Tankless Water Heaters versus Tank Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters save money simply because for most of the day the water heater is OFF and not using any energy. Tankless water heaters also last way longer than tanks. Not because they are made of special materials, but rather because for most of the time they are OFF. Tank type water heaters go on and off all day long to keep water hot whether it is being used or not. This is very inefficient and over time it wears out the heating element. When you wake up each morning the pipe between your water heater and your shower is full of cold water. Whether you have a tank or are tankless water heater you still have to push a "slug" of cold water through that pipe before you get hot water. When you had a traditional hot water tank the cold slug of water in that pipe was back filled immediately by the waiting hot water from the tank. Once you have a tankless there is an additional amount of cold water in the tankless water heater that adds to that slug of cold water. The tankless water heater turns on immediately when it senses a hot water demand, but it does take a few seconds to push that extra amount of cold water that is in the tankless water heater's heat exchanger through your pipe. This usually amount to an additional few seconds of wait time before you get hot water out of your shower head. Once you start receiving that hot water in your shower you get to enjoy an endless amount of hot water. And you can have person after person in your household take consecutive showers without ever having to worry about running out of hot water. In contrast, tank type hot water heaters have a fixed volume and once the tank has been emptied of hot water the household has to wait for the volume of water in the tank to be reheated. This can take 1/2 hour or longer depending on the volume of the water tank. All of this explains why new "tankless" hot water heaters do not produce "instantaneous" hot water at your tap. The distance from your tankless hot water heater to your tap determines the time it will take for hot water to come out of the tao. One thing that you should notice however, is that once you have used your tankless water heater if you use it again soon thereafter you should get hot water almost immediately. This is because the pipe is now full of a hot water "slug" instead of a cold water "slug".

Bosch AquaStar 125B Replaced by Bosch Therm 520 Series

The Bosch Therm 520HN and the Bosch Therm 520PN Tankless Water Heaters are the direct replacements for the older Aquastar model heaters such as the 170VP, 125VP, 125B, 125X, 125HX and the 1600H & 1600P as well as the Bosch Protankless 425HN and 425PN.

Just like these older Bosch AquaStar tankless water heaters, the Bosch Therm 520 series are 117,000 BTU heaters that do not require any electricity. The Bosch Therm 520 PN has a standing pilot light and the Bosch Therm 520 HN uses Bosch's patented Hydrogenerator technology to start the water heater without electricity whenever the unit senses a demand for hot water.

Please be aware that if replacing an older model 125 series heater and the heater was vented out the sidewall of the home using the AQ1 powervent then you would need to order the new 520 series replacement heater and the new AQ4 powervent kit. The new model Bosch Therm 520 heaters are not compatable with the older AQ1 power vent kit and the AQ4 does require electricity.

The Bosch AquaStar 125B was designed to be vented up through the roof with 5" B-Vent. The Bosch 125B was replaced by the Bosch 1600P and the Bosch 425PN. All of these heaters were replaced by the 117,000 BTU Bosch Therm 520 PN.

The Bosch AquaStar 125HX was designed to be vented up through the roof with 5" B-Vent. The Bosch 125HX was replaced by the Bosch 1600H and the Bosch 425HN. All of these heaters were replaced by the 117,000 BTU Bosch Therm 520 HN.

GlobalTowne is an Authorized Bosch Distributor.

Black Friday Sale on Marey Tankless Water Heaters

GlobalTowne is having a Black Friday discount sale on certain Marey gas, propane and electric tankless water heaters.

No discount coupon or special savings code is needed to take advantage of this once-per-year special sale event.

The following six Marey tankless water heaters are marked down by 15% for a limited time that starts today and runs just through this weekend:

Marey ECO210
Marey ECO 240
Marey ECO 270

Marey GA5NG
Marey GA16NGETL
Marey GA16LPETL

GlobalTowne Staff

Descaling My Bosch C1050ES Tankless Water Heater

A few weeks ago I descaled my Bosch Greentherm C1050ES-LP Condensing Tankless Water Heater and it was far easier than I had imagined it would be. The total elapsed time to do the complete job was less than an hour. I took a few pictures as I went through the steps.

The above picture shows the JC Whitlam Flow-Aide Descaler Kit. This kit contains the (2) 5' hoses, the submersible pump, the pump intake filter and one quart of Flow-Aide descaling solution.

The above picture shows my Bosch Therm C1050ES-LP condensing tankless water heater and my Webstone 44443WPR Lead-Free Isolation Valves. I took this photo after I had closed the two yellow-handled main water valves and after I had opened the two service ports. I had to place a bucket beneath the two valves to catch the water that was in the internal piping of the tankless water heater.

The above picture shows the two 5' hoses that come with the Descaling Kit attached to the two service ports on my Webstone Isolation Valves.

The above picture shows the Flow-Aide bucket and descaling solution. I had already put one gallon of cold water in the bucket and mixed in the one quart container of Flow-Aide solution. This descaling solution is non-toxic and bio-degradable.

The above picture shows the submersible pump output attached to the cold water connection on my tankless water heater. The pump is not plugged in yet.

The above picture shows the included intake filter attached to the submersible pump input. This filter prevents any debris from being run through the tankless water heater. The pump is still not plugged in.

The above picture shows the descaling process in action. Here you can see the hose from the hot water connection to my water heater just hanging into the bucket. You can also see that I have plugged the submersible pump into a GFCI protected 110 V power outlet.

I let the descaling process run for about 30 minutes. I then emptied out the bucket and rinsed it out thoroughly. I then put about a gallon of cold water into the bucket and I ran that cold water through my tankless water heater for about 5 minutes just to clean it all out.

Lastly, I disconnected everything and then I closed the two service ports on my Isolation Valves. I then opened up the two yellow handles to let the water flow back into my water heater. When I turned on a hot water demand everything worked perfectly!

Bosch 660EF Side-Wall Vent Kit in Stainless Steel

GlobalTowne.com is the exclusive distributor for the AQ5EF 660EF Horizontal Vent Kit for the Bosch 660EF tankless water heaters.

The Bosch 660EF Side-wall Vent Kit comes with the Bosch 660EF Adaptor (2SVSWB03) and enugh Category III 3" Stainless Steel Vent Pipe to meet the 3' pipe length minimum specified on page 11 of the Bosch 660EF Installation Manual.

Also included in our 660EF side wall vent kit is a 3oz tube of high temperature silicone sealant, a wall thimble, a termination box with bird screen and a surge protector to protect the electronic components of the Bosch 660EF tankless water heater.

GlobalTowne.com is the *only* source for the correct Bosch 660EF Adaptor. Other adaptors on the market are either too small or too large to provide a proper seal with the flue collar on the heater. We worked directly with Z-Flex to develop a custom adaptor that properly fits the 660EF heaters.

We also carry the AQ5EFPLUS 660EF Horizontal Vent Kit which contains all parts from the AQ5EF kit PLUS a GFCI with an 18" extension cord and a Webstone 44443PR Isolation Valve Kit.

Steve

Bosch 660EF / 660EFO Tankless Water Heater Sale

GlobalTowne.com is pleased to announce a special sale on the Bosch Therm 660EF / 660EFO tankless water heaters.

GlobalTowne has a large quantify of the Bosch 660EF indoor tankless water heaters and 660EFO outdoor tankless water heaters and we are currently offering these heaters at special low prices.

If you are installing the Bosch 600EF indoor water heater you will need to vent it with 3" single wall stainless steel venting. We carry Z-Flex-Z-Vent 3" stainless steel category III vent pipe. You will also need the Z-Flex 2SVSWB03 Bosch 660EF adaptor. We have worked closely with Z-Flex to develop this adaptor. Our Bosch 660EF adaptor is the only one that will work properly with the Bosch 660EF heater.

The Bosch 660EFO outdoor tankless water heaters do not require any venting.

The Bosch 660EF / 660EFO tankless water heaters are 140,000 BTU maximum input heaters. They are very compact and are capable of providing hot water for one shower and a sink at the same time.

Steve

Thanksgiving Tankless Water Heater Coupon and Promotional Code

GlobalTowne.com is running a one-day Thanksgiving Day Sale on all Tankless Water Heaters and Accessories.

In fact, our Thanksgiving Day Coupon is good for 8% Off Everything We Carry! Just visit our web site at www.globaltowne.com and enter THANKSGIVING as the Promotional Code at the end of the check out process.

Please note that many of our products show crossed-out prices that are already at 8% or even lower than our everyday low prices.

We are open all day to help you with your purchase. Just call us at 888.726.9752.

Steve

Mother's Day Sale for Tankless Water Heaters

GlobalTowne.com is having a special Mother's Day Sale for Tankless Water Heaters today.

Just visit our globaltowne.com web site and use Promotional Code MOTHERSDAY for 10% off all purchases. This sale expires at midnight ET on May 9, 2010!

FXHOOD for Bosch 125FX Tankless Water Heater

 The FXHOOOD is required by Bosch whenever a customer installs the Bosch AquaStar 125FX Tankless Water Heater. It is also required for the older 240FX model.

The FX Hood is a horizontal vent terminator with built-in freeze protection for the Bosch AquaStar 125FX and 240FX models as well as the Takagi T-K1 Tankless Water Heater. The FX Hood will prevent cold air from freezing the heat exchanger on the Bosch AquaStar Tankless Water Heaters. The back draft preventer (FX Hood) should be used with all electronic ignition gas tankless water heaters where the outside temperature can fall below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Bosch FXHOOD is doubled-piped so it can be installed next to combustible materials. The face plate is 12 inches by 12 inches and the pipe is 8 inches in diameter with the inner pipe being 4 inches in diameter.

Steve

Bosch 1600H with AQ4 vs. Bosch 125FX with FXHood

If you have just one shower and are looking to vent out of the sidewall, Bosch currently offers two tankless water heater solutions.

The Bosch AquaStar 125FX Propane tankless water heater is a 125,000 BTU input tankless water heater (130,000 BTU for Natural Gas model) that has an electronic ignition system. The 125FX comes with a side-wall vent kit called the FX Hood. This heater is designed to be vented out of the side wall and it cannot be vented up through the roof. The 125FX requires electricity to power the electronic ignition and FXHood.

The Bosch AquaStar 1600H is a 117,000 BTU input tankless water heater that is designed to be vented up through the roof. It uses Bosch's patented Hydro ignition system that automatically starts the ignition process when it senses the flow of water. The Bosch 1600H does not require electricity nor does it have a battery. It also has NO PILOT LIGHT. It does require a 5" diameter Type B double-walled vent of at least 6 feet in height when vented vertically.

The Bosch 1600H can be vented through the side wall using the AQ4 Vent Kit. However, please note that the AQ4 Horizontal Vent Kit DOES require electricity. (The AQ4 Vent Kit can also be used for the Bosch 1600P tankless water heater.)

In summary, Bosch offers two solid tankless water heater options for single shower homes requiring side wall venting.

Steve

Bosch AquaStar 1000P Gas Point-of-Use Tankless Water Heater

The Bosch AquaStar 1000P gas tankless water heater is a point-os-use water heater designed to provide instant hot water for two sinks. It can, in some locals be used to provide hot water for a single shower.

The Bosch 1000P can deliver 2.5 GPM of hot water at a 45 degree F temperature rise. A regular shower head delivers about 2.5GPM, so the Bosch 1000P is right on the edge for delivering water for a hot shower.

However, if you live in a warm climate, such as Texas, Southern California, Florida, Arizona, etc, then you probably do not need to raise the water temperature by 45 degrees, so the 1000P can work for a single shower.

Also, if you use a low-flow shower head that reduces your flow to say 1.5GMP, then again you can have a hot shower with the Bosch 1000P.

We would not recommend the Bosch AquaStar 1000P for a regular flow shower head in New York -- it just will not be able to keep up and provide you with a hot shower.

The Bosch 1000P replaced the older Bosch 38B. But the 38B only delivered about 1GPM at the same 45 degree F temperature rise. So, the 1000P really is a much stronger water heater than the 38B ever was!

The Bosch 1000P comes in both Natural Gas and Propane models.

Steve

Bosch AquaStar 1600PS Solar Pre-heat Tankless Water Heater

The Bosch 1600PS Solar Tankless Water Heater is designed to take preheated water from a solar or wood heated system. It is the only Bosch AquaStar Tankless Water Heater that can take preheated water as input!

The "P" in the product name indicates that the Bosch 1600PS has a pilot light for its ignition system. The "S" stands for solar.

The Bosch 1600PS has the same specifications as the Bosch 1600P, except for the fact that it can take preheated solar water.

One common question is whether the Bosch 1600PS tankless water heater can be used WITHOUT preheated solar water. The answer is Yes! So, if you do not currently have a solar system in place but are planning to get one, you can definately install the Bosch 1600PS now in advance of your solar system purchase.

Just like the Bosch 1600P, the 1600PS provides 4.3GPM at a 45 degree F temperature rise and has a low minimum activation rate of just 0.5GPM. Both heaters take a BTU input from 23,400 - 117,000 BTU input. Also, both the 1600PS and the 1600P take 5" double-wall, Type B galvanized venting.

Steve

Isolation Valve Kits (Service Valves)

Isolaton Valve Kits (AKA Service Valves) are a great accessory for any tankless water heater purchase. They will save you money on the installation of your tankless water heater and they make future maintenenace of your tankless water heater both easy and convenient.

When you install your new tankless water heater you will certainly need both a hot water shutoff valve and a cold water shutoff valve. You will also need to plumb in a pressure relief valve (PRV).

With traditional tank heaters you can easily drain the tank for regular maintenance. But with tankless water heaters there is no drain to open up at the bottom. So, you will need some other plumbing strategy that will allow you easy access to the internal pipe of the tankless water heater.

Gas tankless water heaters have a single pipe that starts as the incoming water line, then wraps a bunch of times around the gas-fired heat exchanger and then exits as the hot water line. So, the only ways to maintain this water line is to either use a set of isolation valves or build in some extra valves and fittings to do the job. (Or course, you can always just dismantle your plumbing system, but that is not very convenient!)

We have been told time and again that the cost of the Isolation Valve Kit is less expensive than the many valves and fittings you would need to purchase to get the comparable functionality.

And, the labor to install the Isolation Valve Kit is much less than if you go without it!

Well, once you have your Isolation Valve Kit installed you are now in a positon to easily maintain your tankless water heater. With the Isolation Valve Kit in place you can easily run a Descaling Solution through the heater. Or, you can easily blow all of the water out of the line with compressed air if you need to stow your heater away for the winter.

In any case, planning ahead with an Isolation Valve Kit will have a big payoff.

Steve

Special Bosch Promotional Code Coupon

GlobalTowne is offering a special Promotional Code for 5% off of all Bosch Tankless Water Heaters and accessories!

When buying online at GlobalTowne.com you can enter TANKLESSBLOG at the Promotional Code prompt during the Checkout process. The Bosch Discount Coupon will instantly take 5% off of all Bosch Tankless Water Heaters and accessories, such as venting.

The TANKLESSBLOG Promotional Coupon is good through the end of November 2010. If you are not comfortable placing your order online, simply call 888.726.9752 and mention the TANKLESSBLOG Special Code and you can still get this extra savings!

Whenever you use a Promotion Code at Globaltowne.com, you always get the lower cost of the coupon or any existing promotional sale. Promotional Codes cannot be combined.

Steve

Whole House Electric Tankless Water Heaters

Bosch offers two Whole House Electric Tankless Water Heaters: the PowerStar AE125 and the PowerStar AE115.

A perfect alternative to the electric tank water heater, the PowerStar electric tankless water heaters are designed to replace a 40-gallon tank and provide endless hot water throughout the home.

These compact water heaters (15.5" x 15.25" x 4.5") will fit just about anywhere and are built to last!

The AE125 provides 4 GPM at a 45 degree F temperature rise. It is a single phase 27kW heater running on 240 volts. It requires 3 x 40 AMP breakers and Bosch recommends a minimum 200 AMP service to your house.

The AE115 provides 2.6 GPM at the same 45 degree F temperature rise. It is a single phase 17kW heater running on 240 volts. It requires 2 x 40 AMP breakers and Bosch recommends a minimum 150 AMP service to your house.

Bosch has provided the following map as a guideline to where the AE115 should be installed:


When the AE125 is installed in Canada the AE Canada Kit is needed. The AE Canada Kit for the PowerStar AE125 is a 6 way terminal block for use when installing the AE125 in Canada. In Canada, the AE125 requires a 120A 240V AC single phase supply protected by a 120A double pole circuit breaker.

Steve