Rinnai Tankless Promotional Video

Rinnai Adverting Video

This is an interesting video produced by Rinnai that talks about how a tankless works.  They go over the very way to address the amount of water that a tank produces verses that of a tankless.  They also talk about the lifespan of a tankless compared to that of a conventional tank.

With a tank water is continually heated and reheated wasting valuable energy when hot water is not in use. On top of that your hot water supply is limited to the gallons of water your tank can hold.    A Rinnai tankless water heater is more efficient, providing endless hot water only when you need it.  A Rinnai tankless has double the lifespan of a tank, making it ultimately the better value system.

Maybe its time you contemplate going tankless in your home?

Click  to see this video from Rinnai posted on Youtube

Achieving The Best Water Heater Efficiency

water heater efficiency

Looking to get the best water heater efficiency out of your your homes system? We have put together a few tips that you can take advantage of when looking at increasing your homes water heating bills.

First we recommend that you take a quick trip to Home Depot, Lowes or another renovation retailer (preferably Canadian owned and operated) to purchase pipe insulation. One way to really improve efficiency is to insulate the hot water pipes in your home, its really surprising how many homes just don’t employ this simple upgrade.drain water heat recovery and a tankless

The next suggestion is really only possible if you are renovating. For maximum water heater efficiency the unit should be located as close as possible to the point of use, this will significantly reduce the energy lost from long pipe runs mentioned above. If you happen to have a small powder room at the far end of your home consider a small electric tank installed under your sink, they hold a gallon of hot water and can save a lot of energy.

Consider a drain water heat recovery system, these simple units are installed in the basement on your drain pipe. As hot water from the shower or tap is dumped down the drain a heat exchanger captures the lost energy and uses it to preheat the water going to your water heater. The saving can exceed 40% and reduce the overall energy consumption of your entire home by 10%.

Depending on how you and your family use hot water a tankless or a high efficiency conventional tank can go a long way to improving your homes water heater efficiency rating.

Interested in any of the items we mentioned above? Give us a call (647) 925-1930 and we can answer any question you may have.

As always knowledge is power and information is always free!

Tank VS Tankless – Misconceptions

Tankless Toronto

There are a lot of misconceptions regarding tank type water heaters and tankless systems.  As a homeowner, if you’re thinking of adding a tankless to your home take what you read on the internet with a grain of salt.  Everyone seems to be some sort of expert on water heaters and can tell you which system is better when in reality you yourself needs to make the decision.  A tankless has been installed tens of thousands of homes throughout the greater Toronto area with positive reviews.

In some situations as tankless is not the right choice, you need to trust your water heater installer to shoot you straight.  The hard part is finding reputable tankless installers that are willing to tell you the whole truth and not just force the sale through.  I can tell you without hesitation that we and all employees put the homeowners interest first.  Operating on this simple principle ensures that the homeowner remains a customer and we remain in business. Simple as that.

Now back to the tankless misconceptions published throughout the internet.  A recent article regarding the pros and cons was published on thesop.org by a writing that appears to have just taken some common thoughts regarding the system and published them as if completely true.

Below is our response to the author regarding his article.

Hello John,

I read your article on thesop.org and wanted to correct you on a few things regarding tank vs tankless water heaters.

You said – Tankless water heaters are about 10 to 20% more energy efficient than traditional tank water heaters.

Tankless range from 82% to 98% efficiency, an expensive conventional tank brand new is lucky to be 60% so 20-30 percent is more accurate.

You said – Tankless water heaters work best when only one water tap is using hot water.

That’s not accurate at all, a tankless can easily run 3 showers and a dishwasher simultaneously (or some similar combination).

You said – If water taps are far apart from each other, it is recommended to buy another tankless water heater.

How does that even make sense? A tankless is designed to produce enough hot water for your whole home and is usually installed very close to where the old tank was installed, thus the hot water has the exact same distance to travel.

You said – Water does not instantly heat up when using a tankless water heater, but does with a tank heater.

This is backwards, it does heat up instantly, tankless are sometimes referred to as insta-hot water heaters.

You said – Tankless water heaters require yearly maintenance in order to remain efficient.

This is correct but not a bad thing as you stated… any and all water heaters see a 2% reduction in efficiency every year due to scale and lime build up.  A tankless is designed to have the scale removed or flushed out of the system so that it maintains its very high efficiency rating.  A conventional tank has no flush or maintenance thus the scale builds up year after year.   Think of the efficiency these two water heating systems are operating at 10 years down the road.

You’re a university student,  I know you can do better than this.   Let me know if you’re interested in re-writing, correcting, or doing another article on the subject. I would be more than happy to answer any questions or provide any help needed to accurately portray the pros and cons of tankless systems.

Read the original article here

Direct Energy and Reliance Fined

Canadian Water Heater Competition

The Canadian Competition Bureau has issued a fine of 25 million dollars to both Direct Energy and Reliance Comfort. The charges suggest that the two water heater rental companies have been gouging customers and making it ridiculously difficult to end contracts. Both Direct Energy and Reliance offer rental water heaters throughout Ontario.

Critics suggest that the industry is mainly a big scam as the cost of renting a water heater is nearly high enough to cover the cost of owing one. In addition the penalties to exit a contract are exorbitant and designed to confuse and frustrate a customer into giving up.

Interestingly this isn’t the first time that Direct Energy has been in hot water. In 2002 following a similar investigation the Competition Bureau enforced new rules and conduct guidelines that Enbridge Services (now Direct Energy) was required to follow under a 10 year consent order. The investigation found that Direct Energy re-engaged in the sleazy conduct in February of 2012.

As for Reliance, the company was apparently in a co-operative discussion regarding its hot water tank return policy. They also suggested that the company had initiated the difficult return policy in an attempt to thwart rival water heater companies.

I cant think of a better reason to simply purchase your own water heater, be that a tankless or just your conventional power vent. The rental business can be full of bureaucracy and technicalities. If you must have the peace of mind that comes with a full service, 24 hour emergency replacement then it might be worthwhile to look into maintenance plans. These are usually only 5-10 bucks a month, depending on equipment and gives you a full sense of security, oh ya, also no long term contract.

Interested in moving away form a rental and into owning your water heater?

We have helped many of our customers escape their long term contracts.

We can Help you as well.

(647) 925-1930

Custom Tankless Installation

Installing a tankless water heater can be a difficult job as such each customer we service receives a custom tankless installation.  There are a number of factors that ensure no two jobs are alike and thus each installation is unique.

There are a number of reasons people are upgrading to tankless systems, but it’s important to understand that a tankless might not be right for every situation.  Here are a few reasons people are choosing to upgrade.

  • High efficiency – some tankless units are 98% efficient – that’s future proof.
  • Unlimited hot water – Jacuzzi’s and body showers take a lot of water that can empty a conventional tank quickly.
  • Extended Lifespan – a tankless has an expected lifespan of over 20 years.
  • Space Savings – As homes and condos continue to shrink floor space becomes a premium a tankless mounts to the wall.
  • Energy savings – 98% means that 98 cents of every dollar you spend is actually used.Tankless Installer Toronto

Within Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area we are in a rental market for water heaters which is very unfortunate.  These systems really aren’t that expensive and when leasing you easily pay for the system 3-5 times over.  Some companies within the Greater Toronto Area are offering financing of a tankless but again the fine print is where they get you.  We see more home owners regretting their decision and paying between 13% to 18% interest for their tankless.  We often recommend that homeowner simply use their line of credit if they are looking to finance a tankless system.  The interest rate is much more reasonable and will likely save the homeowner a few hundred bucks or more.

If you’re looking for that custom tankless installation throughout the Greater Toronto Area give us a call and we can have a REP come out to your home, free of charge.   The REP will be able to assess your home, gas lines, venting requirements and give you a quote right there on the spot.

Call Today to schedule a time (647) 925-1930

Or fill out the form and we will contact you Click For Form

Gas Code and Tankless Systems

The 2012 national gas codes in the United States have recently made a significant changed.  This change is substantial for tankless water heater systems as the old code required ¾ inch gas piping which many homes only had as an upgrade.

In the past if you had your hot water heater fail and you decided to upgrade to a tankless system you may have been delayed or forced to go back to a conventional tank type system due to your homes standard ½ inch gas lines.

Home builders are now able to install ½ inch gas lines without predetermining if the home owner is going to utilize a tankless or conventional tank.  The ½ inch pipe is now able to be configured to support either water heating option.

The newly lifted restriction makes it even easier to Go Tankless – now we just need this same update in our Canadian gas codes.

Canadian Snowbirds

When you head south next winter, don’t pay to heat water you won’t use. Install a tankless and relax knowing that you’re saving money!

The thought of spending up to six months in a warm, sunny US Sunbelt state or Mexico during Canada’s cold winter season is becoming increasingly appealing and popular for millions of Canadian retirees. This trend is increasing every year, as Canada’s population ages and more people seek the “down south warmth”.

There are many matters to deal with and one often overlooked but important aspect is your water heater…

A water heater makes up around 30-40 percent of your homes energy bill and leaving it on while your away is simply a waste of money.  A tankless is perfect for retired people looking to spend extended periods away from their home as the system only makes hot water when it’s needed.  So leaving for the season is easier knowing that your not paying for hot water that you won’t use.

Tankless Benefits

  • A tankless has a freeze protection system, so if your furnace quits while your away during the winter a sensor in the tankless will ensure your system doesn’t burst.
  • If you normally shut off your conventional tank you will need to re-light the pilot, a tankless is self igniting.
  • A tankless can save you energy and money even when you are living home as it only heats water on demand

If your interested and would like to get more information give us a call or fill out the form on the side of this page.  We can answer any questions you may have and work to see if a tankless is right for your situation.

Prevent Deadly Diseases

Prevent Deadly Water Heater Diseases

Legionnaires’ Disease can be fatal and the standing hot water in a conventional water tank creates an ideal environment for it to thrive and reproduce. A tankless water heater has no standing water eliminating the threat posed by the deadly disease. Don’t take chances with your family’s health, install a tankless system and ensure they’re safe.

If you read a checklist of energy-saving tips its very likely to includes a recommendation to turn the temperature of your water heater down from 140°F (60°C) to 120°F(49°C), including these popular websites — TreeHugger and Planet Green — Yet when seeking an opinion from industry professionals they will tell you never to set your heater below 140F, as it can become a sort of petri dish for Legionnaires Disease.

Legionella pneumophila (Legionnaires Disease) is an aquatic organism that thrives in warm environments. The disease was first identified in Philadelphia in 1976 after 34 veterans died attending an American Legion Convention.

The important thing to know is that the bacteria that causes Legionnaires Disease are very temperature sensitive.

  • 70 to 80 °C (158 to 176 °F): Disinfection range
  • At 66 °C (151 °F): Legionellae die within 2 minutes
  • At 60 °C (140 °F): Legionellae die within 32 minutes
  • At 55 °C (131 °F): Legionellae die within 5 to 6 hours
  • Above 50 °C (122 °F): They can survive but do not multiply
  • 35 to 46 °C (95 to 115 °F): Ideal growth range
  • 20 to 50 °C (68 to 122 °F): Legionellae growth range
  • Below 20 °C (68 °F): Legionellae can survive but are dormant

Hydro Quebec has found that even at 60 °C – the setting on most electric water heaters – an estimated 25% of all water heaters are contaminated by legionella bacteria in Canada.  This is a staggering statistic. But why are more people not contracting the disease?  Well it can simply be left to chance, the bacteria most often enter the lungs due to aspiration (aspiration means choking such that secretions in the mouth bypass the choking reflexes and enter the lung) and thus drinking contaminated water is not a major cause of Legionnaire’s disease.

A conventional tank draws hot water from the top and adds cold water to the bottom providing a continuous reservoir for this disease.  When cold water is injected it lowers the temperature making it idea for the bacteria to multiply.  A tankless is a different system all together, tankless water heaters have no standing water and this no place for the bacteria to take refuge.  In addition a tankless system completely flushes itself every time the hot water is used in your house maintaining a clean bacteria free environment.

Legionnaires Disease can be deadly and affects both children and elderly more so than others, a tankless water heater is a great solution for this problem. If your at all interested in seeing if a tankless is right for your home give us a call or fill out the form on the side and we will get back to you.

 

Cottage Country Tankless

Your only at the cottage a few days a week, why waste all that energy keeping your water hot? A tankless is perfect for cottages and only heats water when your there and when its needed.  So save some money this summer and have a tankless water heater installed at your cottage, or if you’re a do-it-yourself’er and only need us to supply you with the system, we can help you with that too.

A cottage country tankless is a great, cheap solution for your cottage water heating needs.

There is a growing demand for small to medium sized propane tankless water heaters as cottagers are looking to reduce their electricity bill and the water heater is a significant consumer. If your only at the cottage on weekends it really doesn’t make sense to heat your water 7 days a week. We offer a number of tankless systems that work with various sized propane tanks and only use energy when you want hot water as opposed to consuming it all week long.

Tankless water heaters have freeze protections systems built right in so you know your investment is protected.

We know a lot of cottage owners are also the “do it yourself” kind of people and for this we offer shipping right to your door.

If you have decided to upgrade to a tankless at your cottage give us a call or fill out the form and we can help you choose not only the correct size tanklesss but also one that fits your budget.

Ontario Water Hardness Levels

An instant hot or tankless water heater is extremely efficient.  The system relies on its advanced heat exchanger to quickly heat up water.  Scale and Lime tend to build up faster when water is heated, so to combat this problem a tankless is usually installed with flush valves, which allow vinegar to be pushed through the system dissolving the build up and returning the tankless to its original efficiency level.  This build up is exponentially increased as the grains or water hardness increases in communities and towns throughout Ontario.

Hard Water Causes Inefficiency

Below is an extensive list of Ontario cities and the corresponding water hardness that is present in the water supply.  The higher the number of grains the harder your water is, which, in turn produces more scale and deposits in your water heater, on shower heads, around faucets, and so forth.  A conventional water heater will become much less efficient with time in a hard water situation, and it can’t be cleaned. For this reason we recommend a tankless system that can be cleaned with a vinegar solution, restoring efficiency.

Quick Hard Water Exercise:

  1. Lookup your city and see if you have hard water
  2. Think about how old that 40 gallon hot water tank is in your house
  3. Know that in on average at 7.5 grains of hard water a regular tank loses 2% efficiency a year to due scale build up
  4. That 2% doubles to 4% at 15 grains and so on…..
  5. After you do the math a tankless that is able to be cleaned of all scale becomes very economical

 

CityHardness (grains)Population
Almonte17.52805
Amhurstburg6.56060
Ancaster196718
Arnprior12.28663
Aurora17see Newmarket
Azilda121403
Barrie9.541990
Beamsville15.63864
Belleville634391
Bracebridge25304
Brampton24.258571
Brantford2442053
Brockville7.511302
Burks Falls101200
Burlington947562
Carleton Place5.54956
Cayuga120905
Chatham1319874
Cippawa8.6N/A
Clifford15660
Clinton13.22136
Cobalt4461
Cobourg7.57234
Cochrane182474
Collingwood4.59632
Copper Cliff2N/A
Cornwall719290
Craigment4N/A
Delhi182819
Deseronto8.41314
Dryden3.55900
Dundas1710320
Dunnville213830
Elmira29390
Essex33.43658
Etobicoke8109153
Fonthill15.62495
Fort Williams1N/A
Galt22930
Gannonoque73759
Goderich5.54808
Grimsby86821
Guelph2230652
Hagersville302055
Haileybury21243
Hamilton7.5147943
Harrow49.83112
Hanover133915
Hawkesbury25300
Hespeler26550
Ingersoll24.44269
Iroquois Falls4.52005
Islington16.220137
Kapuskasing63490
Kemptville16.46130
Kenora49929
Kingston7.537776
Kirkland Lake34712
Kitchener4087480
Lansing21N/A
Leamington1417253
Lindsay8.527220
Listowel139907
London25149133
Lucan13N/A
Lucknow16.4977
Meaford122978
Merritton8.5N/A
Midland816268
Mitchell16.21907
Matawa5
Mount Forest252937
New Liskeard163306
Newmarket10.553915
New Toronto8see Toronto
Niagara Falls829250
North Bay124960
North York Twsp.18173099
Norwick141220
Oakville734364
Orillia1019999
Oshawa7.538796
Ottawa3181258
Owen Sound1520688
Paisley19.5829
Paris202984
Parkhill141145
Parry Sound43020
Pembroke215357
Penetanguishene7.5see Midland
Perth45596
Peterborough540913
Picton72265
Port Arthur6N/A
Port Colborne76291
Port Dover13.2N/A
Port Elgin38.41852
Port Hope7.55553
Prescott73553
Preston17620
Renfrew2.512221
Richmond Hill17.272717
St. Catharines740750
St. Mary’s22.81475
St. Thomas11.529300
Sarnia738869
Sault Ste. Marie329847
Scarborough8.5155061
Seaforth17.51496
Shelburne12N/A
Simcoe1216900
Smith Falls56904
Stratford3014604
Strathroy17.55543
Sturgeon Falls23134
Sudbury2.553168
Tavistock30.41893
Tecumseh7.85953
Teeswater32616
Thorold85848
Tillsonburg128925
Timmins219055
Toronto7.5319202
Trenton146120
Twin Province17.5N/A
Uxbridge15.43533
Walkerton8.82651
Wallaceburg6.55822
Waterloo28see Kitchener
Welland819258
Weston109448
Whitby7.519750
Windsor672436
Woodbridge16.211770
Woodroffe22.5N/A
Woodstock2.526041

It’s always a good idea to have your water tested to determine not only water quality but water hardness and this list should be considered just a rough guide.