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18 октября, 2021

Oilheat America — Water Heaters

Oil-fired water heaters can give you low-cost access to virtually unlimited amounts of hot water.

Homeowners with oil-fired water heaters have discovered they have low-cost access to virtually unlimited amounts of hot water. Oilheat’s ability to produce a reliable, inexpensive supply of domestic hot water is one of its strongest features. Although an oil-fired water heater may cost a little more to install up front, its efficiency in heating water means extremely low operating costs over the life of the unit.

Oil-fired water heaters have high recovery rates, which means they can heat large amounts of water quickly. A water heater’s recovery rate is the amount of water whose temperature the unit can raise by 100° in one hour. For example, if it can increase the temperature of 40 gallons of water by 100° in an hour, the unit has a 40-gallon recovery rate. Oil-fired water heaters have recovery rates as high as 120 gallons per hour.

Please contact an oil dealer to find out which water heating option is best for your home and family. The oil company can work with you to make sure the water heater you choose has a sufficient recovery rate for your needs. Two adults, for instance, may never need more than 30 gallons of hot water an hour, but a family of six may need 70 gallons. An oil dealer can help you with another choice too, because oil-fired water heating systems come in two categories: direct and indirect.

 

Direct-Fired Water Heaters

In a direct-fired water heater, the water is heated directly by the heat of the oil flame. You’ll usually find a direct-fired water heater in a home with a warm air furnace. The oil is burned in a combustion chamber under the water storage tank, and hot flue gases heat the water in the tank.

Indirect-Fired Water Heaters

In an indirect-fired water heating system, the domestic water is heated by hot water from the boiler. In many oil-heated homes, you may find an indirect-fired system that is also tankless. A tankless, indirect-fired water heating system can work in conjunction with either a hot water boiler or a steam boiler. There are three variations: internal tankless coil, external tankless coil and tankless coil with storage tank.

Types of Indirect-Fired Water Heaters

  • Internal Tankless Coil: In this type of indirect tankless water heating system, the coil containing the domestic water supply is located in the water jacket of the boiler. One drawback to this design is the absence of hot water storage; another is the need to maintain the temperature of the boiler water at a high level, high enough to heat the domestic water as it passes through the coil.

  • External Tankless Coil: This indirect-fired water heater has a separate storage tank that contains an internal coil. The unit connects to the sides of the boiler. A newer version of the external tankless coil water heater is the plate heat exchanger. It contains a series of wafers or plates with internal porting; plates alternate between boiler water and domestic water.

  • Tankless Coil with Storage Tank (or Aqua Booster): This indirect water heating system was introduced to boost water heating capacity. After water has been heated by going through the indirect system’s coil, it is stored in a vertical storage tank. The temperature of the hot water in the tank is usually maintained by means of a recirculating loop; it allows water to be reheated by going back to the coil, either by gravity or forced circulation.

Note: Some local codes require an anti-scald control, also called a tempering valve, for tankless coil indirect water heating units.

Boiler and Hot Water Heating Controls

  • Regardless of design, any water heating system that stores hot water should have a pressure relief valve; it’s installed to protect the system from high pressure.

  • With tankless coil designs (where no water is stored in a tank), a pressure-only relief valve may be used; it protects the coil and piping from excessive pressure.

  • A vacuum relief valve vents the system if a vacuum occurs inside the tank.

  • A back flow preventer prevents boiler water from flowing into potable water systems.

  • A direct-fired water heater needs an aquastat to control operation and temperature; it also needs a primary control and heat detector for safe operation of the oil burner.

  • The new indirect-fired units typically have a triple aquastat, which controls high and low temperatures. This device communicates with the oil burner via a built-in cad cell relay.

  • The aquastat can also control zone valves and the circulator.

  • Because water inside a tankless coil can be extremely hot, all tankless coil systems should have an anti-scald device known as a tempering valve or mixing valve. When necessary, it automatically mixes in an appropriate amount of cold water to lower the temperature of the water to the chosen temperature setting.

What Are Some Pros and Cons of an Oil Fired Water Heater?

Many different types and configurations of water heating systems are in use today. The good news here is, it is now possible to more precisely tailor the hot water needs of each home or office to the size of the space and estimated water usage.

The bad news is, there are many more choices and options to evaluate before choosing a new water heater system. In this post, learn more about the pros and cons of choosing an oil fired water heater.

How a Traditional Water Heater Works

A traditional water heater has several components: a tank for water storage, a source of fuel, and (for gas and oil-fired water heaters) fuel lines and a system of venting to safely remove the exhaust gases.

Tankless water heaters heat water on demand, and there is no tank to store hot water for use later.

Alternatively, traditional water heaters operate by dispensing the water at the top of the tank first, thus giving the unit time to heat the incoming cooler water at the bottom of the receptacle before it is needed.

What is an oil fired water heater?

Oil-fired water heaters, like traditional electric and gas powered water heaters, have a tank system in which water is stored so it is always ready to be used when needed.

However, there are some differences between oil fired heaters and heaters operated via other types of fuel. In particular, only oil-fired heaters use both oil and electricity for fuel. With an oil-fired heater, there is a burner that creates an oil plus water mixture. This mixture is then exposed to an electric spark and ignited to heat the water.

What are the pros and cons of an oil fired water heater?

As with any type of water heating system, an oil fired water heater has its unique set of pros and cons, benefits and drawbacks. To achieve the greatest energy efficiency for the least amount, it is important to analyze these pros and cons to determine whether an oil fired water heater is the right choice for your home or office.

Oil Fired Water Heater: Pros

Here are the acknowledged pros that an oil-fired water heating system can offer.

  • Very energy efficient.
  • Able to heat and store more water.
  • Water heating time can be up to four times faster than with other water heaters.
  • Very reliable long-term operation.
  • Extra insulation can significantly reduce any energy losses due to venting exhaust gases.
  • Costs less to operate.
  • Can heat lots of water very rapidly to supply high demand and large spaces.
  • Exceptionally efficient in providing hot water in large commercial operations.
  • Can work with a direct-fired, indirect-fired, tank or tankless water heater system.
  • Come in a variety of tank sizes.
  • Can operate solely via oil and electricity or via dual fuel sources such as propane plus oil.

Oil Fired Water Heater: Cons

  • Experts cite these as the major cons of selecting an oil fired water heater.
  • More expensive to purchase and install.
  • May require more cleaning and maintenance to continue operating at maximum efficiency.
  • Requires the use of combustible fuel sources (the oil plus water plus electric spark system).
  • Produce exhaust gases that must be vented to the outside of the building.
  • May be harder to procure due to the more limited availability of oil fuel.
  • Can produce some energy losses due to the need to vent exhaust gases.
  • May need to have the pilot light relit more frequently when housed outdoors.

4 Keys to Choosing the Best Water Heater for Your Space

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, there are four key aspects to consider before selecting a new water heater.

Fuel.

This must be considered first since energy costs can differ substantially in different geographic regions. Another thing to note; not all energy types are readily available in every area.

So here, what you want to do is find out what fuels are easily available in your area: electricity, gas, oil, propane. Then do a cost evaluation to get a sense of how much you would spend each month using different types of fuel to heat your water.

Cost.

The cost of the water heater itself — purchase, installation, maintenance, repairs — is also a significant aspect to consider before you make your final purchase decision.

Along with the cost assessment, it is important to be aware that some types of water heaters are more expensive to purchase and install up front, but they will deliver much greater savings on monthly energy usage once operational. Doing these comparison estimates can be very helpful to make your final choice.

Efficiency.

Whether your reasons are adopting a more sustainable lifestyle with a lower carbon footprint or simply saving money on your monthly energy costs, it is important to consider the overall efficiency projections for different types of water heaters.

These factors will highlight which type(s) may best align with your overall goals.

Size/Capacity.

Some hot water heaters can generate higher amounts of hot water more quickly than others.

By comparing your home’s daily hot water demand and the timing of that demand against the capacity and speed of the water heater, you can determine which water heater unit will align most to meet your needs.

It can be very helpful to schedule a professional consultation and home/workplace evaluation when you are ready to consider replacing your water heater. This consultation can help you evaluate the four aspects of selecting a new hot water heater and identify hidden cost savings you may not be aware of.

Finally, working with a professional will ensure your new hot water heater is installed safely and correctly the first time!

For a new oil-fired water heater installation in Vernon, call Water Heater Medic at Water Heater Medic. 

Hot Water Tank vs. Tankless Water Heater: What’s the Difference?

Maybe you are building your first home? Or perhaps you’re remodeling your older home and are considering whether or not a traditional hot water tank might be right for you and your family. Considering that as much as 18% of a home’s energy budget is consumed by heating water, the one you choose will not only have a lasting impact on your quality of life but will have long-lasting implications on your wallet, as well.

How does a hot water tank work?

Fundamentally, a water heater converts energy to heat and transfers that heat to water. It’s connected to a cold water supply pipe and has an outgoing hot water pipe—or system of pipes—that supplies heated water to faucets and appliances in a home or business. Traditional storage water heaters are usually placed in a garage or water closet, where they store and preheat 20-100 gallons of water in a tank. Once all the hot water is used, the tank then has to be heated once again.

Traditional hot water tanks (also known as storage water heaters) keep water hot by firing up any time the water at the heating elements falls below the set temperature. Depending on the number of people in the household, tank capacity, temperature setting, and length of delivery piping, a storage heater might run for up to five hours each day, maybe more. Because it can often draw power for over three hours at a time, it is considered a continuous heating appliance device according to the National Electric Code.

Traditional storage water heaters are fueled by electricity, natural gas, propane, heating oil, solar or other energy sources. With an electric water heater, a heavy electrical cable delivers energy to metal heating element(s). As you can imagine, in order to heat a large tank full of water, the heating element gets very hot. In some cases, up to 800° F hot. This causes scaling and deposits to form on the surface of the element. Over time, “hot spots” develop and eventually, it causes the unit to lose heat considerably and then fail. When considering this type of water heater, plan on a call to the plumber every several years to replace its heating elements and every 8-12 years to replace the entire water heater.

How does a tankless water heater work?

Tankless water heaters provide hot water only when you want it. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit and either a gas burner or an electric element heats the water. As a result, tankless water heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water on demand.

They do not produce the standby energy losses associated with storage water heaters, and they never run out of hot water—assuming the water heating capacity is large enough to supply your needed hot water demands. And because hot water isn’t stored in a tank, there is also no heat loss when the water heater isn’t operating, which can save you a ton of money and a lot of worries. And let’s not forget, a more compact, wall-mounted design.

Here are four other things to keep in mind:

  •  Usage: Tankless water heaters are available in point-of-use or whole-house sizes. You will need to calculate how many appliances or fixtures need hot water in order to determine the best size unit for your home. If you think you will need to run the dishwasher while someone else is showering, assume a larger gallons-per-minute (GPM) demand will be in order to meet your overall hot water needs. Take into account water usage, too: A bathroom needs less water than a kitchen, a dishwasher less than a shower, and so on.
  •  Fuel Type: Tankless hot water heaters are available in either electric or gas (natural and propane) models. If you are considering electric, check for voltage and amperage requirements. The gas version will need some electric to operate, but venting will be the bigger issue.
  •  Location: If you live further north, your ground water will be colder than if you reside in the southern or western part of the country. The starting temperature of the groundwater will affect the outlet temperature based on the achieved rise in temperature.
  •  Cost: The initial cost of a tankless water heater may be greater than that of a conventional hot water tank, but tankless water heaters will last longer and have lower operating and energy costs, which offset its higher purchase price. Most tankless water heaters have a life expectancy of more than 20 years. In contrast, storage water heaters last only 8-12 years.

Did you know?

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average American household spends about $2,024 each year on energy costs. A whopping 14-18% (or $280) of that amount is water heating. The MODEL 3 Water Heater is 99% energy efficient. That means you will get more hot water and reduce the overall cost of heating your family’s water by about 40%. That’s $112 back in your pocket each year.

We often get asked if tankless water heaters have the same metal heating elements that traditional tank-type water heaters use. The answer is yes. Though they instantly heat water as it flows through the device, if you slice open any existing tankless water heater on the market, you will see the same metal heating elements. This still leaves the homeowner with murky hot water filled with impurities. 

How is the MODEL 3 tankless water heater different?

Here at Heatworks, we have eliminated metal heating elements all together inside our tankless electric water heaters. Instead, using our patented Ohmic Array Technology, we actually pass electrical currents through the water itself. Using graphite electrodes and electronic controls, we increase the energy state of the water molecules, so they move faster. The faster they move, the more kinetic energy they have. This causes the molecules to begin to bounce off each other; that kinetic energy turns into heat. Through direct energy transfer, your water is heated instantly, within (+/-) 1 degree Fahrenheit of the temperature setpoint. With no coils or traditional heating elements that can scale and rust over time, the water you heat and use is as pure as it gets.

Oil & Gas Fired Hot Water Heaters

When purchasing a water heater, it is important to recognize two key components that affect availability and energy costs.

  • Capacity: Choosing a water heater with sufficient capacity is critical to ensure every member of the household has an instant supply of hot water on demand. Capacity is measured by the “first hour rating,” which is calculated as a function of the tank size relative to the speed at which the water is heated.
  • Efficiency: All water heaters are rated according to the Energy Factor (EF) standard, which allows consumers to compare the efficiency of different brands and models of water heaters. The factor is derived from a formula that measures the amount of heat energy extracted from the unit divided by the amount of energy it consumes. A higher EF factor is associated with greater heating efficiency.

Gas Water Heaters

Gas fired hot water heaters are the most common water heating appliance. They work by transferring heat through convection currents. Cold water enters a storage tank through a device called a dip tube and accumulates at the bottom of the tank. In gas water heaters, a sensor detects when the water temperature has fallen below a predetermined threshold. A signal is sent to an igniter that activates a burner housed in a combustion chamber. The resulting thermal energy is transferred through a core within the tank, which subsequently heats the surrounding water.

Since hot water is less dense than cold water, it rises to the top of the tank where it is routed through a hot water discharge pipe and ultimately delivered to a plumbing fixture somewhere in the building. Waste byproducts from the burn cycle are vented to the outdoors through a specially-designed flue pipe.

Oil Water Heaters

Oil fired hot water heaters share many of the same design characteristics of their gas counterparts. While the tank assembly operates in essentially the same manner, direct oil fired water heaters are distinguished by a unique burner assembly. Oil is mixed with air and injected into a power burner as an atomized mist. An electric spark ignites the mixture and a concentrated flame is propelled into an adjacent chamber where heat is transferred to a core inside the storage tank.

Tankless Water Heaters

The biggest benefit of tankless waters heaters are their ability to save you energy. Rather than fill a 40 to 50-gallon tank and pay to keep it heated 24/7, you won’t need to fill a tank, and you’ll only use energy while you’re using the hot water. You can save up to 50 percent of fuel on either an electric or gas-fired tank.

There is no tank to fill, so there is virtually no chance of a catastrophic leak. Tanks with built-in recirculating pumps provide ‘instant’ hot water. There is no waiting for the hot water to reach that shower on the other side of the house. Although they cost a bit more, a gas-burning tankless water heater can last for 20 years or more, two or three times longer than tank-type heaters.

Tankless water heaters are compact and take up very little space, but are more complicated to install, so a professional is needed to add one to your home. Annual service is also recommended for changing water and air filters and checking the burner. Call us to answer any other questions or to schedule an installation of your new tankless water heater.

Indirect Fired Water Heaters

Both indirect gas fired water heaters and indirect oil fired water heaters use a water–to-water heat exchange process. Thermal energy originating from an external boiler is circulated through a coil in a separate, adjacent storage tank. The hot water stored in the tank allows the boiler to cycle less frequently, which can save substantially on fuel bills.

Indirect water heaters offer exceptional EFs, usually in the .8 to .9 range. Warranties often extend up to 20 years, which is considerably longer than most direct fired appliances. Since the heating process is indirect, minerals have a tendency to remain in suspension rather than accumulating at the bottom of the tank, which is a characteristic of direct fired water heaters.

Is a Gas or Oil Water Heater Right for Me?

In general, direct gas fired water heaters are more efficient than oil fired models with a similar capacity. The total cost of installation and operation may be more than 50 percent higher over the life of the equipment. Oil based water heaters usually have a shorter lifecycle when compared to gas, largely due to the complexity of the burner assembly.

The primary advantage of direct fired oil water heaters is their recovery ability. The concentrated flame in the burn process can heat incoming cold water three to four times faster than other fuels. In large families, this can be an important advantage.

For buildings with an existing boiler used for space heating, an indirect system may be an appropriate choice, regardless of the fuel type. In cooler temperatures when the boiler is running frequently, indirect water heaters provide abundant hot water with minimal associated cost.

The Brand We Represent

Since 1929, Bock water heaters have set the standard for reliability, efficiency, and low operating costs. Both direct and indirect models are available and Bock manufactures products for oil, gas, and dual fuel applications. You can find information about Bock water heaters and a variety of other HVAC related products on the Griffith Energy Services’ homepage.

Series EC™ with Optional Tankless Heater