Bosch AQ1 Discontinued

The Bosch AQ1 side wall power vent kit has now been discontinued for several years. It is now completely unavailable. The AQ1 vent kit was used for Bosch AquaStar 125B tankless water heaters that were vented horizontally out the side wall.

The current replacement for the Bosch AquaStar 125B is the Bosch Therm 520PN. The 520 PN uses the AQ4 side wall power vent kit for all horizontal venting installations. No power vent kit is required when venting the 520 series tankless water heaters vertically up through the roof.

The AQ4 cannot be used as a substitute side wall vent kit for any Aqua Star125 tankless water heaters. The Bosch AQ4 can only be used for the Bosch Therm 520 series and the older Bosch 1600 series tankless water heaters.

Please call us with questions at 888.726.9752.

Bosch Wireless Remote Control TSTAT2

The Bosch Wireless Remote Control TSTAT2 for the Bosch AquaStar 2700ES / 2400ES / 2400E / 2400EO / 250SX / 250SXO allows you to program your Bosch tankless gas water heater to a comfortable and safe temperature from around your home from a distance of up to 98 ft.

The TSTAT2 remote is particularly useful if you own a jacuzzi or hot tub that requires a hotter water temperature than you normally desire for regular shower use.

Please note that the electrical control of the Bosch AquaStar 2700ES / 2400ES / 2400E / 2400EO / 250SX / 250SXO must be removed and opened in order to install the wireless receiver circuit board to enable the use of the TSTAT2 Wireless Remote Control.

The Newer Bosch models, 2700ES and Bosch 2400ES tankless water heaters have been redesigned to make the installation of the wireless receiver circuit board much easier. The circuit board is basically a plug and play unit.

The TSTAT2 controls the temperature of your water heater and does not have a reset button.   If the heater has an error then a code will be on the display of the heater and the user has to go to the heater to reset it from there and should document the error and then see if it returns after resetting.

The TSTAT2 Wireless Remote Control for Bosch 2700ES / 2400ES /2400E / 2400EO / 250SX / 250SXO features the following:

• LCD displays temperature, error codes and functions
• Temperature measured in °C or °F
• Low battery level indicator
• 98 feet user range
• Alkaline AA LR6 2x1.5V battery power 915 MHz
• Security lock function
• IP X6 Protection
• Priority function - temperature cannot be modified by other user interface when water is running

Don't forget to periodically change the two AA batteries in your Bosch wireless TSTAT2 thermostat as they will certainly corrode over time. The batteries in TSTAT2 thermostats that are kept in bathrooms will corrode faster than in other less humid environments, such as kitchens. Your batteries should be checked yearly for any signs of corrosion and replaced every five years in any case.

NEW Ariston GL2.5S & GL4S Mini Tank Heaters

Designed by the world's leading point-of-use water heater manufacturer, the New Ariston GLS series combines Italian design and state of the art features including glass-lined tanks, a 6-year warranty and highest recovery time.

Installing an Ariston electric mini-tank water heater under the sink puts hot water right where you need it - at the point of use. Lightweight and compact and also the Ariston mini tank heaters are great for those long hot water runs from your tank heater or tankless heater and will shorten the wait time for hot water.

The New Ariston GL2.5S mini-tank electric water heater stores 2.5 gallons of hot water.

The New Ariston GL4S mini-tank electric water heater stores 4 gallons of hot water.


Please note: The New Ariston GL2.5S is not the direct replacement for the Ariston GL2.5 as the Ariston Gl2.5S is 10 3/4" in depth and the older Ariston GL2.5 was 10 1/4" deep.  The new Ariston GL4S is not the direct replacement for the Ariston GL4 as the GL4S is 13 1/2" in depth and the older Gl4 was 12 1/4" deep.  The replacement parts for the new Ariston GL2.5S and the GL4S will not work for the older GL2.5 and GL4 mini tank heaters.


 

• 6-year warranty on tank 
• Glass-lined tank for longer life  
• Mounts on wall or floor 
• Temperature/pressure relief valve included  
• Plugs into standard 120 volt outlet
• Dimensions: GL2.5S-13 3/4" x 13 3/4" x 10 3/4", GL4S-13 3/4" x 13 3/4" x 13 1/2"
• Recovery at 90 Deg F Rise: 7 GPH 
• 12.5 AMPS and 1500W Heating Capacity 
• Temperature Range: 65 Deg F to 145 Deg F  
• Meets ASHRAE 90.1 Standard
• Relief Valve = Installed

The new Ariston GL2.5S & GL4S models have many new improvements since they have been upgraded.  The mini tanks have a new temperature adjustment knob on the front of the unit to raise and lower the temperature from 65 Deg F to 145 Deg F.  On the older models you would have to remove the blue oval cover to access the temperature control knob.

The Ariston GL2.5S & GL4S models have a new improved thermostat that features a new sensing probe that is attached to the thermostat and inserts into the cavity of the new element so the heater can adjust temperatures quicker and maintain a more consistent heat.

The new Ariston GL6+S can either be hard wired to an independent breaker or wired to a power cord with 3 pronged plug.  Globaltowne has a 6' power cord in stock for the GL6+S.

Memorial Day Tankless Water Heater Sale!

GlobalTowne is having a Memorial Day Sale on Bosch tankless water heaters this weekend through midnight ET Monday, May 28, 2012. Save up to 10% off!

Just use Promotional Code MEMORIAL at checkout to get up to 10% savings off of our everyday low pricing! Use Promotional Code GIVEME5 for a 5% savings on all of the other products that we sell.

We are also offering Free Ground Shipping on orders over $99.94 through midnight ET Monday, May 28, 2012. Free Ground Shipping is only offered to the lower 48 US States.

You can use the MEMORIAL coupon over the phone -- just remember to mention the coupon code!

Bosch Retail Water Heater Program Changes

Bosch Thermotechnology has stopped manufacturing and distributing its retail line of Gas and Propane Bosch tankless water heaters. It appears that Bosch has decided to step back from the do-it-yourself (DIY) model of selling this wonderful brand of gas and liquid propane tankless water heaters directly to homeowners.

As a Bosch Authorized Distributor, GlobalTowne still has a supply of these heaters. So, if you are a homeowner looking for a gas or propane Bosch Tankless Water Heater that you can purchase and install on your own, act quickly as these retail tankless water heaters are going fast!

Just to be clear, the Bosch retail line of PowerStar electric whole-house and point-of-use tankless water heaters and Ariston mini-tank electric water heaters are still being manufactured and distributed. In fact, Bosch is in the process of rolling out newly-improved electric water heaters!

Now for the really good news: Bosch's commitment to their wholesale line of Gas and Propane Bosch Therm tankless water heaters has never been stronger!

The entire retail lineup of Gas and Propane Bosch tankless water heaters are available on the wholesale side of the business. But, even more importantly, the Bosch Pro gas and propane wholesale lineup includes super high efficiency Condensing Tankless Water Heaters that were never available through the retail channel.

Global ProTankless Supply sells the entire wholesale lineup of gas and propane tankless water heaters from prowaterheatersupply.com. The products listed on this web site are available only to licensed installers, contractors, builders and other professionals.

As a part of these program changes, Bosch has retired its retail tankless water heater web site at boschhotwater.com. This retired web site now points to their wholesale web site at bosch-climate.us.

For more information on the Bosch wholesale lineup of gas and propane tankless water heaters for professionals, please call 866.289.4652. If you are a homeowner looking for one of these high-end professional hot water heaters, please have your contractor call.

Memorial Day Tankless Water Heater Sale

GlobalTowne is having a Memorial Day Sale on Bosch tankless water heaters this weekend through midnight ET Monday, May 30, 2011. Save up to 10% off!

Just use Promotional Code MEMORIALDAY at checkout to get up to 10% savings off of our everyday low pricing! Use Promotional Code GIVEME5 for a 5% savings on all of the other products that we sell.

We are also offering Free Ground Shipping on orders over $99.95 through midnight ET Monday, May 30, 2011. Free Ground Shipping is only offered to the lower 48 US States.

You can use the MEMORIALDAY coupon over the phone -- just remember to mention the coupon code!

Energy Factor vs. Thermal Efficiency for Tankless Water Heaters

Thermal Efficiency only takes into account (essentially) how effectively you're burning fuel or turning fuel into heat. The Energy Factor then also takes into account things such as standby heat losses in a tank. So a tank may sometimes burn fuel efficiently but then lose some of that heat at standby. The Energy Factor is always going to be equal to or less than the efficiency.

The term ‘Energy Factor’ characterizes the efficiency of both tank and tankless water heaters. The Energy Factor is the portion of the energy going into the water heater that gets turned into usable hot water under average conditions. It takes into account heat loss through the walls of the tank, up the flue, and in combustion. The higher the Energy Factor, the more efficient the heater.

Because tankless water heaters don’t have the losses associated with tanks, their Energy Factors are normally higher (although well-insulated, ultra-efficient tank heaters also have high Energy Factors). Energy Factors for gas tankless water heaters range from around 0.69 to 0.84, compared with 0.55 for a conventional tank and 0.86 for an ultra-efficient tank heaters.

Conventional electric tank water heaters have an Energy Factor of about 0.87 compared with 0.91 for an ultra-efficient tank and 0.98 for electric tankless heaters.

Flow-Aide Descaling Solution Now Available at GlobalTowne.com

Flow-Aide descaling solution quickly dissolves water scale, lime, rust, and other water formed deposits, restoring efficiency to most all appliances. Flow Aide System Descaler is a non-toxic concentrate which is certified to NSF/ANSI 60 for use as a cleaner in potable water systems.

Running Flow-Aide through your tankless water heater periodically will lenghten the service life of your tankless water heater AND improve its efficiency!

How often you need to run the Flow Aide descaler through your tankless water heater depends on the quality of your water.

Flow-Aide is: Non-Corrosive, Non-Toxic, Fully Biodegradable, Safe to Handle and Zero V.O.C.

RECOMMENDED USES: Water Heaters, Boilers, Heat Exchangers, Chillers, Vacuum Pumps, Condensers, Evaporators, Tanks, Potable Waterlines, Ice Machines, Humidifiers and Water Operated Equipment.

IMPROVE EQUIPMENT EFFICIENCY: Water scale deposits are a significant cause of heat transfer loss, along with the subsequent increase in energy costs. In fact, even a thin layer of scale (1/32") can cause a 30% increase in the cost to operate that piece of equipment. Keeping the heating passages free of mineral deposits significantly improves efficiency, conserves energy, extends the useful life of the equipment, and saves you time & money.

GlobalTowne.com sells the Flow-Aide Descaler Solution, manufactured by J.C. Whitlam Manufacturing Co. This solutions is available in a 1 Quart Container and a 1 Gallon Container.

FLOW-AIDE System Descaler is specifically designed to dissolve the toughest water scale, lime, and rust deposits from virtually any piece of water based equipment. This powerful, yet totally safe, liquid is non-toxic, non-flammable, non-hazardous, non-corrosive and biodegradable. FLOW-AIDE System Descaler will not harm your personnel, equipment or our environment!

GlobalTowne also sells a Flow-Aide Tankless Water Heater Descaler Kit that contains the following:

• 1 - 3.5 Gallon Bucket


• 1 - 350 GPH Pump


• 2 - 5 Foot Rubber Hoses


• 1 - Quart Flow-Aide

This kit has everything you need, except for the Isolation Valve Kit.


Here are the steps for descaling your tankless water heater:

1. Disconnect power to water heater.


2. Close hot and cold isolation and service valves and remove service caps.


3. Pour 1.5 gallons of water into bucket and place under water heater.


4. Add contents of 1 quart bottle of Whitlam Flow-Aide into bucket (Bucket should be filled approximately 1/2 full).


5. Connect one hose to pump, and other end of same hose to cold service valve. Place pump in bucket.


6. Connect second hose to hot service valve. Place other end in bucket.


7. Open both hot and cold service valves.


8. Plug pump into grounded receptacle.


9. Allow pump to circulate Whitlam Flow-Aide solution through heater for 30-45 minutes. Unplug pump.


10. Close cold service valve. Remove hose from cold service valve, and replace service cap.


11. Disconnect the hose from the pump and remove pump from bucket. Discard Whitlam Flow-Aide solution.


12. Flush tankless water heater for 3-5 minutes or until water flows clear by opening the cold isolation valve and allowing water to exit through the hot service valve into a drain or bucket. If using a bucket, empty periodically.


13. Close hot service valve. Remove hose from service valve and replace service cap.


14. Open hot isolation valve.


15. Connect power to water heater and return appliance to service.

GlobalTowne also sells a Flow-Aide Tankless Water Heater Descaler PLUS Kit that also contains a Webstone Isolation Valve Kit 44443PR, including a pressure relief valve (PRV).

Steve

Temperature Settings and Set Points for Tankless Heaters

Setting the Temperature on a Bosch tankless water heater can be confusing. One would think that to get hotter water and thus have a better shower that increasing the set point or temperature setting on a water heater would be the best idea. BUT on a tankless heater this may not be the case. In most cases we want the set point temperature to be just above the useable water temperature for the household and this would be around 110 F.

If the Tankless heater is set for 125 F like most tank heaters, then the outlet temperature at the shower end will have to be adjusted or mixed with cold water to make a comfortable shower.

When the water is mixed the amount of water forced through the tankless heater is reduced, and if too much cold water is needed to temper the hot water then the flow rated though the heater may be reduced to below the minimum and the tankless heater will shut off. By setting the temperature closer to the useable temperature, there is more flow through the hot side of the system (through the heater) and thus keeps up any minimum flow requirements.

Tank heaters need higher settings so that the hot water in the tank "lasts longer" due to the mixing of cold water and to prevent bacteria from growing in the "stored" water.

Just because one sets a tankless heater to 125 or higher, the heater may not have the capability to reach that temperature due to heat input, flow rate or inlet water temperature. Every tankless heater has a maximum rise temperature based on the flow rate through the heater. The temperature setting will not increase this fact (as it it physics) and thus the temperature setting becomes a maximum setting or high limit. For example the Bosch 2400ES gas heater can heat a flow rate of 6.2 gpm 45 degrees F. If the inlet is 60 then the outlet would be 105 F no matter what the set point of the heater is above 105F.

Bosch Tankless Water Heaters

This blog is dedicated to the discussion of all things related to Bosch Tankless Water Heaters. My name is Steve and I work for Global Pro Tankless Supply, which sells Bosch Tankless Water Heaters and all of the necessary venting and accessories via www.globaltowne.com.

I plan to use this blog to share some of my general knowledge about tankless water heaters and provide some details that are specific to the Bosch Tankless Water Heaters.

I would be happy to answer your questions about the tankless technology or about the specific Bosch models.

Steve