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
We are always looking for more Sponsors for the TN CRS CHAPTER . If you have a business that would be interested in becoming a Sponsor , please feel free to share that information with a Board Member .
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