For many households, having a new water heater installation is essential, particularly when the temperature goes below zero in their region. However, a water heater is considered one of the most underappreciated appliances that you will be able to find in your home no matter how essential it seems to be. Nevertheless, water heating systems have seen various innovations in the past couple of years and this article lists some of them.
Glass Lining
One of the primary innovations in-home water heating systems that you need to be aware of is the glass lining that comes with the tank. The glass lining was conceptualized by A.O. Smith in 1936 but over the years, several other water heater companies have adapted this technology. When you explore online sources, you are most likely to find some of the most popular boiler types that have a glass lining. With a glass lining, even if your domestic water supply system has a high level of chloride, you won’t have to encounter rust and corrosion, much like a stainless steel tank would bring forth. The reason behind this is that the metal is protected with a barrier, reducing its overall risk of corrosion.
Porcelain Lining
The use of porcelain lining has been conceptualized in 1954 by Rheem technicians. The basis of this technology is the glass lining, which is already effective, but the need for a more efficient lining is still essential. Porcelain lining is bonded into the inner tank surface, extending the lifespan of the water heater system by several more years. In this modern time, a porcelain lining is already known as an industry standard.
Foam Insulation
While foam insulation is already implemented in most water-heater systems, it can be considered as a fairly recent innovation. Foam insulation was first added between a tank jacket and the lining by the State Water Heaters back in 1979. A couple of years after, several other companies have followed suit when it comes to its use. However, this technology was further improved and developed, leading to the industry-standard foam insulation known today. Proper insulation as well as Polyisocyanurate Pipe Insulation promotes efficiency, so it’s important to have this.
Power Venting
Power venting proves to be beneficial for gas water heaters that produce toxic emissions. These emissions need to be vented through a flu system that usually relies on convection or the process of hot air rising through the vertical flu. However, even properly installed common vents lead to serious problems and this is where power vents come in.
With power vents, a blower is used to cool that exhaust, eventually pushing it horizontally to wall-mounted vents instead of vertical vents. Alongside this, instead of using metal pipes, PVC material is used, which adds to the longevity and further efficiency of the system. Even if power vents entail the need for electricity, the risk of backdrafts is minimal. There is also no need to rely on potentially leaky metal ductwork.
Self-Cleaning
Water tanks need to be cleaned and maintained periodically and as much as possible, the tanks need to be flushed every 6 to 12 months. With self-cleaning tanks, the frequency of cleaning is reduced significantly. Households that leverage on-demand heaters for their kitchens or those who prefer to have softeners on their bathroom outlets to reduce the negative effects of hard water on their skin, benefit much from self-cleaning water heater systems.
A self-cleaning water heater system works because of the presence of a special dip tube. This tube stirs the water at the bottom of the tank, thus, the sediments don’t settle there. Rather, the sediments are piped out whenever the hot water is turned on. As a result, sediment build-up at the bottom of the tank is reduced, if not totally eliminated.
Solar-Powered Heating
More and more homeowners are already leveraging solar-powered water heater systems, not only to reduce their overall utility costs but to help maintain the environment as well. The most common solar-powered water heaters use black water-filled pipes that are enclosed in a glass-covered box. This box is heated by the direct rays of the sun, which then leads to convection. The resulting hot water from this process will heat the walls of the homes as it cools. However, this cannot provide usable water because it is a closed system.
Nevertheless, with the emergence of photovoltaic technology, there have been a couple of new options. The solar cells can now be used for heating swimming pools or even divert power into a home to fuel an electric tank. Just keep in mind that this process requires lots of sunlight, which can prove to be insufficient during cloudy days.
Tankless Water Heater Systems
One of the most impressive innovations when it comes to water heater systems is the emergence of tankless systems that take up significantly less space. Most of these tankless systems are on-demand, heating water only as necessary. Thereby, apart from being a space saver alternative, tankless and on-demand water heater systems are considered to be more cost-effective too. The great part is that tankless systems even have a longer lifespan requiring less maintenance, compared to regular water-heater systems with a tank. It’s important to schedule a water heater repair indianapolis right away if your hot water supply has been inconsistent lately.
Usually, the terms tankless and on-demand are used interchangeably. However, the former is more appropriate for the water heating system of an entire home. On the other hand, the latter is more suitable to describe the water heater systems of smaller units such as those found in recreational vehicles or RVs. Just bear in mind that the use of a tankless or on-demand water heater system is not ideal in every situation. The key is in weighing the pros and cons of getting a tank or a tankless water heater installation to determine the right one that can suit your needs and preferences.
Home water heating systems have been continuously improved over the years and all have proven to be beneficial for homeowners and residents. Aside from glass or porcelain lining, water-heating systems have also been incorporated with foam insulation or feature power venting and self-cleaning. Some water heater systems are also now solar-powered, while others are already tankless. All these innovations are not only beneficial, but they also add to the convenience of many homeowners needing water heating systems.