Safety
The following are general safety and installation requirements for a standard water
heater.
- All water heaters placed in the garage must be 18 inches off
the floor to prevent accidental combustion of gasoline fumes in the
garage.
- All water heaters in the garage must have a physical barrier to
prevent impact damage from automobiles.
- In some locations, water heaters must be mechanically secured (i.e.
earthquake straps) to prevent the system from being dislodged.
- Gas or oil-fired water heaters should not be located in sleeping areas.
- Heaters are generally set to 120 ° F to help prevent accidental
scalding. However, with some dishwashers that do not have a
heating element to raise the temperature of the water, spotting of glassware
and dishes may occur. Check the dishwasher's manufacturer
information for the recommended temperature setting.
- Require properly installed temperature and
pressure relief valve and discharge tube.
Recovery Rate
Recovery rate is a measure of the number of gallons water that can be heated
(from approximately 50° F) to 100° F in one hour. The faster the
recovery rate, the more water can be used without running out of hot
water. Generally, oiled-fired systems create the most heat and have
the fastest recovery rate followed by gas-fired systems and then electric
systems. Since fuel-fired heaters have a higher recovery rate, a
large tank may not always be needed. Conversely, larger tanks that hold more
usable hot water, do not require a faster recovery rate and can be sufficient
for intermittent use. Either way, when choosing a water heater, select
one with an appropriate capacity and recovery rate to match the daily
hot water demands of the home.
Insulation
An external insulation blanket wraps around the sides of
the water heater. Insulation blankets prevent heat from radiating
from the tank and help reduce the fuel cost associated with marinating the 120° F
to 140° F storage
temperature. To determine if one is needed, feel the water heater
jacket. If it is
warm, heat is escaping and the tank should be insulated. If it
is cool, no insulation is needed.
Newer heaters do not require and actually have warnings posted not to add an insulation
blanket. With gas or oil-fired systems, the
insulation should be kept away from the burner area. No insulation should
be installed on the top of the heater
Pipe insulation of the hot water line will also help increase efficiency.
Peak Timers
Peak timers are installed on electric heaters and allow the
water heater to turn on during specific times of the day. However, this requires that
all activities using hot water (e.g. bathing, laundry, dishwashing, etc.) be
accomplished at generally the same time of the day.
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