Volume 1, Issue IX
Page 5
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KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US WATER HEATING & ENERGY USE
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Twitter YouTube According to the U. S. Department of Energy, 25 % of household energy costs are for water heating. Given these costs, it makes sense to evaluate various types of water heating systems with an eye toward saving both energy and money. Here we take a look a t some of the options currently available for homeowners to consider.
Storage Water Heaters – These are the most common type of water heater in the U. S. In thesesystems, cold water flows into a tank where it is heated by ga
s or electric power. Once the waterin the tank reaches the desired temperature, the heater will cycle on and off to maintain
the temperature of the water. As hot water gets used, more cold water will enter the tank to be heated. Most of us know the pheno menon of running out of hot water after family members takeone shower after another; this will occur if the tank’ s storage capacit
y is insufficient to meet the demand. At other times of the day when relatively little or even no hot water is being used, the
heater must still fire on and off to keep the contents of the tank hot. Unfortunately, it is quite inefficient to keep a tank of water ho t all day even when the water isn’ t needed. Adding an insulated water heater wrap can boost efficiency and energy savings –
these are inexpensive and can be installed by the homeowner.
Tankless( Demand) Water Heaters – A newer type of water heater, tankless or demand water heaters are just that. Water is not stored in a tank, but is rapidly heated byelectricity once the faucet is turned on. For many homes, a tankless heater can be located close to the sink or shower to heat w ater on the spot. Because it reaches the desired temperature so quickly, much less water is wasted while waiting for hot water to f low through the faucet. Tankless heaters powered by gas are usually much more efficient than electric heaters. In fact electricity costs can sometimes negate much of the savings a tankless system might otherwise provide. Tankless systems normally c ost more than a conventional storage water heater, so homeowners will need to do some homework on what type, size, and locat
ion might make sense for them. Solar Water Heating
The basic concept of solar water heating is that the sun’ s energy is used to preheat water for the home. The preheated water then flows into a solar tank that monitors temperature. Then it is piped into the regular hot water system, usually a storage water heater. If no water is turned on within a brief period of time, the water circulates through the system again, making it unnecessary to keep a large tank of water constantly hot. The preheating is done by one or two solar panels, usually installed on the roof. Solar water heating is becoming more and more popular in many areas of the U. S. as costs for the systems continue to decrease. By so me accounts, including the California Energy Commission, a typical solar water heating system can pay for itself in as little as four t o seven years. No matter what type of water heating homeowners choose, it pays to do some research first to discover the ins an d outs of various types for their specific situation. With efficiency and decreased energy use as a goal, the best choice of water heat
er depends on what pencils out in any given home.
Article courtesy of Pillar To Post
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We would be happy to include them in our meetings and newsletters in the near future. To include something in our newsletter, please send an email to Melissa Stuart at Melissa @ lecontecompanies. com