[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Tankless HW and hard water

[Keith Winston]

It's not obvious to me why this would be so. Anyone care to share 
thoughts? Lime formation won't tend to happen below, I think, about 
160F. But surely in a tankless there are hot spots that exceed that? 
Maybe that's the answer right there? Or perhaps it doesn't form well in 
a stainless steel environment...

Keith


Dr. C.F. Vasile wrote:
> 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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>
>
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-- 
Keith Winston
Earth Sun Energy Systems
3927 Madison St.
Hyattsville, MD 20781
301-980-6325
keith at earthsunenergy.com
www.EarthSunEnergy.com