[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Tankless HW and hard water

[Dr. C.F. Vasile]

Yes. I've been heating my house and water with a 15 kW Tankless electric 
heater since 1996. I live in Patchogue, NY where cold water temperatures 
drop below 45F in January. We have very hard water and have had no problem 
with calcification. In contrast, the tankless coil in our obsolete oil 
burner used to "lime-up" in 6 months or so. When it did, its 1.5 gallon per 
hour firing rate (oil) couldn't sustain a low flow shower and its 
water-heating efficiency dropped below 25%.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lawrence Lile" <LLile at projsolco.com>
To: "Greenbuilder list" <greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 10:45 AM
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] [BULK] Tankless HW and hard water


> I have hard water and a tankless and I've never given it a care.
> Anyone have long years experience with one of these?
>
> In my area, tank water heaters rarely last ten years.
>
> --Lawrence
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org
> [mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Aaron
> Lamperti
> Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 9:29 AM
> To: greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org
> Subject: [BULK] [Greenbuilding] Tankless HW and hard water
> Importance: Low
>
> Hi All,
>
> I apologize in advance if this question has received lots of time on the
> list in the past.  I tried to scan the archives and didn't find
> anything.
>
> Does anyone have experience/opinion regarding use of tankless hot water
> heaters with hard water.  A quick scan of internet opinions turned up a
> range of concerns (doesn't it always!).
>
> 1.  Shouldn't use tankless because lime will block heat exchanger and
> reduce efficiency 2.  Lime won't form since there isn't a point heat
> source to boil water 3.  Back flush every (insert time range here) with
> vinegar to remove lime 4.  various filter/softener arrangements
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Aaron Lamperti
> Norwich, VT
>
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