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Originally Posted by t vago
Nope, don't remember anything about any "World's Most Efficient Water Heater."
I do know that you can find natural gas models of instant water heaters, that you are able to use them every day, and that you could mitigate the need for an acid wash with using softened water. Pricewise, they're now comparable in price with more traditional water heaters.
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The thing is they may not actually have a lower cost of operation as compared to a traditional model or especially a very high efficiency insulated model like the solar guys use. If I use 20 gallons a week of hot water and have a very well insulated unit, it is likely the amount of energy lost is the same but the efficiency of the element heating the water may not be as efficient on an instant heater versus a slower unit. I was always taught with heat you can be slow and efficient or fast and inefficient but most likely not both at the same time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by t vago
Natural gas versions of these things are used almost exclusively in Europe and Japan. Over there, they think it's supremely wasteful that we Americans always heat about 120 or more liters of water that we don't immediately use. Their hot water tanks, which are hard to find, tend to be placed on either a wall switch or a timer (Hm... that's an idea...)
It's a cultural issue as much as anything, I suppose.
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I'm not sure its a cultural thing, americans have a lot of space for crap like water heaters but our companies are VERY VERY glacially slow at changing anything. If I can go to home depot and lay down $250 and get one its more likely I will have one than if I have to order it or if its not displayed. Same thing is true when a contractor doesn't support or recommend something.
Once market penetration occurs and larger names are offering them in decent price points at the local building dumps you will see them in many homes.
I like the idea of instant heat and have always believed it should be used as an AUXILLERARY source.
AKA high efficiency gas primary and electric water heater BOOSTER near the faucit.