Hot Water Heaters

There are two distinct types of localized single point heaters.

• Instantaneous
• Storage

The difference between the single point and multi point is:

A single point heater serves only one location, i.e, a sink, a basin etc.

A multi point is generally a boiler that serves more than one draw off point in your home (a draw off point is controlled by a Tap/Faucet).

For example conventional condensing and non-condensing home heating boilers, and condensing and non-condensing combination boilers are multi point water heaters.

However, air hot water heat pumps are unlike conventional boilers see hot water heat pumps below for more information.

Top

The instantaneous single point hot water heater can be fueled by gas or electricity and heat the water only when it is required. These are usually fitted with a swivel spout and located directly above a sink or wash basin. The gas fired heater heats up the water twice as fast as the electric heater and costs less to run.

With the electric instantaneous hot water heater the temperature of the hot water is directly related to the kilowatt (kW) rating of that appliance and the water flow rate. If the water flow too quickly through the electric heater, the heater will not have enough time to fully heat the water. A slower flow rate with this type of heater means hotter water. The same principle applies to instantaneous electric shower heaters.

The storage type of single point hot water heater can be located either above or below a sink. The storage capacity of these units does not exceed 15 litres. The water in these storage heaters is heated by an electric element or an immersion heater to about 60^oC.

You should know that it is normal for this type of water heater to drip from the spout. This is because when it heats up the water, the expanding water drips out the spout. A special thermal fitting tap/faucet is usually fitted to allow water to flow through the heater and expand.

Don't worry - the discharge of hot water is limited and it will soon cool. The water in the heater will be hot enough for small rinses.

There are some single point water heaters that incorporate a small expansion vessel where an outlet control valve is used to eliminate dripping.

Combined Gas Storage heaters are hot water cylinders with a gas boiler/heater housed in the center of the storage cylinder, the cylinder is in fact like a water jacket around the heater, and they come as a 'room sealed' appliance.

(room sealed appliances means oxygen is drawn from outside, and the spent combustion gas is also expelled outside through a coaxial flue - the oxygen and spent gas is not taken from or released inside your home)

Top

---

The air heat pump hot water systems are unlike conventional and instantaneous boilers that use fuel like gas or oil to heat water for both domestic hot water and central heating. However, hot water heat pumps are multi point storage water-heaters.

Hot water heat pumps like all heat pumps are designed to take heat from one place and move to another at higher temperatures. An air source stand-alone heat pump water heater takes heat from the surrounding air, increases that heat and then dumps it into a cylinder/tank to heat water.

This type of water heater works in temperatures ranging from approximately 4.5 to 32^oC. However, these systems are more efficient in warmer climates as they can then extract more heat from the surrounding air. An efficient hot water heat pump can reduce fuel costs by around 50% compared to other electric water heaters.

If you linked from and want to return to hydronic central heating click here - or to go back to solar heating click here

Top

Ground and water source heat pumps can be used for hot water storage heating, both are multi point. However, as they are low temperature systems you will have to augment the heat in the storage cylinder/tank, with an electric immersion heater, up to at least 55^oC for the prevention against legionella. An electric immersion heater powered by solar energy makes these systems completely environmentally clean and green.

Top

A solar heating system with efficient 'solar collectors' and matching system components can save you approximately 50 - 60% of your annual energy demands for domestic hot water (DHW), this is also a multi point water heater.

Go to the solar heating page.

Top

Thermostatic mixing valves should be fitted to hot water systems to prevent domestic hot water scalding. The young and old are more at risk because their skin is thinner and less tolerant to high water temperatures.

Recommended maximum outlet temperatures for domestic hot water:

• 46^oC for baths - Note: This is not a safe bathing temperature
• 41^oC for showers
• 41^oC for washbasins
• 37^oC for bidets

Temperatures should never exceed 46^oC when using thermostatic mixing valves.

Top

The legionella bacteria can cause serious illness in people, and the reason for storing and distributing water at high temperatures is to prevent the proliferation of the bacteria. The legionella bacteria will multiply at temperatures between 32^oC and 41^oC.

The legionella will be progressively killed at temperatures above 46^oC, at temperatures around 50^oC the bacteria will be killed within hours, and at temperatures of around 60^oC the bacteria will be killed in minutes. Cold stored water should be below 20^oC.

Legionella cannot be contracted by ingesting water, e.g, as in drinking. Legionella can only be contracted through inhalation, e.g, breathing in steam - small water vapours and micro-droplets of water.

An effective way of eliminating the risk of contracting legionella is to store and distribute water at high temperatures and have thermostatic mixing valves (TMV's) near to the points of outlet to ensure bathroom appliances have temperatures between 37^oC and 46^oC from the outlets.