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Guide to Installing High Efficiency Gas Hot Water Heaters HeatAPedia © Enter your search terms Submit search form   Search This Website - InspectAPedia.com

• High efficiency water heater suggestions for saving on water heating cost
• How to obtain more hot water quantity, pressure, flow, at less cost

This article discusses high efficiency gas-fired hot water heaters, characteristics, selection, installation, economy. Thanks to Carson Dunlop, a Toronto Home Inspection Firm and Home Inspection Educator, for permission to use sketches shown in this article.

Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution. © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.

Here we describe various ways to improve hot water quantity, pressure, and flow are discussed beginning at HOT WATER IMPROVEMENTS and continuing at HOT WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT.

At ALTERNATIVE HOT WATER SOURCES we describe various water heating methods. The detailed characteristics of various water heaters themselves, such as life expectancy, cost, safety, and capacity are discussed at ALTERNATIVE WATER HEATER PROPERTIES

Below we discuss other steps that can be taken to improve hot water quantity. And having a greater quantity of hot water also opens the way to taking steps to improve hot water pressure. (If we increase hot water pressure but lack adequate hot water quantity the result is we run out of hot water faster than ever.)

Install a New High Efficiency Type of Water Heater to Save Hot Water Cost

Articles Describing Steps to Increase Hot Water Quantity

The articles listed below offer more details about steps one can take to increase hot water quantity, pressure, and flow in a building. Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

• Anti-Scald Valves & Hot Water Quantity - improve safety and meter hot water more slowly - makes it last longer
• Clogged Piping & Hot Water Flow - diagnose and correct poor hot water pressure and flow due to pipe clogging
• Extra Tanks to Increase Hot Water- pre-heat your hot water absorbing ambient building heat or increase hot water quantity with cascaded, staged, multiple water heaters, possibly using more than one energy source
• High Efficiency Water Heaters - if replacing a water heater, consider a model that saves money in operating cost
• Insulate Hot Water Piping - worth doing where piping is accessible, especially on piping running through cool areas
• Insulate Hot Water Tank? - probably not worth doing except in special cases; important safety warnings
• Larger Diameter Water Supply Piping - worth doing if replacing clogged pipes or building new construction
• Tankless Coil Hot Water Increase - various tricks can significantly improve the safety and water quantity available

The characteristics of various water heaters such as life expectancy, cost, safety, and capacity are discussed at ALTERNATIVE WATER HEATER PROPERTIES

Ways to improve hot water quantity, pressure, and flow are discussed beginning at HOT WATER IMPROVEMENTS and continuing at HOT WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

WATER HEATERS
ALTERNATIVE HOT WATER SOURCES
  High Efficiency Water Heaters
  Indirect-fired Water Heaters
  Instantaneous Water Heaters
  Multiple water heaters in parallel
  Multiple water heaters in series
  Range Boiler Water Heaters
  Side Arm Coil Water Heaters
  Solar Water Heaters
  Tankless Coil for Hot Water
ANTI SCALD VALVES
CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR
Clogged Piping & Hot Water Flow
ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS
GAS FIRED WATER HEATERS
  DRAFT HOODS - gas fired
  Gas BTUH & Cubic Feet
  GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS
  SPILL SWITCHES - Flue Gas Detection
HOT WATER IMPROVEMENTS
HOT WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT
  Alternative Hot Water Sources & Methods
  Anti-Scald Valves & Hot Water Quantity
  Clogged Piping & Hot Water Flow
  Extra Tanks to Increase Hot Water
  Insulate Hot Water Piping
  Insulate Hot Water Tank?
  Larger Diameter Water Supply Piping
  Tankless Coil Hot Water Increase
  Temperature of Hot Water is Too Low
INDIRECT FIRED WATER HEATERS
ODORS IN WATER
TANKLESS COILS
  Mixing Valves
  Tankless Coil Leaks
Water pipe clog repair guide

Technical Reviewers & References

Particular thanks are due to experts and also consumers who read these articles and suggest corrections, changes, and additions to the material. Content suggestions, technical corrections and content critique are invited for any of the content at our website.

• Daniel Friedman - InspectAPedia.com ^TM Website Author/Editor
• Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, for permission to use illustrations from their publication, The Illustrated Home which illustrates construction details and building components. Carson Dunlop provides home inspection education, publications, report writing materials, and home inspection services. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
  
• Arlene Puentes, an ASHI member and a licensed home inspector in Kingston, NY, and has served on ASHI national committees as well as HVASHI Chapter President. Ms. Puentes can be contacted at ap@octoberhome.com
  
  
• AO Smith produces AO Smith water heaters in addition to Reliance, State, Maytag and others. www.aosmith.com/prod/wpc.htm. AOS's gas water heater manuals offering advice and safety warnings about adding water heater insulation are available at
  www.statewaterheaters.com/lit/im/res-Elec/184671-000.pdf and at
  www.hotwater.com/lit/im/res_gas/184123-000.pdf
  
  
• Rheem who also makes electric water heaters provides a manual for electric water heaters at
  waterheating.rheem.com/content/resources/documents/use_care/ResElecProfessional.pdf. Rheem says, as do other water heater producers, that their water heaters meet the "National Appliance Energy Conservation Act standards with respect to insulation and standby loss requirements making an insulation blanket unnecessary"
  Rheem also warns consumers that adding an insulation product [or making any other modification to their equipment] is likely to void the product warranty and may be unsafe:
  
  "The manufacturer’s warranty does not cover any damage or defect caused by installation, attachment or use of any type of energy saving or other unapproved devices (other than those authorized by the manufacturer) into, onto or in conjunction with the water heater. The use of unauthorized energy saving devices may shorten the life of the water heater and may endanger life and property. The manufacturer disclaims any responsibility for such loss or injury resulting from the use of such unauthorized devices "
  
  
• Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution.

Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

More expert information on this topic

More Information on Inspecting and Repairing Heating Systems

• Carbon Dioxide Gas Toxicity
• Carbon Monoxide Gas Toxicity, exposure limits, poisoning symptoms, and inspecting buildings for CO hazards
• Dust from HVAC? An Investigation of Indoor Dust Debris Blamed on a Heating/Cooling System Reveals Carpet Dust
• Goodman Furnace High Temperature Plastic Vent HTPV safety recall US CPSC notice
• Home Heating System Should Be Checked [for proper venting and for CO Carbon Monoxide Hazards - DJF]
• Inspection Procedures for Oil-Fired Heating Systems Detailed step by step approaches for inspecting complex systems]
• Lennox Pulse Furnace Safety Inspection/Warranty Program: Carbon Monoxide Warning
• Oil Tanks - The Oil Storage Tank Information Website: Buried or Above Ground Oil Tank Inspection, Testing, Cleanup, Abandonment of Oil Tanks
• Oil Tanks Above Ground, UL Standards, guidance for home owners, buyers, and inspectors
• Plastic Heating Vent Pipe & Other Heating Safety Recall Notices
• Weil McLain Model GV Gas Boiler/gas valve CPSC recall/repair
• Domestic and Commercial Oil Burners, Charles H. Burkhardt, McGraw Hill Book Company, New York 3rd Ed 1969.
• National Fuel Gas Code (Z223.1) $16.00 and National Fuel Gas Code Handbook (Z223.2) $47.00 American Gas Association (A.G.A.), 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209 also available from National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269. Fundamentals of Gas Appliance Venting and Ventilation, 1985, American Gas Association Laboratories, Engineering Services Department. American Gas Association, 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209. Catalog #XHO585. Reprinted 1989.
• The Steam Book, 1984, Training and Education Department, Fluid Handling Division, ITT [probably out of print, possibly available from several home inspection supply companies] Fuel Oil and Oil Heat Magazine, October 1990, offers an update,
• Principles of Steam Heating, $13.25 includes postage. Fuel oil & Oil Heat Magazine, 389 Passaic Ave., Fairfield, NJ 07004.
• The Lost Art of Steam Heating, Dan Holohan, 516-579-3046 FAX
• Principles of Steam Heating, Dan Holohan, technical editor of Fuel Oil and Oil Heat magazine, 389 Passaic Ave., Fairfield, NJ 07004 ($12.+1.25 postage/handling).
• "Residential Steam Heating Systems", Instructional Technologies Institute, Inc., 145 "D" Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 800/227-1663 [home inspection training material] 1987
• "Residential Hydronic (circulating hot water) Heating Systems", Instructional Technologies Institute, Inc., 145 "D" Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 800/227-1663 [home inspection training material] 1987
• "Warm Air Heating Systems". Instructional Technologies Institute, Inc., 145 "D" Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 800/227-1663 [home inspection training material] 1987
• Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Volume I, Heating Fundamentals,
• Boilers, Boiler Conversions, James E. Brumbaugh, ISBN 0-672-23389-4 (v. 1) Volume II, Oil, Gas, and Coal Burners, Controls, Ducts, Piping, Valves, James E. Brumbaugh, ISBN 0-672-23390-7 (v. 2) Volume III, Radiant Heating, Water Heaters, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Heat Pumps, Air Cleaners, James E. Brumbaugh, ISBN 0-672-23383-5 (v. 3) or ISBN 0-672-23380-0 (set) Special Sales Director, Macmillan Publishing Co., 866 Third Ave., New York, NY 10022. Macmillan Publishing Co., NY
• Installation Guide for Residential Hydronic Heating Systems
• Installation Guide #200, The Hydronics Institute, 35 Russo Place, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922
• The ABC's of Retention Head Oil Burners, National Association of Oil Heat Service Managers, TM 115, National Old Timers' Association of the Energy Industry, PO Box 168, Mineola, NY 11501. (Excellent tips on spotting problems on oil-fired heating equipment. Booklet.)

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