Types of Commercial Water Heaters: Feel the Heat this Valentine’s Day
When it comes to commercial water heaters, building owners and tenants have several options to choose from, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. As plumbing engineers, we know that understanding these options is crucial for recommending the best solutions to our clients. In this blog post, we’ll explore the different types of commercial water heaters, including electric resistance, heat pump, gas-fired, and the differences between tankless and storage tank types. We’ll also touch on the Denver Energy Code changes and restrictions related to service water heating. Our goal is to help everyone “feel the heat” this Valentine’s Day! Tankless vs. Storage Tank Water Heaters Another significant decision to face is choosing between tankless and storage tank water heaters. Each type has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Denver Energy Code Restrictions The Denver Energy Code has specific restrictions on the types of water heaters that can be installed in new and existing commercial buildings. As of March 1, 2023, the code requires partial electrification for all existing commercial and multifamily buildings when replacing gas-fired space and water heating equipment. This means that gas-fired water heaters are being phased out in favor of more energy-efficient options like electric heat pump water heaters. For commercial buildings, the Denver Energy Code also encourages the use of electric heat pump water heaters and restricts the installation of new gas-fired water heaters. These changes are part of Denver’s broader efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable building practices. Valentine’s Day Jokes And because you asked for it, here are some Valentine-themed jokes to help everyone feel the heat (or maybe just make us plumbing engineers chuckle): Conclusion Choosing the right water heater for a commercial building involves considering various factors, including energy efficiency, operating costs, and installation requirements. Electric resistance, heat pump, gas-fired, storage, and tankless water heaters each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Understanding these options and the local energy code restrictions can help businesses make informed decisions. Whether you’re a business owner, plumber, or engineer, understanding the intricacies of water heaters is key to ensuring a comfortable working environment—just like keeping the warmth alive in your Valentine’s heart!
Hot Water Decoded: An Introductory Guide to Water Heaters
As the name suggests, water heaters are equipment that will raise water temperature. Water heaters come in many shapes and sizes but can be characterized by storage and energy sources. Storage methods are tank or tankless; the energy source is electricity or fossil fuels. Tank water heaters, also called “storage” type water heaters, hold a set volume of water that is heated through prolonged contact with the internal heating components. Tankless, or “instant,” water heaters use a much higher energy input to heat the water to the desired temperature as it flows to the fixture. There are two main ways to use electricity to heat water, one being electric resistance and the other by using the electricity to run a heat-pump refrigerant cycle. Electric resistance-style heating elements are simple and have no moving parts, but the energy output is equal to the energy consumed by the coil. Although heat-pump water heaters also use electricity to operate, they “move” heat instead of “creating” it. This process is a more efficient way of heating water, allowing heat pump water heaters to be up to 410% more efficient than an equivalent resistance style. Water heaters that use fossil fuels as the energy source are usually referred to as gas water heaters. The options for source types are most commonly natural gas or propane. Natural gas is the fossil fuel utility most often offered by service providers, while propane is usually shipped and stored in tanks on-site. Although most gas water heaters are similar, the most noticeable difference is between condensing and non-condensing style burners. When gas-fired equipment burns fuel, it doesn’t use 100% of the energy released from combustion, resulting in a mixture of unburnt fuel and water vapor. If cooled enough, the flue gases can condense on the flue vent piping, leading to corrosion. Hence, manufacturers reserve approximately 20% of the energy released to keep the flue gas temperatures high enough to prevent condensation. More modern gas-fired water heaters will utilize the condensation to put more energy into the water instead of keeping the flue vent gases hot, resulting in efficiencies up to 98%. The corrosive condensate produced by this process is handled by using resilient metals for the heat exchanger and acid-neutralization kits to ensure the condensation produced is safe for sanitary lines and treatment plants. Tank-Type Water Heaters Pros Cons Tankless Water Heaters Pros Cons Electric Resistance Water Heaters Pros Cons Heat Pump Water Heaters Pros Cons Gas-Fired Water Heaters Pros Cons