
• Self Diagnostics: System has LED indicator, which constantly monitors the status of the system
• Electronic Ignition: Integrated with electronic ignition to cut down on time consumption for heating
• Emission level: Low NOx

Gallon Capacity: 50 Gallons
Gas (BTU/HR): 40,000
Gas type: Natural gas
Energy Factor: 0.67
Warranty: 12 year limited on the tank and parts

N40T61-343 – 40 Gallon Natural Gas Water Heater

Price: $514.98

The N40T61-343 Whirlpool gas water heater has been manufactured for households with not more than 3-4 people. Some of the salient features include:

• FLAME LOCK® safety system: Reduces any risk of accidental fire
• Self Diagnostics: System has LED indicator, which constantly monitors the status of the system
• Piezo electric igniter: Helps in lighting the pilot quickly thus saving time and delivering hot water fast.
• Emission level: Low NOx
• High Altitude certified: This heater is certified for use at altitudes ranging from 0 to 10,100 feet.

Gallon Capacity: 40 Gallons
Gas (BTU/HR): 34,000
Gas type: Natural gas
Energy Factor: 0.59
Warranty: 6 year limited on the tank and parts

L30T61-303 – 30 Gallon Liquid Propane Gas Water Heater

Price: $489

This liquid propane gas water heater has been manufactured for households with lower requirement of hot water. Perfect family size is 1-2 people.

Some of the salient features include:

• FLAME LOCK® safety system: Reduces any risk of accidental fire
• Self Diagnostics: System has LED indicator, which constantly monitors the status of the system
• Piezo electric igniter: Helps in lighting the pilot quickly thus saving time and delivering hot water fast.
• Emission level: Low NOx

Gallon Capacity: 30 Gallons
Gas (BTU/HR): 29,000
Gas type: Liquid Propane Gas
Energy Factor: 0.61
Warranty: 6 year limited on the tank and parts

Whirlpool offers high quality and maintenance free gas water heaters varying in capacity from 30 gallons to 50 gallons. These heaters are not only energy efficient but are considered as some of the best value for money in the market.

Basically, in this type of water heater, the burning fuel, which is propane, creates heat energy and this energy helps in heating the cold water coming into the system.

Propane is a clean-burning heating fuel and hence it doesn’t leave any chemical residue or gas residues.

It ensures that the surrounding environment remains clean and healthy.

Propane is available only in gaseous form and in order to use it in a water heater; it is compressed into a liquid form.

There are several grades of propane gas available in the market to choose from and most of the grades can be used in portable water heaters.

The most commonly used portable propane water heater is the one available with a built-in igniter. This is also known as a piezoelectric igniter and it is made from quartz crystals.

The use of crystals ensures that the igniter is activated with ease when pressure is applied. This is a mechanism that is housed within the portable water heater system.

Types of Portable Propane Water Heaters

Propane water heaters can be categorized under two types: the tank model and the tankless model. Let us look into each type of propane water heaters:

The Tank Model: This is also known as the standard model and was the most popular type of propane water heaters in the early 80’s and 90’s.

In the propane tank water heater, extensive plumbing connections are required. Apart from this, there are the pipe and external fittings, which have made the tank model installation quite a cumbersome process.

The tank model or standard model water heater is available with different capacity tanks. Some of the portable propane water heaters are available in this category with tank capacities varying between 10 gallons and 40 gallons.

The portable water heaters can serve several purposes including hot water for morning coffee, a quick bath, washing utensils etc.

The Tankless Model: The tankless model of portable propane water heaters is popular amongst hikers and trekkers. The increasing use of tankless models is due to its ability to offer higher efficiency as compared to other hot water heaters.

Some of the units also offer instantaneous hot water when turned on. This is also known as the hot water station and a portable propane water heater is capable of delivering 2.65 gallons of hot water per minute.

The tankless models of portable hot water heaters are used in several places like high altitude base camps, wilderness camps, military camps, and even on-board yachts.

Image credit: gadgetgrid.com

Salient Features

The portable propane water heater has several salient features like:

• It has the ability to heat cold water in less than 5 seconds
• Depending on the brand of water heater, a portable propane water heater can heat almost 40 gallons of water in a single use.
• The portable propane water heaters are available with warranties varying from 2 years to 5 years.
• These water heaters have rugged construction and will not require maintenance even after rough use.
• The portable propane water heater offers high efficiency and thus helps users in saving approximately 60 percent on energy bills.

The Top 2 Models of Portable Propane Water Heaters

To shorten your research online we’ve narrowed down the choices for high quality portable propane water heaters to these two models:

Coleman Hot Water On Demand Portable Water Heater
Est. price: $247.74

This portable propane water heater is available with a 5 gallon jug and takes about 5 seconds to make hot water available.

The pumping of hot water is taken care of by a rechargeable battery. It is considered one of the most advanced, compact, and powerful portable water heaters for camping enthusiasts.

Specifications

• It is available with a Coleman® 16.4 oz propane cylinder
• One propane cyclinder can deliver 40 gallons of hot water
• Rechargeable battery of 6 volts
• Easy to maintain and use
• Heats water to 1000 F in 5 seconds
• It is available with a warranty of 3 years

Decker’s Hot Water Station

Est. price: $695 – Senior Model / Junior Model – $495

This is a state of the art portable propane water heater, which can be carried to just about any terrain on the plant.

It is available in two models: the junior and senior model. This unit has a built in 12v pump, which can pump water from just about any water source including lakes and streams and heat the water and deliver at 1.5 gallons per minute.

Image credit: hotcampshowers.com

It is considered a perfect water heater for family camping trips, nigh outs at base camp, wilderness camping, hunting camps etc.

Specifications

• Output rating – 37,500 BT
• Continuous hot water at 1.5 gallons of per minute
• Water temperature is adjustable from 80-1500F
• Can operate at 20-80psi of water pressure
• Manufacturer’s Warranty: 1 year

There are several other brands of portable hot water heaters that offer state of the art propane heaters like Ecotemp and Camp Chef.

Each of these water heaters can deliver different quantity of hot water and hence it is important to identify your water requirement before purchasing one.

Over the years, the primary concept of heating water using natural gas has remained the same.

The only change has been in the form of new design, new technology, the user friendliness of the systems, and the total effectiveness and efficiency.

How Natural Gas Water Heater Works

A natural gas heater works almost in the same way that a propane water heater works.

A natural gas tankless water heater uses a natural gas burner built in the system for heating water as and when required.

This is why some of the tankless heaters are referred to as instantaneous water heaters. In natural gas tankless water heater ignites as soon as the hot water tap is turned on.

The moment the water tap is closed; the burner shuts off. Most tankless heaters can provide 2-3 gallons of water per minute.

Since, this type of water heater doesn’t have any storage space hence they do not experience stand-by heat loss. This helps in reducing energy consumption by almost 20% to 30% in a household.

(Image from http://energyalmanac.ca.gov.)

In storage water heaters when the burner heats the water; it rises up because it is lighter than cold water. It then goes through a delivery pipe to its location, which could be a kitchen or bathroom faucet.

The gas burner in the heater system is controlled by a thermostat. Once hot water has left the tank it is replaced by cold water. In some of the systems, the burner also gets ignited when the water in the system’s tank drops below a pre-set temperature.

Types of Natural Gas Water Heaters

There are mainly four types of natural gas water heaters available in the market today. Here’s an insight into each type:

1. Standard Water Heater: The standard water heater is also known as the tank type natural gas water heater or the conventional model. This type of heaters are most commonly used although they are now being replaced by the tankless heaters in most households.

This type requires plumbing connections and pipe fittings to enable movement of both hot and cold water as well as natural gas. A tank type water heater has a built-in storage container, which is used for heating water as well as storing hot water for use later. The temperature of water to be heated is set using a thermostat built inside the unit.

2. Tankless Water Heater: The natural gas tankless water heater is constantly growing in popularity across the world because of the ease of use, instant hot water, and high savings on energy consumption.

This type of water heater is considered to be highly efficient. Considered as a technological leap; the tankless water heaters have twice the lifespan of a conventional water heater.

3. Combo Water Heaters: These are basically a mix of two types of heater: water heating and space heating. It is more of a multi-purpose heater. This type of water heater is perfect for small homes with compact space and for households where daily requirement for hot water is less.

4. Hydronic or boiler system: This is the fourth type of natural gas water heating system and is again a multi-purpose system. This type of system like combo water heaters can be used for both heating water and space heating.

The only difference is that it consists of a separate storage tank for keeping hot water and it consists of a boiler system. This type of system is also known as indirect water heaters.

Salient Features

The natural gas water heaters have several salient features like:

• Natural gas tankless water heaters are available with Energy-Star certifications. This simply means that by using the heaters, households can actually save as much as 50 percent on their energy bills vis-à-vis conventional water heater.
• Natural gas water heaters promote a healthy environment as their carbon emissions are much lower than any conventional water heater.
• All natural gas water heaters need to have outdoor ventilation, which helps in reducing harmful byproducts of combustion. The most common vent type is the atmospherically vented.
• These water heaters have longer year life expectancy and very less or no maintenance.

The Top 2 Models of Natural Gas Water Heaters

Rinnai R94LSi
Price: $1,484

The Rinnai R94LSi is a top of the line natural gas water heater, which offers continuous supply of hot water through multiple faucets or outlets simultaneously.

It comprises of a newly designed state-of-the-art heat exchanger, which has been made using commercial-grade materials only. This system also consists of a condensate collector and can be installed in high altitude places.

Specifications:

• Gas Consumption: Maximum (199,000 btuh) – minimum (15,000 btuh)
• Hot water capacity: 9.4 Gallons per minute
• Range of Capacity: 0.7 to 6 gallons per minute
• Energy Factor: .82

Navien NR-240A (CR-240A)
Price: $950

This natural gas water heater is considered as one of the best in the market as it has several unique features.

Considered as a 98% efficiency heater; the unit consists of buffer tank, re-circulating pump, and leak detector.

It is also available with a remote control. Another smart feature is that the heat exchangers of NR-240A have been made using dual stainless-steel, which is 20 times stronger and resistant to damage from erosion and condensation.

Specification

• Gas Consumption: Maximum (199,000 btuh) – minimum (17,000 btuh)
• Energy Factor: .95
• Temperature Range: 1000 – 1400F
• Minimum flow rate: 0.5 gallons per minute
• Installation type: Indoor wall hung

Some of the other top brands of natural gas water heaters include Bosch, Noritz, and Rheem.

Propane is considered to be a clean-burning heating fuel. It is basically available in gaseous form and is compressed into a liquid state so that it can be easily used in water heaters.

Propane gas used in tankless water heaters are available in different grades or different quality and contains compounds like butane and propylene.

Most of the common propane water heaters are available with a built-in igniter.

This piezoelectric igniter is made using quartz crystal, which helps in developing electrical potential especially when the right amount of pressure is applied.

This mechanism is housed within a propane water heater system and consists of a spring-loaded hammer, which strikes and generates a spark and thus igniting the propane.

A propane water heater also features an element made from porcelain, which helps in spreading the ignited flame in a specific pattern and thus helps in properly distributing the heat from the burning of propane. Another important element that most propane tankless water heaters have is the pilot light.

This is basically a small flame, which uses minimum fuel but burns continuously. The purpose of the pilot is to light the main burner as quickly as possible and this helps in saving time.

Types of Propane Water Heaters

There are mainly two types of propane heaters available in the market today: the standard model and the tankless model. Here’s an insight into each type:

Standard Model: The standard model is also known as the tank type propane water heater. This type has been in use for decades and is easily available in almost every country in the world. It requires extensive plumbing connections as well as pipe and other fittings for both propane gas and water.

As the name suggests, a tank type water heater comes with a large water container called the tank. This tank is used for holding heated water so that hot water is available for use later.

Tankless Model: The propane tankless water heater has grown in popularity and usage only in the last few decades. The primary reason for its popularity lies in the fact that it is a highly efficient water heater.

Image from sugarbearplumbing.com

The high efficiency is due to the fact that it heats water as required or when required. One of the salient aspects is that these heaters do not require propane gas until the downstream water fixture in the unit opens the hot water valve.

This basically suggests that during periods of inactivity or when the heater is not in use; it will neither consume any gas nor produce any emissions. Hence, it is considered to be highly cost effective and environmentally friendly vis-à-vis the tank model.

Salient Features

The propane water heater has several salient features like:

• A propane water heater with Energy-Star qualifications and an Energy Factor (EF) of 75-82% can help homeowners in saving as much as 60 percent of their energy bills vis-à-vis an electric water heater.
• Propane heaters are environment friendly as their carbon emissions are almost 60 percent lower than an electric water heater.
• Another important aspect is that The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 offers tax credits to those homeowners who install propane tankless water heaters.

The Top 2 Models of Propane Gas Heaters

The top two models of propane tankless water heater models are:

Noritz NC250 (N-0931M) Series
Price: $2,000

This propane water heater comes with a re-engineered and powerful heat exchanger. This is also the first in the industry to offer dual flame burner boost, which helps in increasing the power of the heater and minimize the flow requirements.

NC250 offers longevity of performance as the components of the heater has been made using commercial grade materials including the corrosion-free exterior casing.

Specifications

• Gas Consumption: Maximum (250,000 btuh) – minimum (11,000 btuh)
• Hot water capacity: 9.3 Gallons per minute
• Range of Capacity: 0.5 to 11.1 gallons per minute
• Installation type: Power vented

Rheem RTG-74X
Price: $1,180

This is the outdoor model of Rheem’s propane tankless water heaters. The salient aspects of this model include energy efficiency, continuous and steady supply of hot water, and a compact design.

The RTG-74X is available with a remote control and its efficiency is certified by GAMA. It comes with a 12 year warranty on the heat exchanger and 5-years on parts.

Specification:

• Gas Consumption: Maximum (199,900 btuh) – minimum (19,000 btuh)
• Energy Factor: .82
• Temperature Range: 1000 – 1400F
• Range of Capacity: 4.2 to 7.4 gallons per minute
• Installation type: Outdoor

There are several other brands that offer state of the art propane tankless water heaters like Takagi and Paloma.

If you are planning to buy a propane water heater then identify your household’s daily water requirement first and then opt for a model that is within your budget and satisfies your requirements.

These types of water heaters are also known as vacuum tube heaters and are typically constructed from durable glass.

In most countries including North America and Europe, you will find that the evacuated tubes of this type of solar heater being made from heat resistant and ultra strong Pyrex and will most often than not have a double wall construction.

Here’s an image of an evacuated tube:

Image credit: Reuk.co.uk

The inner tube of the evacuated tube is made from durable glass and is mostly coated with a type of coating, which is able to absorb sunlight. The inner surface of the inner tube consists of reflective coating.

How Evacuated Tube Solar Water Heaters Work

An evacuated tube solar water heater consists of multiple tubes. The air in each of the tubes is removed to create a vacuum. At the center of each tube, there is a copper heat pipe for absorbing and transferring heat.

Basically, when you install evacuated tube water heater, the copper heat pipe containing an anti-freeze liquid, is the element that absorbs all the infra-red radiation and/or heat from the sun and transforms it into heat.

When heat rises, the heater system automatically releases hot antifreeze which rises right up to the top of the system’s heat pipe. Here, the copper tip is connected to a header pipe, the latter releasing higher amount of antifreeze.

The hot antifreeze is automatically pumped by the system through the pipes situated inside a hot water tank. As a result, the water becomes hot while the antifreeze becomes cool. This is a continuous process and the antifreeze after becoming cooler again moves around the heating system and goes back into the header pipe to be reheated.

The evacuated tube solar water heater is a simple system that needs minimum maintenance. Due to the presence of copper at the tip of the system’s heat tube, it is able to heat water to almost 900C or 1940F in summers and 900C or 1400F in winters. The idea is that whatever the weather be; you will always get hot water in your home.

The Advantages

All solar water heaters have advantages over electrical water heaters in terms of level of efficiency and energy and cost saving factors. Apart from helping lower the energy bills of your home, there are various advantages that different solar water heaters have.

One of the primary advantages of the evacuated tube solar water heater is that they can work very well even in cold winter months thanks to the antifreeze.

Most basic or simple solar water heaters work very well in hot or warm weather and not so well in cold or freezing temperatures. But that is not the case with the evacuated tube heater.

One of the key factors for its high performance in the winter months is the vacuum in the evacuated tube. The vacuum effectively prevents the heat tube from becoming cooler due to the outside temperature which could be below freezing.

Even during cloudy days, the evacuated tubes can absorb enough sunlight to create heat and heat water up to almost 500C or 1220F.

Buying Options

There are different types of models of evacuated tube solar water heaters available in the market today. Most models differ in number of evacuated tubes attached to the system.

You can find water heaters having anywhere from 10 tubes to 30 tubes and even more.

Most top of the line systems are SRCC OG-100 certified but you should always double check it for guaranteed high performance.

Here’s how the evacuated tubes look like:

Image credit: Solar-cell-panel.com

You can install the evacuated tubes on the rooftops or even in your front garden depending on convenience and where it can get maximum sunlight. You can opt for a DIY kit for self installation at home or call on an expert in plumbing skills. The installation is practically easy and once completed, you can start getting hot water within hours.

The most important fact of evacuated tube solar water heater is that it takes less space, doesn’t make a hole in your pocket when it comes to energy bills, and ensures a steady supply of hot water throughout the year without high maintenance.

One of the best uses of solar panels is in a solar batch water heater.

In the years to come, we might even see solar propelled cars and jets as well or something far more bigger like entire cities being powered by solar energy or some such.

The question is: have you installed a solar water heater at your home? If not, then are you planning on installing one?

If you are looking forward to a greener way of living life, the best way to start it is by installing a batch solar water heater.

What Is A Batch Solar Water Heater?

Did you know batch water heaters can help you save the energy consumption of your household by almost 15%? Yes, that’s true and this simply means that you end up paying less and saving more.

This is the very fact that has made solar water heaters such a hot favorite even in colder regions, not just in the US but worldwide.

If you are looking for a DIY kit then you will be glad to know that solar batch water heaters are available as kits that can be assembled at home. This will help you to save on installation by third party personnel or experts.

Image credit: solar-components.com

A batch solar water heater is considered as one the cost effective solar heating devices in the market today. These water heaters work on the principle of absorbing sun’s energy and transforming it into heat.

Depending on the amount of heat absorbed by solar panels mounted on your roof, the quantity of hot water flowing into your kitchen or bathroom will vary. This simply means that in the morning and early evenings; the batch system will take longer to heat water while in the mid-afternoon, heating will be faster.

At the heart of a batch solar water heater is the solar collector and storage tank. The storage tank stores water and is normally well insulated. The storage tank of the heater has an outlet as well as an inlet connected to and from the solar plates.

Installing A Batch Water Heater System

A batch water heater system is most commonly known as a passive solar heating system. These water heaters have a simple structure and design and require minimal or zero maintenance.

A simple design means that it doesn’t have electronic controls, heat transfer fluids, pumps, or heat exchangers.

Image credit: Energysavers.gov

You can easily install a batch solar water heater into the plumbing of your home. You can even have a stand-alone system running out of your barn or backyard.

The question is: How easy is it to install a solar batch water heater?

The installation process is fairly easy and you can do it at home although there are certain factors that you need to take into consideration.

Some of these key considerations are:

The climate in your region or state or city: This is fairly important because most solar batch water heaters are not able to perform well in freezing temperatures. For example: if you are living in Alaska then a batch water heater might not be the best buy, but if you are living in Texas then go for it.

Solar resource: This stands for the amount of sunshine your solar heater plates or collector receives. Some places have 340 days of sunshine while others get barely 60 days of sunlight.

So depending on the amount of sunlight you can get; the installation of the solar collectors of the heater will be placed in your home. For example: if you feel that installing the plates on the roof of your home facing east will help the collectors to absorb maximum sunlight then that is where they should be installed.

Safety issues: You need to consider the local building code requirements as well as safety issues mentioned in dictates of your state. You can always find details regarding local building code requirements on the community website of your city or legal website of your state. These codes have to be followed and safety issues need to be taken care of.

DIY or Contractor:  You need to consider whether you want to do the installation all by yourself or want to hire the expertise of qualified heating systems contractors. This is completely a personal decision but experts believe that if you are not too confident about installing the system, best leave it to professionals because mishaps can happen.

Maintenance issues: Last but not the least; you need to consider the maintenance issues. Of course, if you are installing a batch water heater then you can be rest assured that maintenance will not be a problem, but even then it is advised to consult the system provider.

One of the important things to remember is that your heating system might need occasional cleaning, especially the solar collectors in very dry seasons. Apart from that complete maintenance of the system once in 3-4 years would be enough to keep it going strong for many years.

The bottom line is that a solar batch water heater is a low maintenance system and it will definitely help you to lower your household water heating bills.

This is one of the reasons why people across the planet have started looking at various solar water heater plans to supplement hot water availability in their homes.

The growing awareness of consumers and the need for harnessing solar energy has created a new market for solar water heaters.

As a result more and more companies specializing in offering DIY kits of solar water heaters have mushroomed. Today, there are several solar water heater plans available to choose from.

How To Choose Solar Water Heater Plans

There are several important aspects to consider when you are in the market looking for solar water heater plans. Let’s look at some of the important aspects:

Working of Solar water heater: This is the most important aspect. How does a solar water heater work?

This type of water heater is driven by energy from the sun or sunlight. The sun’s energy is used for heating water, which is stored in a container called the hot water tank and is supplied to various areas of a home through a piping system.

The solar energy is received by solar panels also known as solar collectors, which mainly trap the heat and enable the water in the tank to get heated.

Certification: This is the next important aspect. If you are looking for solar water heater plans then you need to ensure that they are certified by a regulating authority.

Most of the solar water heaters in North America are certified by Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC). SRCC is basically a third-party certification authority, which administers national certification as well as rating programs for different types of solar energy equipment including residential water heaters.

Their certification and rating program for solar water heating plans are known as OG 300. If you find a solar water heater system in the market that has the SRCC certification then it means that your system is durable, reliable, highly efficient, safe, and has the required thermal performance rating.

Types of Solar water heater plans: There are different types of solar water heater systems available starting from the very simple to the very complex. Most of these water heaters are classified under two categories:

•    Active solar water heater plans
•    Passive solar water heater plans

Passive or Active: The passive solar water heaters are considered as the simplest systems available. Hence, these systems are inexpensive and quite easy to maintain. There are mainly two types of passive water heater plans and they are:

1.    Batch Systems: This is one of the oldest forms of water heater plans in the world that is being driven by solar energy. This type of system is best for regions with climatic conditions that are fairly warm and where freezing doesn’t take place. Residential batch systems can suffice the requirements of 1-3 adults.

2.    Thermosyphon Systems: The thermosyphon system is a modern form of the batch system. It works on the basic principle that hot fluid will always rise.

This type of system normally uses a flat plate collector or an evacuated tube collector.  As compared to batch systems, this system experiences less heat loss and hence is quite the favorite. Using this system, you can derive 30-80 gallons of water every day.

Here’s a working diagram of a thermosyphon system:

Image credit: UCSUSA.ORG

Now let us take a look at the active solar water heater plans. As compared to passive plans; these are more complex in nature and require regular maintenance.

These systems require a solar water pump to enable the circulation of fluid through the system.

There are mainly two types of active solar water heater systems and they are:

1.    Open loop solar plan or direct circulation system: In this type of water heating system, the pumps circulate water for household use through a plumbing loop. Known as the direct pump system, it is quite similar in many ways to a passive system.

The only difference is that this system comprises of a low head solar hot water pump used mainly for circulation of fluid. This water pump can be activated or deactivated using a PV module or a built-in differential thermostat control. Using this system, you can derive 40-80 gallons of water every day.

Here’s a working diagram of an open loop plan:

Image credit: Made-in-china.com

2.    The closed loop solar water heater plan is also known as the drainback solar water heater plan. This type of system consists of two closed loops.

The water pump of a closed loop system is responsible for circulating a heat transfer fluid into the collector or the panel, which then passes through a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger then transfers the heat from the collector containing distilled water to circulating or stored domestic water.

One of the most important things to remember is that these systems require periodic maintenance and lack of maintenance will affect the efficiency and working of the plan severely. Using the drainback solar water heater, you can derive 40-100 gallons of water every day.

With hot water becoming a necessity in most households especially in the winter, installing a solar water heater will help in sufficing your domestic hot water requirements as well as increase on energy savings. However, it is always better to compare prices of the solar water heater plans over the internet before making any buying decision.

The Paloma water heater is an excellent choice for homes that require plenty of hot water and have more than source of water at home. Offering customers one of the best warranty periods in the market, a Paloma is a faithful companion.

Manufactured by the Paloma Water Heater Company, which is one of the largest producers of gas water heaters, a Japanese gas appliance company, the Paloma group is headquartered in Nagoya, Japan but has production as well as sales offices in countries such as Australia, Canada, China, and the US among others. Paloma entered the water heating manufacturing business in North America in 1973 and acquired Rheem in 1988 to become the largest producer of water heaters in North America.

Today, Paloma Company offers an extensive range of both, indoor and outdoor tankless water heaters that work on gas or electricity and their main brands include:

• Paloma
• Rheem
• Solahart
• Everhot

Why Choose

There are many reasons to choose a Paloma water heater and the most important ones are its safety features which are the best in the industry. Some of these safety features are elaborated on below:

1. ICAD: a safety system that prevents combustion in case of incomplete or overheat combustion, this system was designed in 1977 in order to monitor as well as optimize the combustion of gas fuel and to prevent the production of CO by automatically turn off the water heater.
2. Overheat Limiter: a fire protection sensor system that has the main role to offer protection from fire risk. It surrounds the combustion chamber with a plastic wrap once it detects overheating in the heat exchanger area.
3. Flame Failure Protection: another safety system which uses the thermocouple to check for proper firing and reacts in the event of flame-out, if any.
4. Anti-boil Protector: yet another safety measure that uses a temperature sensor to act when water temperature touches very high degree. The anti-boil protector shuts off the heater to ensure there is no fire.

What Do They Specialize In

Paloma water heaters are known for their sleek and stylish, space saving designs. Primarily constructed to be installed on the walls, these units can either be gas or electric or provide endless supply of hot water to a standard 1-2 bathroom American home. Built with superior quality materials such as Category III stainless steel, solid copper heat exchanger as well as combustion chamber, Paloma hot water heaters are assured quality products.

1. Self Diagnostic System: Paloma tankless water heating units are intelligent systems that have self-diagnostic systems with error display facility to help in troubleshooting.
2. Green Units: All Paloma water heaters are green. They are environment friendly because of the use of innovative technology that significantly reduces NOx and other greenhouse gases emissions.
3. DUOnex™ System: Get more power with the DUOnex system that allows you to extract more value from your Paloma. If one Paloma fails to satisfy your hot water needs, get another one and connect the two using a cable and switch to DUO mode for endless hot water supply.
4. Freeze Protection: If you live in an area that sees severe and extreme weather, a Paloma water heater with freeze protection feature is best for you. Paloma 5.3 series models provide hot water even when temperature dips to -20 F (-29 C); while series 6.6 & 7.4 that ensure you get hot water even if it’s -30 F (-34C ) outside.

Types Of Water Heaters Offered

You can buy a Paloma water heater in either the Legacy or the Digital line. Legacy is a line of gas units and you should buy a Paloma Legacy gas water heater is you have unreliable electric supply or then, direct to air venting is the only choice available.

Digital tankless water heater line good for you if you prefer an outdoor water heater in large capacity with accurate digital temperature settings.

Top Model

Paloma PH-20R 5.3 GPM Tankless Water Heater

Price:     $699.00
Efficiency Rating: 82%

Love to take long, hot showers, switch to a Paloma water heater that offers the best hot water solution for homes with 1 to 2 bathrooms. You can either use the heater for a shower and one household task simultaneously or for two showers at the same time.

Features:

1. Unending hot water when required
2. Slim, smart, and sleek design that is compact and energy saving
3. Easy to install on the wall
4. ICAD safety system for auto shut down in the event of elevated levels of CO
5. Self-diagnostic programming
6. Digital remote control that’s waterproof for both, convenience and comfort
7. Remote control displays adjustable temperature settings
8. Intuitive electronic controls for enhanced thermal efficiency and safety
9. Category III SS (stainless steel) venting pipe
10. In-built electric blower
11. DUOnex™ System
12. 12 years limited residential warranty on heat exchanger and 5 years on parts with 1 year on labor

Summary

Paloma water heaters are excellent choices for compact homes having 1-2 bathrooms.

Back from Paloma to Water Heaters Reviews

Back from Paloma Water Heater to Hot-Water.com

Part of the Bosch brand, Powerstar water heater is a well-recognized brand of water heaters in the US. Known for pioneering the development of ‘magneto ignition’ system, the founder of Bosch, Robert Bosch, is known for providing technological breakthroughs that have been accepted in the US market warmly and enthusiastically. That’s why to this day, from 1906, Bosch’s products are known for their cutting-edge technology combined with modern, stylish and timeless designs.

The same principles and design features are available in the Powerstar water heater series. Guides by Bosch’s values, the Powerstar range of water heaters are dedicated to innovation and superior quality that gives every customer big bang for his/her bucks and peace of mind, which is every important for any electronic household appliance.

Today Bosch Thermotechnik manufacturers and sells Bosch and Powerstar water heaters in US, Canada, and Germany. Some of the other popular brands of this parent company include Buderus and Junkers. Bosch has been in the business of making tankless hot water heaters since more than 60 years now and is a name to be trusted.

Why Choose

Bosch and Powerstar water heaters are EnergyStar rated as well as known for the reduced energy consumption and low emissions. Highly efficient, Powerstar water heaters are green as they use hardly any gas or electricity; produce low NOx and CO2 gases. They have low operation costs as well.

A Powerstar water heater model is a point of use unit that can be installed at the sink or near the dishwasher and is designed to replace the standard storage tank electric water heating units. With 99% energy efficiency and the goal to supply consumers with unlimited hot water at the point of use, the Powerstar is a small, compact and effective tankless unit with many redeeming features like:

1. “Common sense” hot water technology
2. Renowned for technological and environmentally friendly principles
3. Durable poly heating elements
4. Electronic flow switch
5. External temperature control knob
6. Flow rate of 0.6 gallons/minute (AE115) and 0.8 gallons/minute (AE125)
7. Doesn’t require a Temperature or Pressure relief valve

What Do They Specialize In

A Powerstar water heater is an electric tankless appliance from the Bosch stable. Powerstar units come in two electric models that can be used as whole house residential hot water heating units. Perhaps one of the biggest drawbacks of a Powerstar water heater is that you can’t run two big hot water tasks at the same time, for ex: dishwasher and sink.

1. Instant hot water, quick production of hot water
2. Easy installation
3. Space friendly and can fit easily in a kitchen/bathroom cabinet
4. Cheaper as compared to regular storage tank water heaters
5. Solid Copper heat exchanger comes with 5-years warranty.
6. Electronic flow switch
7. External temperature control
8. Filter at inlet point
9. Automatic thermostat cut off
10. Zero standby heat loss leading to saving on utility bills

Types Of Water Heaters Offered

Powerstar water heaters are available in two different types and these are:

• PowerStar AE125
• PowerStar AE115

Top Model

The Powerstar AE115 is a tankless water heater that provides plenty of hot water for getting all your tasks completed on time and in an efficient manner. The flow rate varies from 2.6gallons/minute to 1.5gallons/minute depending on the average ground water temperature.

AE115 Tankless Powerstar Electric Whole House Water Heater

Price: $450
Energy Rating: 0.90

Features:

• At 105F, flow rate is 2.3gallons/minute adequate for shower, bathtub, and laundry.
• At 115F, flow rate is 2.0gallons/minute adequate for 1 dishwasher, or 1 sink only and not simultaneously.
• Electronic flow sensor for monitoring temperature of outgoing water
• In-built safety system
• Thermal cut-off
• Energy efficiency 90%
• Whole-house electric tankless water heater
• Operating cost $478
• Annual savings $22

Summary

If you are looking for a brand you can trust and enjoy over the years, look no further than Bosch’s Powerstar water heater. Manufacturers of tankless water heaters, Powerstar range of hot water heaters are environmentally friendly, super energy efficient, well-priced, and have a host of interesting and innovative technology features that helps you save money as well as give you endless supply of hot water when you need it.

As part of the Bosch brand, Powerstar water heaters are known for the best and latest technology and timeless stylish designs that perform as good as they look!

Back from Powerstar to Water Heaters Reviews

Back from Powerstar Water Heater to Hot-Water.com

A self-cleaning Reliance water heater is a handy device for supplying hot water to your home. With many innovative features and technological firsts to its credit, Reliance has been in the business of manufacturing water heaters for over a quarter of a century now. Dependable, almost maintenance free and with 12-years manufacturer warranty, these water heaters is the best ones around.

Get more hot water at lesser price and enjoy the benefits such as savings and peace of mind. Moreover, Reliance electric water heaters come with lifetime warranty on tank and heater parts! Producing both gas and electric hot water heaters for commercial and residential use, Reliance products are fitted with many excellent features like Blue Steel® class lining and Piezo ignition that makes it a ‘one-handed’ task to light up the pilot light on a gas water heater!

Why Choose

Some of the various features of a Reliance water heater are:

1. Many Reliance water heating units come with self-cleaning system
2. All Reliance water heaters have up to 12 years of warranties
3. Reliance gas water heaters come equipped to ensure accidental ignition of gaseous vapors doesn’t take place. This is a major safety feature that prevents accidental damage especially if the water heater is installed in closed spaces like a garage or a closet
4. The heating element inside some Reliance electric hot water heater is designed to cut down on lime build-up on the element’s surface
5. For installation in tight areas, a low-boy Reliance water heater is the best choice

What Do They Specialize In

Every manufacturer likes to ensure that their product is different from the others. In an attempt to achieve this, they come up with innovative and useful technological advancements that make using their products a pleasure. Similarly, Reliance has some really good safety and performance enhancing features like FVIR, Flame Arrestor etc to name a few. Let’s find out some more about what these features are:

1. FVIR Technology: Flammable Vapor Ignition Resistant is a technology present in 30, 40 and 50-gallon gas water heaters. This technology meets the latest standards mandated by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for safety.
2. Flame Arrestor: this is a safety measure that is designed to allow waste gases to flow into atmosphere, while preventing heat flames from escaping in case of vapor ignition.
3. Thermal Cutoff (TCO): a thermal cutoff switch shuts the heating unit down in event of extremely high temperature, which can be caused due to improper combustion inside the chamber.

Types Of Water Heaters Offered

Reliance Gas Water Heater
Whether you need a water heater for your mobile home or to fit in a tight spot, Reliance has all types of water heaters. From tall to short, a Reliance gas water heater is available in many different configurations.

1. Ultra-Low NOx
2. Self-Cleaning STA-KLEEN® 1212 Series
3. Self-Cleaning 909 Series
4. 616 Series
5. 606 Series
6. 101 Series
7. Sidewall-Vent Models

Reliance Electric Water Heater
Again, you’ll never be short for choice when buying a Reliance electric water heater.

1. Self-Cleaning STA-KLEEN® LIFETIME
2. Self-Cleaning STA-KLEEN® 1212 Series
3. Self-Cleaning 909 Series
4. 616 Series
5. 606 Series
6. 101 Series
7. 100 Series HOT SPOT

Top Model

Reliance Sta-Kleen 1212 Series 40 Gallon High Efficiency Tall Gas Water Heater

Price: $599.00
Energy Efficiency: 63%

Features:

• First hour rating up to 97 gallons
• Self-cleaning Sta-Kleen® feature
• 2.5” thick foam insulation
• Piezo ignition for single hand pilot lighting
• Blue Steel™ glass lining for protection against corrosion
• Dual anode rods
• Green Choice ® gas burners for 33% lower NOx emissions than regular burners
• C3 Technology® inflammable gas vapor resistant design
• Factory-fitted T&P relief valve
• Input of 40,000-50,000 BTU/Hr
• 12-years limited tank and parts manufacturer warranty
• 1-year labor warranty

Summary

Maintaining a gas or electric water heater can become quite a problem, especially if you are tied for time. When you purchase a Reliance water heater, it’s self-cleaning, Sta-Kleen, system does all the cleaning for you each time you use the unit. So if you are looking for a water heater that allows you freedom from monitoring it constantly, Reliance is the one for you!

Back from Reliance to Water Heaters Reviews

Back from Reliance Water Heater to Hot-Water.com