Archive for the 'Water Heaters' Category

A Brief Rundown of the Titan Water Heater


The Titan water heater is a tankless water heater and is used to provide hot water on demand. As the name suggests, it will heat up water without the need for a storage tank.

How a Tankless Heater Works

The device warms up water as you need it, and instead of storing water in a tank before heating it, the instantaneous heater warms it up as the water flows through the device. The device is connected to a main water supply, and it warms up only as much as you need each time. This means significant savings in electricity costs, as no hot water is wasted, and it does not have to be stored in a separate tank. The Titan also provides hot water faster than traditional tank heaters because you will not have to wait for a whole tank to fill up before you can start to use warm water in the house, becoming immediately available to a hot water dispenser, shower, or any other point of use device.

Installing the Heater

The Titan tankless water heater, sometimes also called instantaneous water heater, is connected to the main water supply and is installed directly on a wall. You will need to have access to a power source, and there should be around 12 inches of space both below and above the device. Often the Titan is installed in the space that used to hold a water tank. It is always best to get a professional plumber to install it to avoid any damages.

Up to 4 gallons of water can pass through Titan tankless water heaters in a minute, depending on the exact model; some models can only heat up just less than 2 gallons every minute. You can adjust the water’s temperature to make sure it does not get too hot. The water heats up immediately and you can get as much or as little water as you need each time.

Tips for Buying a Titan

One of the main things to consider before purchasing a tankless heater is the required water flow rate. You should estimate how much hot water you need at any given time, and use this information to determine the best brand and model for your household. You should also pay attention to the energy factor, which is used to measure the heater’s energy efficiency. The higher the energy factor is the more effective the heater will be. It is always best to discuss your needs with a professional sales advisor to make sure you get a model that best suits the needs of your household.

How to Install a Hot Water Heater Blanket


Anyone looking for a way to cut back on their cost of living this winter might consider taking steps to make their household more energy efficient. Inefficient energy consumption, particularly in heating, is one of the leading causes of high electricity bills. It is also often times an easy fix. One simple action that can significantly increase energy efficiency is the installation of a hot water heater blanket.

Hot water heater blankets work by insulating a hot water heater and preventing heat loss from the tank. By doing this, a gas or electric heating system will not have to work nearly as hard as it would on an un-insulated tank. Hot water heater blankets save energy and money.

To install a hot water heater insulating blanket, measure and cut the insulation for the top of the tank so that it fits around the piping, the use tape to secure the cut section closed. Next, fold down the corners of the topside insulation and tape the excess insulation to the side of the tank.

Next, wrap and position the hot water heater insulation blanket around the water heater tank. Positioning the blanket so that the ends do not overlap over the side-access panels may make installation easier. After you are satisfied with the position of the blanket, secure the blanket with the belts provided. This step is normally easiest with two people. Also, make sure to position the belts so that they do not cover the access panels.

Since some hot water heater tanks have pipes protruding from the sides of the tank rather than the top, the blanket may need to be cut or positioned differently so that these pipes are not covered. In addition, you may have to make adjustments depending on the size of your water heater. Make sure to buy a blanket that fits your water heater. If you have a larger 75 gallon water heater you will need a slightly larger blanket. Finally, cut the access panel flaps in an “x” shape and fold the corners under the blanket.

The hot water heater blanket is now fully installed and ready for use. It is important not to set the thermostat above 130 degrees F as this may overheat the wires. This new insulation blanket should reduce heating bills by up to 10%.

The Advantages of a Propane Tankless Water Heater


If you are looking for a water heater, which will save both energy and money, you will want to investigate the advantages of a propane tankless water heater. These water heaters are efficient on a number of levels, and are an extremely and cost effective way of heating water in your home. Propane tankless water heaters save money over electric water heaters simply because they use propane. Propane can save over 30% of your energy costs as compared to using electricity when used for water heaters. However, because a tankless propane water heater does not waste energy by heating and reheating an entire tank of water until the point that is it actually used, it will save an even greater amount of energy and money.

A propane tankless hot water heater saves money primarily because as compared to a standard hot water heater with a tank, it needs to heat much less water. The problem with a tank water heater is that it needs to keep the entire tank of water at a hot temperature constantly, even if you do not have an immediate need for hot water. As a result, over the course of an average day, a tank water heater will heat and reheat water multiple times, even if you do not use a drop of hot water. This is extremely inefficient, which is why using a propane tankless water heater on average reduces energy costs by more than 60% as compared to standard tank water heaters, as well as reducing green house gas emissions by approximately the same percentage.

When you use a tankless hot water heater, such as a Bosch propane tankless water heater, you will be heating the water on demand. This means that every time you open a hot water faucet, the water heater will start the water heating process. There is a slight delay of about 20 seconds before hot water flows from the faucet, but this is inconsequential compared to the potential cost savings of using this type of hot water system.

When choosing a propane tankless hot water heater, you will want to evaluate the hot water usage of your family first, so that you choose the proper size and model. If you have a larger family, or have a higher than normal hot water usage, you will want to choose a model that is adequate to keep up with your hot water demands.

Choosing a 50 Gallon Electric Water Heater


If you are in the market for a new hot water heater, a 50 gallon electric water heater might be exactly what you are looking for. Hot  water heaters come in a variety of different sizes, generally varying between 20 gallons to 120 gallons. However, the most common  sizes for electric water heaters are in the 40 to 80 gallon range. If you have a large household than a 75 gallon water heater may be right for you. When shopping for an electric hot water heater, you need to take the  hot water needs of your family into consideration. You want to get one that is large enough so that you do not run out of hot water,  which can happen if you have a large family, or if you have high hot water usage for specific types of needs, such as if you have a  large spa bathtub, for example. In these types of situations, it is possible to use more hot water than is contained in your hot water  tank, if you do not choose one that is large enough. A 50 gallon electric hot water heater is a good size for many families, because  the amount of hot water is ample, without being excessive. You also want to avoid getting a hot water heater that is too large for your  family’s needs, because one that is too large will not be economical.

Generally, the minimum useful size for a hot water heater is around 30 or 40 gallons, which is why 50 gallon electric water heaters  are such a good choice… just a little over the average, for times when you need a bit more hot water. This size is also good for up to  a two to three-and-a-half bathroom house. You will also want to pay attention to the recovery time for the hot water heater, keeping in  mind that water heaters are rated by the number of gallons that can be brought to 90 degrees Fahrenheit within one hour. While  most electric water heaters rate in the 20 to 25 gallon per hour range, some may be higher.

When choosing a hot water heater, you should go with a good quality name brand unit, such as a GE 50 gallon electric water heater  or a Bradford White 50 gallon electric water heater. You will also want to check to make sure that the water heater you choose has a  good warranty, because these are generally the higher quality water heaters.

Choosing a Titan Tankless Water Heater


If you are interested in saving money on hot water heating costs, a Titan tankless water heater can be a great choice. As compared to traditional tank water heaters, you will save up to 60% on your hot water heating costs, which in turn also saves energy. Titan tankless water heaters never run out of hot water, because they heat the water on demand, instead of storing it in a tank like standard tank water heaters do. This is also why they save so much in energy costs… because they do not heat water unless you actually intend to use it. Using a standard tank water heater, the water in the tank must be kept continually hot, and as a result, the same water is re-heated many times before it is actually used. This wastes energy, which of course also wastes money. Imagine how much waste there is with a 50 or 75 gallon hot water heater.

A Titan tankless hot water heater will heat the water only when you are ready to use it. Opening the hot water faucet will signal the tankless hot water heater to begin heating the water, which will then be delivered to the faucet in approximately 20 seconds. Even with larger homes, as long as you do not have a need for multiple uses of hot water at the same time, one tankless water heater may be able to supply all of your hot water needs.

Titan tankless hot water heaters are dependable, and feature American quality. They are environmentally friendly, and are recyclable. They come with a 10-year warranty, and are fully serviceable. Titan has been manufacturing water heaters since 1986, and has a proven track record for reliability and quality.

When choosing a Titan tankless hot water heater, you will have many different models to choose from. When choosing from the Titan SCR2 tankless water heater line, a good choice is the Titan tankless water heater N120. This model is very popular and versatile, and can completely replace a standard tank water heater in your home. It can easily supply the needs of a standard one to three bathroom home, and it is especially recommended for warmer climates.

In addition to this particular model, Titan also carries a wide variety of other models as well, ranging in size and power rating to suit homes of varying sizes. Titan tankless hot water heaters consistently outperform competing water heaters, and yet they cost less, providing an exceptionally good value for homeowners.

The Advantages of a Propane Water Heater


If you are looking for a way to cut your hot water costs, a propane water heater can be a great solution. Not only is propane an efficient energy source, which is usually preferred over electric, especially when natural gas is not an option, but a propane tankless water heater is especially efficient. This is because a tankless propane water heater only heats water when you actually intend to use it, instead of heating and reheating an entire tank of water.

An overall advantage of a propane hot water heater over an electric hot water heater is that it can heat more water faster, which means a shorter recovery time than if you are using a standard 50 or 75 gallon water heater. On average, propane water heaters require about half the time to reheat 40 gallons of water in a tank.

However, you can reduce your costs even more by selecting a tankless propane water heater. Standard water heaters that have a tank heat the water, and then if you do not use it, it keeps reheating it over and over until it is used. This is a very wasteful way of heating water, because the same water is often reheated multiple times before it is actually used. Studies have shown that approximately 20 percent of the cost to heat water ends up being lost by standard tank water heaters, simply because there is not an immediate demand for the hot water that is produced.

A tankless propane water heater starts to heat the water when the hot water faucet is turned on. Although there is a slight delay of about twenty seconds from the time the hot water faucet is turned on until hot water flows from the faucet, this is not usually a detriment. There are many different models and sizes of tankless water heaters, designed for specific types of uses. If you have a large family, or tend to use multiple sources of hot water at the same time, such as washing clothes while somebody is taking a shower, you will want to make sure to get a water heater that can keep up with that kind of demand. One way that people sometimes get around this issue is to use a dedicated water heater for specific uses, such as one that would be used to supply hot water to a large spa bathtub. Overall, you can expect to cut your energy costs by more than 60% by using a tankless water heater.

Comparing Hot Water Heater Prices to Find a Good Value


While a hot water heater certainly is not the most expensive purchase you will make for your home, you do want to do some research to make sure you are getting a good value. The heater prices vary according to brand, model, capacity, and type of heater. Because there is such a wide range of types of hot water heaters, the price range you can expect to pay varies widely as well. Depending on the type and model you choose, you might expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $3,500 for a new hot water heater.

If you are looking to purchase a traditional tank style water heater, you can expect to pay between $100 and $600 if you choose an electric. Gas hot water heater prices are slightly higher, and you should expect to pay between $250 and $1,000 for a comparable electric hot water heater. However, many people prefer a gas hot water heater, because natural gas prices often make these more economical to operate than electric. Price varies depending on the size of the water heater. 50 gallon water heaters can be sufficient but a family will often need a 75 gallon water heater to meet their needs and of course it will be a little pricier since it is larger.

There are also tankless hot water heaters on the market. These types of water heaters work on demand, and vary greatly in size between small models that fit underneath a sink, to large models that can heat five gallons of water every minute. Tankless hot water heater prices are generally higher than traditional tank models, and can range anywhere from around $200 to $1,200 per unit.

However, there is more to take into consideration with hot water heater prices than just the price of the unit itself. As a general rule you will find that the lower the hot water heater price is, the less energy efficient it is, and the more it will ultimately cost you to operate in the end. Therefore, although a higher quality hot water heater will cost more to buy, your monthly expenses to run it will be lower, saving you money over time.

Whichever type of hot water heater you choose, unless you plan to install it yourself, you are going to have to factor in installation costs. Depending on the size and type of set up you have in your home, you can expect to pay somewhere around $200 to $400 if you have a professional installs a traditional tank hot water heater. The tankless ones will vary in installation price, depending on what needs to be done as far as supply lines or venting is concerned. You can expect to pay anywhere from around $300 to $700 if you are installing a tankless hot water heater. Clearly, hot water heaters are not an option for renters due to the installation which is usually not allowed in a rental unit. An efficient alternative is halogen heaters which use energy efficient halogen bulbs which keeps your energy bill down.

Choosing a 75 Gallon Water Heater For Your Home


If you are getting ready to replace your existing hot water heater, a good option to consider is a 75 gallon water heater. These are becoming increasingly popular for homes, especially since multiple bathrooms and spa whirlpool tubs are more common than they were in the past. Larger tubs and luxury showers require more hot water, and a 75 gallon hot water heater is definitely up to the task of providing it. While smaller hot water heaters may have been sufficient in the past, more families are discovering the luxury of not having to worry about running out of hot water. The size of your family is also another determining factor for choosing the size of your water heater. If you have, five or more people in your household, chances are you will need a 75 gallon hot water heater to keep up with the demand for hot water.

If you are shopping for a 75 gallon hot water heater, you will want to pay attention to the GPH rating. GPH stands for “gallons per hour”, and is the rating used to compare hot water heaters. By using this rating, you can tell how many gallons of hot water the water heater can produce within one hour. A high GPH rating indicates a higher quality and more efficient water heater. However, as a rule, the higher the GPH rating, the higher the price of the water heater. You want to give some careful thought to your family’s hot water needs, and find a good balance between your budget and hot water heater efficiency. 75 gallon water heater prices are higher than that of smaller sized hot water heaters, but they are efficient and can adequately supply enough hot water for an entire household.

75 gallon water heaters are a high quality device, and are generally rust proofed. In fact, if the model you are looking at is not rust proofed, you should consider a different model. Many people prefer a natural gas water heater because they operate so efficiently. However, there are electric models available as well to choose from.

When choosing your 75 gallon hot water heater, make sure to pay attention to the warranty that is provided. Hot water heaters are generally very dependable devices, but you should always make sure that the one you choose has a good warranty, just to be on the safe side. A high quality 75 gallon hot water heater usually comes with an equally good warranty, and will be built to last.