Don't get burned
(Part 1 of 2)
Knowing about all the changes in water heater technology
can protect your family and home!
Winnipeg, Manitoba - Brian Baker of Custom
Vac Limited believes that before you just run out and purchase
that new water heater you need to become aware of all the regulatory
changes about to come into effect.
The majority of water heaters that are replaced are under what
we term, "emergency replacement," said Baker. This means that
when consumers recognize water on the floor, they panic creating
an emergency. We have become so dependent on hot water as a society
that the minute that we have no hot water we call around looking
for the least expensive installed price, paying little attention
the details like hauling away the tank, understanding better insulated
models, permit fees, venting costs or many add-ons that could
prevent and/or eliminate future problems.
From technology aimed at improved water heater safety, to the
new energy efficiency requirements, changes in potable water delivery
temperatures or damage caused by leaking water, consumers should
prepare themselves for an unprecedented period of change to their
mindset as they purchase new water heaters. The first two issues
to be covered are, the new Energy Efficiency standards and the
second, reducing potable water temperature in buildings to prevent
scalding.
The Federal Government is positioned to increase the (EF) energy
factor for water heaters. NRCan oversees the "watt loss test"
that measures the energy loss of water heaters. Baker said, "It
is important for consumers to recognize that most of the day their
water heater sits at home not being used, it is maintaining 60C
(140F) water temperature, consuming energy all day (on and off)
just so that when they come home and jump in the shower they have
instant hot water.
" All the time that consumers are not utilizing hot water, the
water heater sits there loosing heat to the surrounding space.
"In the case of gas and oil water heaters that utilize chimneys
a huge amount of heat is being lost from the home due to the stack
action of the chimney," said Baker.
John Cockburn of NRCan, reported that the new standard will affect
electric water heaters with volumes between 11 and 100-gallon;
oil-fired units with storage capacities of up to 50 U.S. gallons
and input ratings of 0.75 US gallons per hour or less; and gas
units with inputs of 75,000 BTUH or less and a storage range from
20 to 100 U.S. gallons.
On a global scale we can no longer afford to be a wasteful society,
we need to begin to reduce our energy use in homes. Costs of energy
continue to escalate, low water levels, black outs like what happened
in major cities in the U.S. and Canada will continue unless we
do our part. "Purchasing newer more efficient, safer products
needs to be the first decision not the last one," said Baker.
"Another major issue that our industry faces is "scalding," said
Baker. In the U.S. more than 4,000 children are scalded each year
by potable water (tap water). Two recent studies in Quebec estimated
that approximately 33 people are hospitalized and 3 people die
each year in their Province. The risk is higher with children
under 5, people over 60 and people with physical or mental deficiency.
The most effective way to prevent the scalding of these persons
is to install anti-scald valves.
In Canada, Safe Kids Canada gave a formal presentation to the
Canadian Advisory Council on Plumbing (CACP) requesting that the
temperature settings on water heaters be changed so that they
would not exceed 49C (120F). However Baker says, "This would have
created another problem, bacteria and the potential for legionellosis
to grow in the tanks."
The Quebec report titled, "Prevention of scalding and legionellosis
associated with hot tap water in private homes," recommends that
current thermostat settings be maintained at 60C (140F) and to
reduce the risk of scalding they recommend the installation of
an effective anti-scald device on the water heater outlet to lower
the temperature to 49C (120F). "Unfortunately, not enough is being
done by our Industry to educate consumers and promote products
that we sell and install that can prevent these needless accidents
from happening," said Baker. The 2005 National Plumbing Code will
address this issue, but as Baker says, "Why wait, we know accidents
can be prevented today by simply installing anti-scald valves."
Ask you contractor to install one and prevent your children or
an elderly member of your family from becoming another statistic.
"Many people have water temperature related problems, one which
is, "Stacking." This is very common in all water heaters. Stacking
occurs whenever a water heater develops temperature and the domestic
water is not being drawn. This will normally occur during many
on-off periods that are caused by the users through the use of
many quick short draws of hot water.
Most controls and heaters in use today are not designed to accommodate
this problem. It is important to identify and respect this factor
since it will lead to higher temperatures during an initial draw
from the heater resulting in a higher scald potential," said Baker.
When it comes to these changes in water heater technology says
Baker, "They are designed with both safety and efficiency in mind.
Consumers should embrace the changes, educate themselves and deal
only with reputable Contractors that understand these changes
and are willing to meet their needs. Hot water heaters are not
complex but demands for quick, fast 24 hr. emergency replacement
without regard to the many choices and issues, may limit consumers
decisions and choices in the marketplace."
In part 2 we will discuss the new (FVIR) Flammable Vapour Ignition
Resistant water heaters and how to eliminate water damage caused
by a leaking water heater. As Baker says, "All water heaters will
leak, we just don't know when they will leak."
