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Space Savings and Increased Effeciency With a Tankless Hot Water Heater

Robert Kirkpatrick from Rinnai joins Bob to explain the tankless hot-water system being installed in the Manhattan Brownstone. Kirkpatrick explains that there are three key advantages to the tankless system. There's a huge space savings since the unit mounts on a wall, sparing the 12 to 16 square feet of floor space typically dedicated to the water tank. These tankless systems are also 70 percent more efficient than electric hot-water tanks. Most impressive of all, they provide an endless supply of hot water since the water is heated on demand rather than kept in storage. Kirkpatrick shows Bob the flow sensors that receive the water, generate the demand for heat, and gauge the amount of energy necessary to heat it to the desired temperature. The water is heated as it passes through the copper heat exchanger at the top of the unit. A double-wall pipe serves as the combustion air intake and the exhaust for the system, with a vent chamber up the middle surrounded by air intake along the perimeter of the pipe. This system is cost efficient as well, with payback of the initial investment in two to four years.

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Space Savings and Increased Effeciency With a Tankless Hot Water Heater

computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" There's three main advantages to a tankless water heater versus a tank -- would be the space savings as you can see this hangs on the wall and takes -- very little space they don't know force base. Freeing up that twelve to sixteen square foot of space. The second would be energy efficiency where the 70% more efficient than a gas fire tank I'm sorry an electric fire tank and and then finally the endless supply of hot water that we're able to offer. That's always you know it's counterintuitive to look at something this small. And states and endless supply of hot water is we're not heating and orderly and it is correct exactly if he's water when you get when you have brought water. It fires up and heats water as -- is it all right we're in the process taking up the cover I can't wait. It's. It's probably all widgets in there but are there exchange plates and things like that well there's a copper heat exchange here. And what what the process is as. Water will actually enter the unit -- pass through a flow control device that senses flow that tells the unit we have flow activate the burner turn yourself on turning yourself on. We're at the same time measuring the water temperature that's entering the unit so it knows how much. He is going to need to be applied so if it's the dead of winter it's going to need more -- used to heat the water that is correct. So water comes up passes through the heat exchanger and you do is an actual flame in there there is editor and here's your little window right here where you can actually watch the burners ramping up and down. As you change the flow rate going through the unit. Now Robert what's this for. This is the exhaust and intake we actually utilize a concentric type vent pipe where we're drawing our own combustion air in and exhausting through one penetration. You got is a double wall. You have a three inch exhaust with a five and a quarter air intake around it the exhaust goes out and this is the intake around the perimeter that's correct that's great and you know. Is it really cost effective. It is it's up to 70% more efficient than electric tank. And on the front side it's two and a half to three times the cost of the traditional tank. With a payback of 24 years and it is gas fired it is gas fired great thank you Robert thank you."

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Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. While you were having fun in the sun this summer, it was no vacation for your house. Sun, wind and rain can cause as much wear and tear as snow and ice. A fall checklist will tip you off to some problems before they become nasty mid-winter surprises. Check your house from top to bottom. Start by inspecting the roof with binoculars: Are your shingles worn or failing? Check the attic for signs of leaks around the skylights or vents, chimneys, and have your chimney cleaned once a year. Clear out your gutters and check for leaks there, too. Drain your outside hose spigots if you live where pipes can freeze. Switch your screens for storm windows, and seal any drafty windows and doors. The same goes for paint and siding: make sure you caulk or repair those gaps around windows, doors, trim and vents, and replace any siding that is failing. In the basement, check for dampness on the floor and walls, test your sump pump, flush your water heater and check for any signs of leakage. Clean your dryer vent regularly. Make sure that paints or any flammable materials are stored away from heat sources in a closed metal cabinet. And make that appointment to have your heating system serviced yearly. Do the top-to-bottom check this fall, and you ll avoid expensive surprises this winter! Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

Snowblower Types

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