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From the Editors of E - The Environmental
Magazine
Dear
EarthTalk: I've heard that tankless water
heaters are more energy efficient than traditional water heaters.
How do they work? -- Felipe Gomez, Flagstaff, AZ
In a conventional water heater, 30 to 60 gallons of water sit in the tank,
constantly being heated and re-heated, even when no hot water is in use.
The heat from the tank keeps dissipating into the air, creating “standby
heat loss.” This constant energy waste adds up, and can constitute 10 to
20 percent of a household's heating costs.
Unlike traditional water heaters, tankless water heaters (also known as
demand or instantaneous water heaters) heat the water only as it is used,
thus eliminating standby heat loss and minimizing energy usage. Cold water
travels through a pipe to the unit, where it passes over a gas or electric
heating element in a thin enclosure. This exposes a lot of the water's
surface to the heating element, thus enabling it to heat up quickly. The
element only operates when the hot water faucet is turned on. These
heaters are also small and thus space saving, and can be attached to a
wall or put under the sink or in a closet.
First put into widespread use in Japan and Europe, tankless water heaters
began appearing in the U.S. about 25 years ago. While they do cost more
than double the price of conventional water heaters--top-of-the line,
high-capacity residential tankless models sell for up to $1,000--a typical
tankless unit lasts more than 20 years, compared to the 10-year life
expectancy of a conventional water heater, according to the Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office of the U.S. Department of Energy.
Also, consumers can quickly make up the difference through energy savings.
While a constant supply of hot water is available through a tankless
system, the flow rate may be somewhat limited, depending upon the needs of
your household. Typically, a tankless water heater provides a flow of two
to four gallons per minute. As with many tank heaters, simultaneous use of
hot water appliances can affect the flow rate. Water-hungry appliances
like dishwashers and washing machines may need to be operated at separate
times. Alternatively, a second water heater can be installed at a
high-demand location. Gas-fired heaters tend to have higher flow rates and
are less expensive than electric models. Leading tankless water heater
manufacturers include Bosch, PowerStar and Ariston, and the units are
available at most big appliance and home superstores as well as through
Controlled Energy Corporation, Tankless Water Heaters Direct, and several
others.
See our
complete line of tankless water heaters here
Dear
EarthTalk: Does drinking hard water result in an unhealthy buildup of
minerals in the body over time? Should I use a water
softener? --
Sunny Mullis, Sturgis, SD
The presence of calcium and magnesium in your water will make it
“hard.” These minerals are dissolved in rainwater as it moves through
soil and rock. According to a 1980 study done by the National Academy of
Sciences on the mineral nutrition of drinking water, a high-calcium diet
can help prevent osteoporosis, or bone degeneration, and magnesium can
help prevent depression, vertigo and muscle weakness. The study shows that
magnesium deficiencies can slow growth, affect the kidneys, and result in
hair loss. There were no negative side effects reported from
ingesting large quantities of calcium or magnesium.
Hard water can, however, damage hot water heater efficiency and block
plumbing by forming calcium deposits in pipes. It can also reduce water
pressure, leave soap film and scum lines on tile, and cause poor sudsing
of soap and shampoo, dry, itchy skin and brittle hair.
Hard water can be an inconvenience, but traditional treatment for
softening your water may be bad for your health. To remove the minerals,
many companies use an ion exchange process, replacing the calcium and
magnesium with sodium (salt). The problem is that twice the amount of
sodium is needed to replace the other ions, and treated water offers a
heavy dose of this health buster. You may want to try an alternative
softener, such as the Scaleban, an electronic limestone (the source of
calcium deposits) neutralizer made by EcoSoft Systems. It softens water
electronically without using salt. Water softeners offered by Healthy Home Mall
use a no-salt catalytic/magnetic process.
Contact: Healthy Home Mall, (406)889-5288, Or
Email.
See our complete
line of No Salt Water Softeners here
GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EARTHTALK,
c/o E - The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881;
submit your question at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk.html;
or e-mail us at: earthtalk@emagazine.com.
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