phc february 2011
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HYDRONICS...
| PVC | CONTINUED FROMPAGE 49 The installer can build the vent run using 4" PVC throughout. Or, if the termination point in the wall is 3" and the homeowner does not wish to enlarge it, the installer can reduce the run to that smaller size. The biggest installation difference
is the need to install a condensate line, but this requirement should not add much time or cost to the installation. A condensing tankless model typically has a half-inch port at its base. Following local codes, the installer simply runs a pipe from this port to a nearby drain. Finally, a condensing tankless unit
will be slightly larger than a conventional unit with comparable specifications — but not by much. The larger dimensions should not impact handling on the job site nor will they lessen the inherent space- savings advantage of tankless. A great example is the ability to install a tankless water heater in a crawl space — not exactly an easy proposition for a tank-type water heater. Q: Will a condensing tankless
water heater require a larger gas line? A: That is a possibility. The typical
gas storage water heater offers inputs of 40,000 to 50,000 Btu, while the most popular condensing units are modulating devices that max out at 199,000 Btu. So the installer must be aware of the possible need to upsize the gas line from half-inch to three- quarter inch. That shouldn’t be a negative, because the size of the gas main coming into a dwelling is usually three-quarter inch as well. We tell our trainees that they must be mindful of
proper pipe sizing for both the gas supply and the gas draw. Q: How does a contractor sell his
consumer customer on using condensing tankless? A: The more difficult selling job will
likely be switching the customer from tank to tankless. As I tell contractors who attend my training sessions, the first question to ask a homeowner customer is, “Have you ever run out of hot water?” If the answer is ‘yes,’ you have probably a better than 50 percent chance of persuading him or her to make the switch. Anyone who has suffered through a cold-water shower never wants to experience that misery again, and tankless provides that reassurance: “Endless hot water” is by far the No. 1 reason a consumer goes tankless. Once the contractor has persuaded
the consumer to switch, selling up to a condensing tankless solution should not be difficult. As I noted earlier, using PVC venting lowers installation time and expense, helping to defray the extra cost of a condensing unit. Consumers will happily welcome anything that gets the installer off the job — and life back to normal — more quickly. Q: How does the builder benefit
by offering condensing tankless? A: Like the homeowner, builders
appreciate it when plumbers spend less time on the job, but condensing technology offers builders an even bigger plus. They are forever seeking new ways to differentiate their built product from that of their competitors. Condensing technology
HYDRONIC PRODUCTS
HeatNet boiler management system
HeatNet integrated boiler control platform is designed to provide the Series 28HE RTS boilers with a state-of-the-art boiler management system by providing precise system control and system performance feedback through digital communication. HeatNet provides an intuitive interface with plug-and-play connections to speed the set-up and diagnostic process for installing contractors. HeatNet is capable of operating units as a stand-alone boiler, multi-boiler master/member network protocol of up to 16 boilers or boilers connected to an existing boiler management system. The network can also incorporate mixed configurations of condensing and non-condensing boilers operating in a base load or hybrid boiler application without the need for an additional third party wall-mounted control platform.
SMITH CAST IRON BOILERS, A MESTEK CO.
e Circle 50 on reader reply
represents the elite end of the tankless water-heating segment, offering superior energy efficiency for a relatively modest up-charge. This technology can truly help separate them from their competition. Tankless, in general, can also add
value to their homes. With the current emphasis on smaller floor plans, builders look to tankless for better space utilization and not just because of its smaller footprint. Basements and other utility areas can be turned into active living spaces, because homeowners no longer need to worry that the water heaters will malfunction, spilling 40 or 50 gallons of water and ruining floors and furnishings. Q: What is the near-term outlook
for condensing tankless technology? A: The ability to use PVC venting
is a genuine game-changer for the tankless water heating business. As the building industry emerges from the recession and housing begins to rebound, tankless water heater sales are bound to increase rapidly. Much of this growth will derive from condensing technology, as a critical mass of installers discover for themselves how easy it is to install a condensing tankless water heater with PVC venting.;
Jason Corey, a five-year veteran of
the tankless water heating business, serves as Midwest branch manager for Noritz America, based at the company’s suburban Chicago location. He can be reached at 866/766-7489 or e-mail
jcorey@noritz.com.
Purge & fill 59
Pro-Pal Purge & Fill now available in sweat. Unique 7-in-1 valve assembly allows the user to simultaneously drain, flush and refill any hydronic system. Eliminate six leak paths; save nearly an hour of labor.
WEBSTONE e Circle 51 on reader reply
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