Cost Of Hot Water System

About the author:

Source: http://www.sooperarticles.com/news-society-articles/energy-articles/chp-hot-water-combined-heat-power-chp-applications-647999.html

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   How much would a electric boosted solar hot water system cost to install?
   In Victoria, without applying rebates, how much would a electric boosted Solar hot water system cost to install professionally? Family of 4 plus dishwasher.

   • ANSWER:
     It might be best to go directly to a mechanical contractor, engineer, or architect in the area. If they make an estimate which seems high, you could get a second opinion. The system may actually add weight to the roof of your house / structure, so it becomes a multi-discipline engineering effort.

2. QUESTION:
   How much will a new electric hot water system cost?
   We have 3-4 people, we shouldnt need a huge one just enough to allow each of us resonable shower times. I live in Victoria AUS.

   • ANSWER:
     I would look at gas too. A califont gives you unlimited hot water and at mains pressure. The other decision is , which gas? Personally I use LPG bottles. Gas coming down a pipe means you are relying on someone else keeping up the supply but whereas with bottles it's up to you and you can always have a spare on hand. You will probably find the cost to change will be about the same as to replace or fit a new electric one.

     Footnote; I'm in the throws of getting off the grid. I can only see electricity prices going higher and higher and with Ozzies getting hit with the carbon tax 1st July prices are going to jump very soon.

3. QUESTION:
   how much does a solar hot water system roughly cost in australia - Pilbara region?
   People who live in the pilbara region of australia could you please answer.

   • ANSWER:
     Check for the Federal Government rebate.
     Check if Western Australia offers a rebate for putting in hot water.

     Check the price charged by various provides less the rebates if available.

     That is the cost of your solar hot water system.

     TIP: Be careful as they vary in size and quality. If applying for a government rebate you are supposed to get three quotes and also the installer is supposed to come to your residence to give the quote.

     Cheers!!!

4. QUESTION:
   How much will it cost to heat 300L of water in a hot water system from 23oC to 68oC?
   So far I have done..

   Q = MC ^ T

   300kg x 4.18 x (68-23) = 56430J

   I am not sure what to do next since they have not given the kw rating of the hot water system? The only other data I have is one kWh costs [FAQ-QUESTION].15.

   • ANSWER:
     Try http://www.simetric.co.uk/si_hij.htm for conversion tables.

     1 joule = 0.0002778 watt-hrs
     1 kJ = 0.0002778 kW -hrs

     But using Q=M Cp dT your answer of 56430J is incorrect as you have used the specific heat per gram of water. Per kg it is 4186 J or 4.186 kJ.
     Hence Q = 56511 kJ
     or 56511 x 0.0002778 = 15.7 kW -hr
     Cost = 15.7 x 0.15 = 2.35 US dollars
     Regards.

5. QUESTION:
   I want to build a solar hot water system, using a pillow bladder. Can this be done?
   I live in Philadelphia Pa. in a 3 story condo. The roof is flat. We have 21 units and the cost of heat and hot water is $ 100,000 per year. Can I preheat the water in a 50 -100 gallon black bladder placed on the roof?

   • ANSWER:
     Yes you can, but its not a very good idea. Solar panels are typically used for the purpose. They consists of small copper pipes and fins that collect the heat and transmit it to the water in the pipe. Think small increments here, like your coffee pot. The bladder is a big ball of water. The edges would get warm while the middle stayed cold.

     There are other problems. You'd have to connect it to the water supply which is under pressure. Does it have connections for that?

     Finally, you may be putting more weight on the roof than it can bear. I'd hate to see that bladder in the middle of your living room.

6. QUESTION:
   Is it best to turn a hot water system on and off or leave it on continually?
   We are running a 125 litre hot water heater for only two people. Its 15amp and single element I think. When we had solar heating, we got into the habit of turning the booster on and off accordingly. I'm wondering now, if we are energy saving by turning the current system off during the day and only flicking it on at night for a time? Or would it work out less expensive to let the thermostat regulate a permanent hot water temperature and in so doing, be using less energy overall? Its a balancing or juggling act I know but over a period of time, which approach makes more sense as far as costing less in power? Hot water usage is generally fairly conservative too and we don't really need the scalding temps when its on all the time, even in the middle of winter. (Thermostat not adjustable)

   • ANSWER:
     I think its best to leave it on, because if you turn it off, the water will get cold again and then take more energy to heat it up again... just a thought.

7. QUESTION:
   What is cheaper in terms of INSTALLATION costs? a solar hot water system or electric hot water system?

   • ANSWER:
     Do you mean installing only or cost of the whole system installed?
     most of the prepackaged systems have an electric heater that also acts as the holding tank .
     The solar panels would have to be located and set up and then plumbed to and any electrical wired into it and the pump would have to be wired in and plumbed in as would the control panel.

     Each job site has it's own situation to work with

8. QUESTION:
   alternative to a combi cylinder hot water system?
   My mobile home has a combi cylinder hot water system.I fitted a shower,with having no head pressure I fitted a power pump to the hot water.This is ok but it soon runs out of cold to supply the hot tank.Also I would like an immersion heater as well,what is the way forward to remedy this?What sort of tank?and what cost will it be likely to be?
   Thanks Jeff.

   • ANSWER:
     The best solution if you have a reasonable mains cold pressure and flow is an electric shower fed straight from the mains cold. Job done.

9. QUESTION:
   If I install a Solar hot water system will my gas bill be significantly reduced?
   At the moment I have a gas hot water service and I am thinking of replacing it with a solar hot water system. My question is, will I save much money on my gas bill? It costs a bit to change over and I want to figure out if it's worth it in the long run. If anyone has changed over to solar I'd be interested to find out how much your gas bill dropped by and also what state of Australia you are in. Also I am located in Victoria.
   Thanks for all answers in advance.

   • ANSWER:
     My system has reduced my propane consumption by 15-20% but I still have a propane system for times when the sun is not available (morning showers).

     It works out to roughly a yearly savings of 0-0.

     For a system that cost 00 to install and requires yearly maintenance the pay-back will be roughly 10-20 years.

     Most people will find that improved sealing of a home to prevent loss of heat and additional attic insulation to be the most cost effective addition to their homes. The sealing is also not that difficult to do by yourself (several tubes of caulk and some sweat equity). Even blowing insulation into an attic is a do-it-yourself job.

10. QUESTION:
    Your calculations determine that a hot-water system requires a copper line with a minimum inside diameter of?
    2.55 inches. Which of the following types of copper tubing would be the most cost-effective to install in this system?

    • ANSWER:
      You forgot to list the types.

11. QUESTION:
    Has anyone used, have, recommend the "Instant Hot Water System For Your Whole House!" like the lobster?
    SAVE WATER! The Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve saves, water, time and money. How Long does it take for hot water to get to your faucet or shower? A lot of precious water is wasted down the drain while waiting for hot water. Even worse is the cost to heat the cold replacement water, which enters your house at ground temperature. HOW IT WORKS! When the water in your hot water pipe and the Hot Water Lobster control valve cools below the user adjustable temperature (40-149 degrees F), the thermal materials within the Hot Water Lobster control valve contract, and silently open the valve.

    • ANSWER:
      Not a good idea. Put in a tankless water heater instead and save water, gas and money since you are only heating the water as you use it.

12. QUESTION:
    What do you know about the system of hot water on demand? Would you recommend it?
    My mother is concidering putting in the Hot water on Demand system. What would be the cost of this? Can someone give me some general information?

    Additional Information
    -There are just two of us home, my mother and I

    • ANSWER:
      Basic operation is that your water is heated as you use it by a gas burner. A normal hot water tank stores hot water and is less efficient since it has to keep the water hot at all times. Although on-demand heaters are efficient they can have many maintenance problems which could offset your savings. The first poster was correct about the water hardness.

13. QUESTION:
    Hot Water System?
    Hi

    Currently I'm renting a unit in Queensland Australia. I'm not sure if anyone is up to date with the rental laws or not for this area. I've tried the rta website but to no avail.

    So the hot water system in the unit we are renting died on the weekend. It was a 125L system (small to begin with). It got replaced yesterday and they put in a 50L system. How stingy is that?

    There are four people in this unit and we have 50L of hot water. It is also going to cost more electricity because it has to reheat it more often.

    I'm wondering if we have a right to complain about this. The unit owner is stingy and things that have had to be replaced previously have just been a cheap fix.

    • ANSWER:
      Actually it will cost less, as the water will be cold more often when tapped. ~
      You may consider installing a tankless heater. It only heats when water is taken.

14. QUESTION:
    How efficient are solar hot water systems?
    I live in Northwest Pennsylvania, and I would like to know how much these systems cost, how efficient they are, how much space I'll need on my roof and how long it will take to pay back the initial cost of the system.

    • ANSWER:
      since you live up north, you'll need a 4 panel solar thermal system with at least 108 gallon tank. Not only will you be taking care of your domestic hot water, but you should put a hot water heat coil (looks like a radiator) in your duct to preheat your air. the equipment and labor will cost the installer roughly ,000, a max of ,000. thats with the heat coil. now, whatever they tack on to that is up to them. but that is their cost. A domestic system (3 panels because of you being up north, 2 panel if in south) it would run the installer about ,000 installed including labor. again that is the 'before' profit estimate. make sure you facing south and clear of shade. ask for a mixing valve unless you already have one. usually you state and federal tax credits can enable you to cut the cost by about 50%. so if you paid a total of ,000, you would get about ,000 back in taxes. of course states vary in tax benefits. payback with hot water coil would be about 8 to 10 years, domestic only about 13, depending on how much you use it. the panels i install are 4 feet by 7 feet. you can get some that are 4 feet by 10 feet, pending the make. these system are 95% efficient compared to a max of 16 to 18% for pv. hope this helps, dont let the installer charge you an arm and a leg. my estimate for the cost for the install is close to dead on, of course they have to make a profit. the job should be completed in no more than 4 days.

      **hey mike, solar thermal is used in residential for the soul purpose of pre heating your current hot water heater.

15. QUESTION:
    Solar hot water system hooked in to radiators?
    We live in an old house with a surprisingly efficient hot-water radiator heat system, and domestic hot water from the same boiler. We used only 600 gals of heating oil last year here in No. Maine, far bleow all our neighbors. We have a pretty tight house and very large radiators, which hold the heat a long time once they're warmed.

    I've been thinking of installing a small solar hot water heating system that would pre-heat the water for the heating system, thereby cutting the amount of oil we need to burn to heat the house. Domestic hot water would be an added benefit - though our current Domestic hot water system is so efficient that I douibt this benefit would probably not pay for the cost of the system.

    Anybody have experience with an arrangement like this? If the water in the closed loop of the radiators is already at 65F, will adding solar heat make much of a difference in the oil bill?

    PS - Many people use solar hot water systems here in Maine with great success.
    Yes, I would plan for this to be an indirect system, as in an antifreeze solution would run through the panels and into the boiler tank via a heat-exchanger. Maybe I'd need two heat exchangers, one for the non-potable heating water, and one for the potable domestic hot water. I would obviously enlist someone who knew about this stuff to plumb it all up.

    To ask the one answerer a follow-up - how whould this introduce air into our systyem (other than right when we're working on it)?

    • ANSWER:
      It is really pretty easy to do. You would want to use a system that separates the potable and non-potable waters. You can find more info at my source.

16. QUESTION:
    electric hot water system?
    i currently have a fairly old hot water electric immersion tank and am thinking about changing it. the house is all electric and we don't need to the water for heating, just showers etc. is it better to re-lag the one we have, or get a thermal store, or an on demand electric heater? the market seems totally confusing and i would really appreciate anyone with some expertise sharing some of it!! when i say 'better' i mean cost, but also flow rate, temperature of water in the evening if i want a shower etc

    • ANSWER:
      My house is all electric and we replaced our 20year old tank with a new lagged one and bought a jacket for it over and above that - using the white meter or economy 7 still provides us with enough hot water at night to run a bath for our kids despite having had the washing machine on at least once, dishes, washing and tooth-brushing. If you don't use a lot buy a smaller tank but make sure its in proportion to your property - remember when buying these things always consider resale of your property. Buy the best you can afford. Maybe an electric power shower would be more suited to your needs but if your daytime usage is low there will still be enough hot water for a decent steamy shower in your hot water tank x

17. QUESTION:
    148% efficient hot water heating system?? Thermodrain?
    I am shopping for a new home and the builder has installed new windows, high efficient furnance ect ect..... and a Thermodrain by EcoInnovation Technologies. This Thermodrain was included as standard equipment incorporated into the home as a key energy efficient device to lower the cost of my hot water heating. The hot water tank is electric so it is near 100% efficiency and the Thermodrain is 48% efficient so does this mean that my hot water heating system is 148% efficient? This sounds right since the Thermodrain is recycling the ENERGY from the drain water to reheat the incoming cold water.
    I disagree! The Thermodrain, as I understand it generates heat from extracting energy from the waste water. The efficiency of the electric hot water tank is 100%. So, how do you explain the 7kw of energy generated by this system? It makes a 100% efficient hot water tank even more efficient by recycling energy after the fact. I suppose you can say the system is 48% more efficient with the Thermodrain than without?? But if it was already 100%?????

    • ANSWER:
      You cannot exceed 100% energy efficiency because to do so violates Newton's second law of thermodynamics.

      The Thermodrain is an energy recovery system. It captures the heat from waste water and uses it to preheat water going into the hot water tank. That heat from the waste water means that you don't need to use as much electricity to heat the water. But it doesn't boost the efficiency of the electric hot water.

      An analogy might help here. I have an electric bicycle. I can go about 15 miles on a full charge. I use electricity to help me get up to the top of a hill (that's the heating of the hot water with the electric element). When I go over the top of the hill, and start to get going too fast on the way back down, I can either use friction brakes, which turn that kinetic energy into waste heat, or I can switch the electric bike into regenerative braking mode, which turns the electric motor into an electric generator, and captures that kinetic energy as electricity (which is then stored as chemical energy inside the battery). Have I achieved more than 100% efficiency? No, I've just recaptured some of the waste, and can use that to get up the next hill. In the same way, you have captured some of the waste from running your hot water down the drain, which means less energy up front for the next tankful of hot water.

18. QUESTION:
    HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST TO CONVERT AN OIL BOILER HEATING SYSTEM TO SOLAR?
    I am in the process of purchasing a new home and was wondering what the approximate costs of converting the existing oil hot water heating system to a solar system. The oil also heats my hot water, so I would appreciate any info on converting my hot water system too.. I live in eastern Pennsylvania, and the house is about 1500 sq feet. I have a south facing roof as well.

    Any info would be appreciated, just looking for some ballpark prices! thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      Cost varies considerably between doing some of the work yourself to having someone install it for you.

      A lot also depends on whether or not you are actually have a 2 pipe hot water system, a single pipe steam system. If you are planning on doing some serious landscaping, you will have better luck with a geothermal system. They will vary widely on cost depending on a number of factors, but expect anywhere from around 20,000 to 35 thousand as a ball park for geothermal, based on numbers for someone I know who installed one. You still need a back up heat source, but less need for back up heat than you would with a soar heat system. Solar heat you should plan for a backup system. The other advantage with geothermal is you can use it for cooling in summer as well. A lot of money to be sure, but you can expect such a system to likely pay for itself in about 10 years. An installer in your area can give you better numbers.

      Using the geothermal as only a rough guide, you should expect a hot water solar system to run from about 25,000 to 40,000 as a ball park estimate providing your roof is adequate for the panels and need no extra construction for support. This sounds like a lot of money, but the reality is your heating bills will be much less.

      If you do it yourself, you can save a lot of money, but make sure to invest in the code books to make sure your work meets national codes, and double check with your local unit of government to see if they have additional code requirements.

19. QUESTION:
    Which hot water heater is best for this application?
    Have a boiler hot water heater. It is ok in the winter but it really stinks in the summer. Last spring I built a solar heater to preheat the water (it cost me about 300 bucks) It has almost paid for itself in addition I have more hot water. I would like to just shut the boiler down in the summer and run it in the winter. What kind of hot water heating system can someone recommend for the summer? I thought about tank less, electric or LP or a small electric tank.

    • ANSWER:
      It will depend on how much hot water you will be using if you have more than 3 people in your house I would go to a regular heater. or if you have a high demand for such as a jet tub if it is just you and your other I would get a tank less. I have one in my cabin and it is nice and care free system.

20. QUESTION:
    How much does a whole house water filtration system cost?
    2000 sq.ft., 2 people. No noticeable mineral stains in toilets or sinks, but there is a buildup in our hot water pipes which we discovered when we had our hot water heater replaced. We are on a well, and our water does have an iron smell & taste, so we buy bottled water - but still cook with the well water. I'm having a difficult time finding an idea of what a whole house filtration system would cost - and hate the idea of having a high-pressure salesman come to our house. Can anyone suggest a ballpark figure?? I know without a chemical analysis of our water, it's hard to know what filter would work - but if it's going to be ,000 or something, we'll just keep buying bottled water and replacing the water heater every 10 years!

    • ANSWER:
      Just did this myself last year, short story I bought a system that treats most problems for 0, it took me 6 hours to install, and I'm not a plumber, in fact I hate plumbing! I wish I had done it years ago. A plumber will cost about 0 an hour, should take him less than it took me.

      Long story, determined manganese was probably my problem, bought a big test kit, plus a manganese test kit, my suspicions were confirmed, manganese, some iron, not hard.

      Bought a T1500+ system from http://www.apluswater.net/terminator_water_treatment_syste.htm .

      I used to replace filters twice a month, the water tasted awful, smelled bad, left ugly stains on fixtures, clothes, and dishes, and we bought drinking water. Now I seriously couldn't be happier.

21. QUESTION:
    Replacing electric hot water system.I want either gas or gas/solar. Any suggestions?
    Home flooded (Australia) & the electric system is dead. I need something fast but I want quality & reliability in either a gas only, using cylinders as we're not on natural gas via piping or solar with gas backup. Does anyone have any suggestions & ideas of costs please?

    • ANSWER:
      Solar would be the most expensive and nowhere near cost effective, electric would be the next most expensive, cylinder ( in your words ) propane in mine would be the cheapest and most cost effective. Understand, Going green ( solar, wind, generator or a combination of the two ) all costs out the wazoo when done properly & reliably. Propane (cylinder) will be around a long time after the fad of going green is long gone.

22. QUESTION:
    Tankless gas water heater - Cost?
    What is the typical cost of buying the equipment and installation of tankless 'Gas' water heater? For my house we need 2 of them.

    My house is being constructed right now, so I asked my builder to put this instead of regular tank. They are charging 00 for each unit. I think this is too high and payback time will also be long. Am I right?

    Also, any idea about cost of installing hot water circulation system to conserve water. Push of a button will bring the hot water within a minute to the faucet.

    Thanks You!
    Thanks Eric.

    What will be the payback period if I'm replacing tank one with this Tankless Gas Hot water system? If I save a month, then it is more than 10yrs. Seems not worth it. What you guys think.

    • ANSWER:
      You are mixing apples and oranges.
      A tankless gas HWH will cost about 00 installed but there should be a credit from the unit they are not installing, since you paid for it in the cost of the house.
      DO NOT add a circulation loop as this will defeat the gas savings of the Tankless system by causing it to run all the time to heat the circulating water.
      Think not of the ROI think of the endless hot water.

23. QUESTION:
    Hot Water Boiler Heating System – Thinking about upgrading is it worth it?
    I have a Hot Water Boiler Heating System for the last 5 years and I was wondering whether I should buy a new one because I feel it’s costing me too much but is it worth the investment to upgrade. What type of maintenance must these machines undergo to ensure proper function and efficiency?

    Thanks

    Bill

    • ANSWER:
      Hey Bill,

      If you’re looking into buying a new system they have some really great eco-efficient ones these days that can save you tons of money on your energy bills. They also have these great tankless water heaters that occupy 90% less space than tank heaters and can provide you with unlimited supply of hot water. In terms of whether it is a good investment, I would say yes because the tank is only going to end up costing you more in the future and you’ll eventually have to replace it, now would be better so you can start saving money now.

      Paul

24. QUESTION:
    Convential Central Heating System Hot Water Issue, please help/advise?
    Hi

    I live in a 2 bed house with a conventional central heating system, i.e cold tank in loft, hot tank and 20 year old Baxi boiler. My controls allow me to set the heating to come on at specific times in day, but dont allow a central temperature setting.

    Basically no central thermostat, all my Rads have an indiviual thermostat on them.

    I used to have my boiler on for 40 mins twice a day during summer, thats worked fine for summer and provided sufficent lovely hot water. The winter I used to have it on for an hour twice a day, pre swopping my radiators. September just gone I had a full system flush, a magna clean fitted and 4 radiators replaced with brand, correct BTU size and 50% more efficient than the old 15 year old crap ones that were there before. and were useless.

    For most of October I had my radiator thermostats on 0, just leaving the bathroom one on. Now its getting colder I turned all the individual thermostats on the rads to setting 3 out of 5 for warmth.

    Since doing that with my boiler coming on for an hour in morning and an hour at night, the heating is fantastic and nice and warm. But the hot water is only luke warm alot of time, some times not even enough water to have a bath. If I wash up a couple of times there wont be enough hot water for a bath and most of the time the hot water is only luke warm. I appreciate I have conventional system and it has to fill the tank of water to last until the next time the boiler comes on, but it has never been anywhere near like this before.

    The pressure of the hot water is fine, and the problem with it being luke warm happens across all taps. I am wondering if now I have better more efficient radiators and they are on now the winter is coming, its pumping alot more water to them and then not leaving enough for the hot water tank?

    I can't prioritise my water to heating or tank as far as I am aware. I have bleed my system of any air locks and my electronic pump by the hot water tank is on setting 2 of 3 which I was advised was the correct setting.

    Rather than just leaving my boiler on for longer, costing more money and meaning the radiators are on more. Does anyone have any ideas how I can improve things?

    I am not even sure I can fit one and wouldn't know how to go about it or the cost of it, but would having a wireless central thermostat fitted help instead of a seperate thermostat on each radiator?

    Is the only option to get a combi boiler, I don't really want that exspsense right not and I only intend to stay in this property for a couple of years.

    I have average DIY skills but am by no means a plumber or electrician, any help/advice anyone could provide would be appreciated.

    Thanks in advance.

    I thought of that but couldnt see one anywhere, removed the hot water tank insulation jackets and couldnt see one anywhere unless its at the back where I cant get to but I doubt that.

    • ANSWER:
      Sounds like motorized valve. Look on http://jspinderplumbingandheating.co.uk/

25. QUESTION:
    How much should solar hot water and radiant heat cost in Maryland, USA?
    I'm getting quotes for a replacement for our hot water heater. So far I've gotten 22K for materials and installation of a solar hot water heater (3-4 collector panels) with heat rejection and single zone open direct radiant heating to one floor (accessible through drop ceiling underneath). Both quotes include a backup hot water heating system; the expensive one would involve installing a new backup high efficiency heater by converting our propane tank to use for heating. This would be either the Polaris or 2 Takagi Jrs, one for the solar hot water and another to power the radiant heat.

    Another quote is for 12K for only the solar hot water and heat rejection using the Velux system.

    Are these really high? I've already contacted 3 companies but it doesn't look like too many people are installing them in Maryland yet. I'm still waiting on a quote from one final company. Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      Without information of how big the footprint of the house is, and how many people the domestic hot water (DHW) is for, it is hard to say.

      You said you got a quote for 3 -4 collectors, so I'm going to make some assumptions based on that. Four 4'x8' collectors = 128 sq ft of collector. A general rule of thumb for space heating with solar is 1 sq ft of collector for every 5 -10 sq ft of house footprint (depends on heat storage, heat loss in the house, climate, etc). So, if we say 1200 sq ft house, 1200 / 10 = 120; 128 sq ft of collectors could work (again, depending on above variables). Depending on the brand, each flat plate collector could cost about 00, so 00 for the four collectors (evacuated tubes cost more). You then need a controller, storage tank, pumps, heat exchanger, plus all of the copper pipes and fixtures. Then a couple of days for a plumber to install. ,000 installed seems about right without the backup heater. Here's a heating system that costs that just for the equipment http://www.altestore.com/store/Solar-Water-Heaters/Climate-freezes-Closed-Loop-Systems/Combined-Solar-Hot-Water-Space-Heating/Heliodyne-Solar-Hot-Water-Space-Heat-1500-sqft/p6731/.

      Note, gas on-demand water heaters like the Bosch Aquastar make great backup heaters for solar http://www.houseneeds.com/shop/HeatingProducts/WaterHeating/AquaStar1/aquastar1600psmain.asp. I don't know what size you'd need.

26. QUESTION:
    How can I prevent my on-demand hot water system's exhaust pipe frosting up in the winter?
    I spent the extra money two years ago and invested in a on-demand hot water system. For the most part I love it. It only heats up when you turn on the hot water and you never run out of hot water. However, on cold winter mornings, when the night has been REALLY cold --like -30, the exhaust pipe coming out the side of my house builds up frost and plugs almost completely. This causes the heater to shut off and there is no hot water in the morning. I then have to go outside, scoop out the frost, unplug the heater and plug it in again and then it turns back on. To put it mildly this is a pain in the backside. The pipe comes out the side of the house and is facing my drive way. There is no hood (like a dryer vent has). I didn't seem to have a problem with it this year until I turned on the radiant floor heating in the basement. We had some brutally cold days before and it didn't plug then. However, I didn't have the heat on in the basement at all last year and I had the same problem then.

    It costs .00 for the plumber to walk in my door. I just thought it was worth a shot to find out if anyone else has had this problem and found a solution.
    The intake for this heater is another pipe that is installed directly beside the exhaust pipe. In other words the air the heater runs on comes from outside the house, not from the room it is in, which btw is the basement which is unfinished. Also, it doesn't do it every time the weather is really cold.

    • ANSWER:
      Check the installation manual( if you don't have one the installing contractor should be able to get it for you.). Make sure the PVC pipe is the right size, doesn't exceed the maximum distance, or have to many fittings for the distance it runs. You can also try putting a 90 degree elbow pointing down on your exterior exhaust pipe. Good luck

27. QUESTION:
    Cost to convert from oil boiler steam heat to gas powered forced hot air?
    We have a 1200 SF home in the northeast. Our oil burner needs to be replaced and we were thinking of just converting to natural gas so we could use it for cooking fuel as well (we currently purchase propane). We were quoted ,000 for an entirely new gas furnace, ductwork and a baseboard hot water system. We want to know if this sounds reasonable. We also want to know if forced hot air would be comparable. We live in an old house and the gentleman who gave us the quote said that air ducts would be a pain in the butt.

    • ANSWER:
      You would be crazy to use forced air heat in the northeast. Your house will always feel cold. Go with a gas fired system that uses your existing radiators. This will be in the 3-5,000 range and the temperature will be more stabile.

28. QUESTION:
    what is the avg cost of running a 40 gal hot water heater?
    I am considerign a tankless system, but am trying t ofigure out the monthly cost of a 40 gal tank.
    It is not on a timer.
    After thinking about it. I dont know if it is on a timer. It is 5 years old. Are timers standard. I just don't understand water heaters.

    • ANSWER:
      well if it on a timer you would have to calculate off and on time too.

29. QUESTION:
    Which one is cheaper hot water baseboard or forced air?
    We have a hot water baseboard system and central air. Should we continue with the existing setup or change it to central heat and central air.
    P.S: We live in Northern Jersey

    What are the costs of replacing the whole heating system?
    Thanks for the response but to add some detail we already have Central air in the house .

    • ANSWER:
      Modern boilers are running at anywhere between 82-90+% AFUE efficiencies. A new boiler could run you anywhere between ,000-6,000.00 depending on the equipment and the contractor. Forced-Air Furnaces are now running up to 95% efficiencies but those top models could cost more than a boiler. As far as the "quality" of the heat, there is nothing better than hot water. It is the most even and in most cases the most economical heat you can have. If you are very accustomed to the nice even warmth of the radiant heat and lack-of cold drafts that you can get with forced-air, I would recommend staying with the boiler and the separate air-handler for the A/C. If I were to build a new home I would put radiant heat inside any flooring and have a separate air handler for my A/C, humidification and air-purification. This would give me the best of both world's. When all the cards are down it comes down to comfort and cost. I my mind's eye the most comfort for your hard earned dollar will come from hot-water radiant heat. I live in the Chicago-land Area, which is almost the same climate as Jersey. I have over 22-years experience in the HVAC business and I used to be Senior Technician for THE largest family owned and operated heating & cooling company in the United States. I have seen many different homes with many different apps over the years and hot-water will always give you the best comfort and the easiest most affordable options for zoning as opposed to forced-air heat. I hope this was very helpful for you, good luck.

30. QUESTION:
    Hot Water Filtration ...What are my options???
    I have a forced hot water boiler via tankless coil hot water heater. Water has heavy iron and other typical minerals. Screen on hot water side of washing machine CONSTANTLY plugs up. Already double cartidges on domestic cold before boiler, I know I should get a softener system, but are there any other COST EFFECTIVE options? Does a cheap in-line screen (near washing machine)or filter system exist that can reliably withstand 170Deg. heat? Standard cartridge filter systems will fail on hot water systems. I just want to stop doing weekly maintence on the Washing machine. I've almost worn out the plastic inlet on it, which means a 0 soleniod replacement when you strip that out! Any Suggestions welcome!!

    • ANSWER:
      The iron is dissolved in the water and must be removed via oxidation. A water softener is capable of removing small amounts of iron and will need more frequent regeneration. Potassium permanganate or chlorine are also used in treatment systems and are better suited for iron removal.
      Particulate filters such as those you are using will remove solids from the water but not dissolved elements. I have a pair of particulate filters at the input to my water softener to help keep it clean inside.

31. QUESTION:
    On Demand/ Instant Hot Water, radiant heat-is it worth it?
    I am in the process of building a house. I have heard of the On Demand, instant hot water systems. Please let me know if any of you have used them, and if you consider them to be a worthwhile investment. It will be for two people and two small dogs, no kids or extended family. I am hoping it is not only cost effective but energy effective.I am also curious about radiant heating. I am located in North Carolina, so I don't have the extreme temperature changes of the north.

    • ANSWER:
      If I ever build again, I will have the On-Demand system. My hot water heater is SO far away from my kitchen that I have to waste a lot of water waiting for it to get hot.

      But I do have the tankless hot water heater, and it has decreased my gas bill by at least 1/3. They are more expensive than the tank-style, but you make up your difference in no time.

32. QUESTION:
    Is solar water heater cost effective?
    We are considering solar hot water to suppliment our LP gas water heater. Will the costs of a solar system significantly reduce my LP gas consumption? Will the solar heated water be hot enough to not even use the gas heat?

    • ANSWER:
      I have often thought about building a pre-heater to assist my electric heater and cut down on costs. They will only work in certain locations with lots of sunshine and may be unattractive depending on where they are placed.
      You can build one with a metal tank with a pipe fitting on each end. Build a three sided box that the tank will fit into with glass on one side. Paint the tank and inside of the box flat black. The box is positioned so the the glass side is exposed to maximum sunlight. Connect a water supply to one side of the tank and run a pipe from the other side to the cold water supply of the gas or electric water heater. The water coming into the gas heater will be pre-warmed. Just something I think would be interesting to try. Good Luck.

33. QUESTION:
    Should you install a solar water heater?
    Should you install a solar water heater? The average home has a 200 liter (50-60 gallon) hot-water tank, which is effectively drained and replenished three times per day. Assume that the entering tap water is 15 degrees C and is heated to 50 degrees C. Given an average energy from sunlight of 1.53 kJ/cm2 per day, how large would the collection area (in m2) of a solar water heater need to be if its efficiency is 28%? Assume that the price of a solar collector is 5/m2. How much would it cost to install this hot water system?

    • ANSWER:
      I don't see how you can go rwong installing it, be it for economic -, environmental reasons or otherwise. In time, the system will undoubtedly pay for itself. There is also the safety factor. Propane can be volatile, something you don't have to worry about with solar. Hot water haeting systems aren't as high tech ( at laest not some) as you might think. You could probaly even install some pretty primitive ones of your own making. You could put a flat rectangular box with a large surface area on you roof, paint it a flat black , and you'll be surpriced at how much it can heat water. And you could just buy the standard hot water heating panels, witha pressure relief valve, and a mechanical heat expansion solar tracking device, or a computer controlled tracking. Pool heating systems , for the most part are pretty primitive, consisting mostly of lots of small rubber tubes bunched together in a mat, all connected to a larger supply , feed and circulation tubes. You could even coil a bunch of metal tubes , and paint them a flat black for maximum absorbtion of solar heat. I'd go solar. All around it's a good idea.

34. QUESTION:
    Has anyone on Long Island had a solar hot water system installed?
    I appreciate you taking the time to answer this question as I am very interested in the idea. If you have the time can you tell me details, such as;
    What town was it installed in?
    Where there tax credits/incentives?
    What was the cost of install and who did it for you?
    Are you happy with your purchase/company that installed it?
    How much savings do you see a year (oil savings, etc)?
    If you moved would it be something you would consider to install in your next home?

    Thank you so much, there isn't many places to turn to in this subject matter.

    • ANSWER:
      Solar Hot Water systems are not very cost effective, especially so when compared to the lower cost of natural gas hot water heaters. So the cost effectiveness numbers really don't pencil out as a good proposition.
      In fact many of these systems become inoperable, and in need of repair, and many of them just get abandoned in place, or removed because they are an eyesore and/ or have lost effectiveness.

35. QUESTION:
    what is the best option for hot water in the kitchen?
    We have a low pressure hot water system with large tank that is mainly used for hot water in our kitchen, which also has a mixer tap (our en-suite runs off a different system). I have 2 issues - a) the flow rate is slow (due to the mixer tap/low pressure system - a very bad idea), and b) we are paying to heat a large tank of water when we actually use a small amount. What is the best solution for both issues? To fix my flow rate problem, can I convert the low pressure hot water system to a high pressure hot water system? And what would the cost be? Or, given that it is only for a relatively small amount of water, should I look at a tankless water system? (we live in a cold climate)
    Any advice for the most cost effective solution both in the short and long term.
    Thanks

    • ANSWER:
      I would install an under the sink, on demand inline type water heater, They are less than 0 and easily installed, The pressure will have to be inspected to determine your best, cheapest options. As for economy and saving water the under sink on demand units are hard to beat.

36. QUESTION:
    I was told that to install a automatic watering system will cost a huge fortune.?
    What must I do, my garden is large, I live in the Meditteranean, and the summers are extremely hot....I have planted a lot of roses, and I need a watering system,,,what advise to you give me...I just cant get over the cost of installing this sytsem.

    • ANSWER:
      I actually save money on watering with my automatic sprinkler system. Portions of it run on drip, it sprays my hanging baskets and keeps just the right amount of water on my lawn without run-off. The key is the timer and the zones you set to automatically water at the precise time of day the gardens, lawns and plants need the water for exactly the amount of time that plant material needs water. It does take some planning when the system is installed, but it is well worth the savings. No more hand watering, over watering, running out there to shut off a forgotten sprinkler and no forgetting to water. I'm in SoCal on an acre of land which is a semi-arid-desert like environment where temps can get to 120 degress F during the summer.

37. QUESTION:
    Gas, Electric, or Hot water on demand? ($ hot water heater $)? more....?
    I got a gas hot water heater and I recently heard that Columbia Gas of Ohio is seeking to get a 'across the board' flat rate increase on distributing charges. I didn`t think this was at all fair since I am single and use very little hot water in the summer months. It looks like more corporate welfare. Im considering closing the gas account off in the summer months and/or using a electric or hot water on demand system....Any suggestions on which is more cost effective?

    • ANSWER:
      tankless heater and vote democrat so you will be protected from corperate thieves

38. QUESTION:
    Why dosen't the government & business invest in solar domestic hot water systems for living quarters ?
    In 1977 our government gave incentives to invest in solar hot water systems in Harford Co.,Md. For 28 yrs. it operated flawlessly with minimum operational cost & low maintenance .I saved the cost of burning a minimum of 100 gals of fuel oil. Oh yes, H.U.D. gave me 0. Credit deduction on taxes, plus state tax for 3 years-defrayed. In essence i profitted & so did the planet . what can be better ? Many jobs can be created today & forever .Simplicity=$$

    • ANSWER:
      Why does the government need to have anything to do with it? If you want to buy a solar hot water system for your house, then do it!

39. QUESTION:
    Which water heating system is the most efficient, realistic, and price effective?
    I am looking into water heating systems and I am looking more between a regular storage tank water heater that is insulated to prevent heat loss, has factory installed heat traps to prevent escape of hot water, and has an electronic ignition and a solar powered water heater with a regular water heater for a back up (because I have heard they usually aren't able to provide as much). Which is more efficient, cost wise and energy wise?

    • ANSWER:
      It can vary by where you are. If you are in a cold climate, a solar water panel is not the most practical at certain times of the year.

      A website with good information, http://www.builditsolar.com He is in Montana, where it gets really cold. So you can find some useful info there as well.

      In general, the water heaters in the stores have a tag that indicates what the estimated cost to operate it each year based on a certain rate of cost for fuel, and you can use that as a guideline in calculating what your annual cost to operate it will be, then add the cost of the heater and the cost of installation if you are not doing it yourself.

      You can expect a storage tank water heater to have a tank last 6 to 12 years depending on water condition, and maintenance of the anode rod.

      Most on demand heaters have a jacket tank of about a gallon capacity, and most manufacturers have a warranty on those of 10 years.minimum.

      The better solar water panels have a 10 year warranty at a minimum, but you have reduncy with the back up. And you may have extra issues with storage tanks, isolating the collector plumbing, etc.

      It may not pay to have the solar panel heater installed at this time, but it can be used as a way of avoiding the likely carbon taxes of the future.

40. QUESTION:
    looking for information on installing hot water baseboard heating system using plastic supply lines not copper
    with the cost of copper it must be common to use a plastic supply line, i am looking for some more information on this

    • ANSWER:
      plastic under pressure and hot is a bad combination and has caused many floods

41. QUESTION:
    Water pressure and hot water?
    I just purchases a house that was built in 2006, 2 floors, 2400 sq ft. The hot water heater is located in my garage (obviously 1st floor). The faucets, bathtub and showers upstairs have adequete water pressure and the water heats quickly. The kitchen faucet however, is ridiculous. It takes over a minute for warm (not hot) water to come out, and 1 1/2 for it to be sufficiently hot for washing dishes. In addition, the water pressure is so low that I get frustrated washing the dishes. The kitchen faucet is located about 12 feet from the hotwater heater so this makes no sense to me unless there is something wrong.

    The gas hot water heater has a 50 gallon capacity. It has two labels on it: "Rheem Guardian Systems Fury Hot Water System" and "EverKleen Self-Cleaning Hot Water System"

    Is there any kind of fix I can make that won't cost me a fortune or dramatically increase my monthly utility bills? My dish washing would go a hell of a lot faster and use a lot less water if the heat and pressure were right.

    Thanks!
    I thank the two responders. I just checked the supply valves and they are already fully opened for max flow. In addition there are no kinks. I have been unable to remove the aerator thus far. I'm reading the Kohler website for tips on getting to the o-ring right now.

    • ANSWER:
      a few things you can check...first look under the sink for a couple of valves open them all the way (turn counter clockwise in most cases) also look at the small pipes that go from the valve up to the faucet sometimes they are plastic tubes that can get a kink in them..at last thing is remove the aerator from the end of the faucett spout (small piece that unscrews) it will have a bunch of small plastic pieces a few screens and a rubber washer in it..it mayby clogged with debri...sometimes it is easier to replace it than to clean it....if you replace it bring it to the store with you......its not the water heater

42. QUESTION:
    Why do I have cold water in the shower when my heat pump is on?
    I am in a rental condo in Atlanta with a heat pump (new technology for me). Every year in the fall I struggle with sharing hot water with my shower and the heat pump. The landlord said the heat pump is configured permanently to share hot water as a cost savings. Is this really the case or do you think something is wrong with the system? How can I diagnose problems with the hot water/heat pump system? Short of always turning the thermostat off prior to my shower, what can I do?

    • ANSWER:
      I have the same problem. If i take a shower at about the same time others in the building have..then good luck on a nice hot shower. The hot water heater takes time to heat enough back up..so yea it's normal. But I always think they should have a big enough hot water heater in the building for the amount of apartments in it. Sometimes I wonder but I don't know the size of the thing.

43. QUESTION:
    Water meters v central heating system?
    hi
    we are moving on Sat and going into a new house with central heating (gas) system and a water meter, I have never had gas before always had electric storage heaters, and certainly never had a water meter.
    I am unsure if the boiler is a combi or std need to verify tomorrow.
    My question is do the radiators when heating use water from the mains with either system ie costing me gas to heat but also water from the meter? I know it comes from the mains re hot water but not sure on the radiators as have read it just runs through the system, similar to a car radiator set up.
    Please can someone advise, as the combi part has confused me as it says heat as goes along etc...does anyone also know average price of gas / electric family of 3, 2 bedroom house mum and son at home all day, also similar cost for water rates on a meter?
    Any help would be appreciated
    Thanks

    • ANSWER:
      No the water doing the rads are in a closed circuit same as the car. Where you have an expansion bottle in the car you have a header tank in the loft to automatically top up system. Can't help on costs as my house set up is different, big house two old gits in it. The water meter will make you aware of how much water you are using. Make sure you fit water saving device to toilet cisterns. I have them fitted and they save me 1 gallon each flush. That's a lot over 3 months. When you get to find your header tank for boiler add a bit of anti-freeze to it, to stop it freezing. This never comes through your domestic drinking/bath water so it is safe. I am long in the tooth and any help I can give try me on my email address. Good Luck and hope move goes well.

44. QUESTION:
    OIL VS GAS HEAT-HELP! I am starting the process fo changing to a brand new heating system-steam to hot water.
    The cost of the entire new system is around ,000. Our current oli/steam radiator system is very old (90 years), inefficient and extremely expensive to heat the house. My next question is-SHOULD I STICK WITH OIL OR CHANGE TO GAS?. Can anyone give me pros and cons, experience with either. I know the BTU's are better with oil, but the efficiency rating of the burners and price per gallon is better with gas. Even if gas prices go up, will they ever meet the currently ever rising oil prices? I have to make a decision very quick as to keep the price this low, it has to be completed this month. Price will stay the same regardless if we choose a gas or oil burner. Also, I don't think the price includes a new oil tank, which would seem to be appropriate as well. I live in the northeast which means we need heat 5-6 months of the year!

    • ANSWER:
      First off, needing to make a fast decision due to a price increase throws up a red flag. Have you gotten several prices from different installers? If not, it's time to do so.

      Call your gas company and ask if they have any programs that will save you $ switching over. Most do and most have discounts on installations as well. Gas or oil? I'd go with gas. Both are going to increase in price but so far gas is much cheaper than oil. This will probably continue to be the same for many years. We have enough gas, the price will increase because the price of oil keeps going up and the gas companies will be able to get away with it as long as they keep their prices lower than oil.

45. QUESTION:
    what is better for home heating?forced hot water propane heat or oil?
    I am looking to upgrade my heating system and would like to know which would be better for the cost of heating my home.Forced hot water using propane or oil.

    • ANSWER:
      I assume you have no natural gas line, as this would be the cheapest. Oil and propane fluctuate in price, and either are reasonable options. However there are more costs associated with oil. The boiler will need to be cleaned every year, and the boiler will wear out more quickly with oil. If you are on electric, well either will be a huge upgrade and savings.

46. QUESTION:
    Questions about heat and hot water costs in a rental?
    What's your estimate of the costs to heat an 800 sg ft two story house (1/2 of a duplex) with a 2 yr old gas fired heating system? I don't know how well insulated it is but the drywall seems old. Also hot water isn't included either. I don't know if it's electric or gas. What is your estimate of what it would cost monthly for a couple, no kids? Also is a home more efficient if the wiring has been redone? Thanks so much.
    The landlord said it would be around 0 for the winter and certainly no more than ,000. Does that sound right? It's a pretty small place.

    • ANSWER:
      If the other half of the duplex is still inhabited explain to them that you want to know the approx cost of those items and see if they will tell you.....if you're going to be neighbors you hope they will be helpful. You could ask the landlord but he may not tell, know or be totally honest....just can't tell.

47. QUESTION:
    Physics Question (A Town Using Hot Water)?
    Suppose a family uses 400 L of hot water (75 C) a day. Water comes in to their home fomr their town water supply at 15 C. The family uses a water heater that is supplied by natural gas. Natural gas costs .50 per Therm (1 Therm= 1x 10^5 BTU; 1 BTU=1055 J). Under the typical gas flow conditions, 1 Therm is the energy content of 100 ft^3 of gas. The hot water system including storage has total losses of 35%.

    a: What is the mass of 400 L of water?
    b: How muc energy is needed to raise the temperature of 400 L of water from 15 C to 75 C?
    c: What is the coast of the natural gas to heat and store 280 L of hot water per day in the family's hot water system?

    Thank you so much!

    • ANSWER:
      a. 400 L of water has a mass of 400 kg

      b. Specific heat of water is 4186 J/kg-°C, so you will need
      4186 x 400 x 60 = 100,464 kJ

      c. This question is more difficult because "total losses of 35%" is vague. You need to know what that 35% figure means exactly.

48. QUESTION:
    i need to get an idea of what it should reasonably cost to have a hot water heater gas valve installed??
    I HAVE A GAS WATER HEATER WITH THE NEW FLAME GUARD SAFETY SYSTEM.TECNICAL ASSISTANCE AT THE FACTORY IS SENDING ME A NEW GAS VALVE FREE,BUT I MUST PAY LABOR TO GET IT INSTALLED.I NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT WOULD BE A FAIR PRICE A PLUMBER WOULD CHARGE TO GET IT INSTALLED.THANKS

    • ANSWER:
      this would depend on where you live and what the plumbers in your area charge for the service call....probably about 80 dollars for the service call and somewhere between 45 and 65 dollars an hour labor....this job should only take about 1 hour, so you are looking at somewhere between 120 to 150 dollars depending on the plumbers rates. you do not have to drain the water from a gas heater to replace the gas valve.

49. QUESTION:
    Price to instal a solar water heater?
    Should you install a solar water heater? The average home has a 200 liter (50-60 gallon) hot-water tank, which is effectively drained and replenished three times per day. Assume that the entering tap water is 13 degrees C and is heated to 55 degrees C. Given an average energy from sunlight of 1.53 kJ/cm2 per day, how large would the collection area (in m2 of a solar water heater need to be if its efficiency is 20%? Assume that the price of a solar collector is 5/m2. How much would it cost to install this hot water system?

    Calculate energy required to heat 1 mL of water. Convert this to tank volume. area=heat required/(solar heat/area)/eff. Installation cost = area x solar collector cost.

    I'm getting 34x10^6 m^2
    12x10^9 dollars to install

    Apparently this is wrong but I can't find my mistakes. Anyone?
    I have 4180 J/Liter giving 837,200 J to heat up 200 Liters of water 1 degree C. I multiplied that by 3 because it's drained and filled 3 times a day giving me 2,511,600J per day. I multiplied that by 42 (55-13) giving me 105x10^6J per day, altering for the change in temperature of the tank. I took that and converted it to kJ = 105x10^3kJ per day. Took 1.53kJ/cm^2 and divided by 1000 to get m^2.

    105x10^3/(.0153kJ/m^2)-----> Divided by .20 for efficiency factor and got 34x10^6 m^2

    34x10^6 m^2 x 375 to get 12x10^9 dollars

    I know this is wrong, but I just can't seem to find the mistake.

    • ANSWER:
      Eyeballing it, about 50 m^2, and 000, which is way out of line with the real world, at least, for Hawaii. Without that 20% efficiency number, the answer would be reasonable for me. I would think 10 m^2 and 00.

      Look up the "specific heat of water", and find out how many joules are needed to heat a gram (= 1 mL) of water by one degree C. That's the same number of kJ needed to heat a liter.

      EDIT:

      "kJ = 105x10^3kJ per day. Took 1.53kJ/cm^2 and divided by 1000 to get m^2."

      105 x 10^3 kJ per day. I agree. But you should take 1.53 kJ/cm^2 and *multiply* by (100 x 100 = 10,000) to get kJ/m^2. So that's 1.53 x 10^4 kJ/m^2.

      Dividing that figure into 105 x 10^3 kJ, you'll get 105/15.3 = about 7 m^2. Then divide by 0.20 to get 35 m^2.

50. QUESTION:
    Which way will cost me less for my annual heat and hot water?
    House is now all-electric, a real killer. Gas not available. So, I am changing to an oil fired system. Two ways to go. Oil fired hot air furnace, with ductwork in the attic and registers going down thru ceiling into each room. Then keep my free standing 40gal electric water heater. The other way is oil fired hot water tankless boiler, with hot water baseboard for heat, and the tankless unit providing the hotwater, and getting rid of my electric hot water heater. House is small ranch built on a slab. The heating unit and the oil tank will go in the attached garage.
    I'm in massachusetts.....and...as I said...gas is not available (natural), and to run on propane is quite alot more than oil, I checked.

    • ANSWER:
      You should price a geothermal heatpump... It produces hot water as it heats and cools and costs penny's to operate... You can get a tax credit from the us gov..(if you are in the US). They can cost a little more to install. But they are worth it..