Tankless Electric Water Heater for Safety Applications

Which is better for me, a tankless or storage type water heater?

It depends. A tankless water heater is sometimes referred to as a Point-of-Use (POU) or instantaneous water heater. Due to the relative small physical size of a tankless water heater compared to a storage tank water heater, a tankless option can be advantageous from a space saving perspective and can sometimes be installed closer to where you want hot water (hence the term POU). However, tankless heaters are not suited for many applications, so it is critical that before choosing to go tankless you have carefully considered all of the factors that sometimes make the tankless option more complicated and risky compared to a storage type water heater. In particular, you should understand the operational characteristics, maintenance requirements, reparability, and sometimes significant installation requirements of a tankless water heater before making a decision. Tankless units do not store heated water like a storage type water heater; they only heat water as there is demand and therefore must be sized to meet the maximum flow for the application. In some cases a tankless water heater may improve operating efficiency, but possibly at the expense of user comfort. Hubbell tankless water heaters are available inElectric Tankless or Gas Tankless.

How does my water heater ship?

All Hubbell storage type water heaters ship via common carrier and are classified by the Commodity Classification Standards Board under National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) class 100. Each water heater is palletized and wood crated. All Hubbell tankless water heaters, when transported using common carrier, ship class 77.5. To provide the lowest transportation cost, in most cases the shipment is made on Hubbell’s account and the freight cost is added to the invoice, commonly referred to as “Pre pay and add”. For very large shipments, the most economical method (LTL or Dedicated Truck) for transporting the water heaters to the final destination will be analyzed by Hubbell's transportation department.

Does the Hubbell electric tankless water heater restrict water flow?

No. Hubbell electric tankless water heaters do not restrict water flow. Other brands may incorporate a flow restrictor device within their tankless heater or require a flow restricting device be installed in the plumbing or fixture itself as a method for controlling temperature. This is not the case for Hubbell electric tankless water heaters.

What is the difference between gas & electric tankless water heaters?

The most obvious difference between gas and electric tankless water heaters is the energy source that is used. Gas tankless heaters use either Natural Gas (NG) or Propane (LPG), but also use electricity (120v) to power an internal fan and other controls. Electric tankless heaters operate using only electricity. Electric tankless water heaters operate at higher energy efficiency, in the case of Hubbell the thermal efficiency is 98%+, compared to gas tankless which ranges from Energy Factor ratings of 0.82 to 0.96 depending upon model. Electric tankless is more efficient in large part because gas tankless models operate by burning gas, which is harder to control than electricity and is less efficient due to heat lost in the flue exhaust. Gas heaters require exhaust and/or fresh air intake venting, whereas electric heaters do not. Please note that efficiency and operating cost are two different things, to determine operating cost one must consider their cost of energy and usage in addition to the operating efficiency of the heater. Gas tankless water heaters cost more to purchase compared to electric tankless heaters. When replacing a storage tank type water heater with a tankless heater, it should be noted that both gas and electric tankless require changes to the existing plumbing and wiring of the tank they are replacing. When installing a new gas tankless heater, most installations will require a new/upgraded venting and gas line. When installing a new electric tankless heater, most installations will require upgraded wiring to the heater and replacement of the circuit breakers in the electrical panel. The largest available residential and light duty commercial gas tankless water heater is 199,000 BTU/Hr, but the most common size has an output of about 123,000 BTU/Hr. After factoring for energy efficiency, this is equivalent to roughly 36 kW. By contrast, the largest residential/light duty commercial electric tankless water heater is 27 kW, which has an effective output of 91,000 BTU/Hr. In terms of operation and maintenance, a gas tankless heater is considerably more complicated to maintain and service compared to electric tankless. In addition, an electric tankless heater will provide more accurate and consistent hot water temperature throughout a full range of flow rates compared to a gas tankless heater. However, gas tankless heaters because they are available in larger BTU sizes can provide a higher hot water flow rate/temperature rise for very large installations compared to a standard electric tankless heater.

What is the life expectancy of the Hubbell tankless water heater?

Depending on the type of installation, usage and water quality, the Hubbell electric tankless water heater can last from 15 to 25 years. In a typical application when properly maintained a Hubbell electric tankless water heater should have no problem lasting 25 years or more.

Is Tankless right for my application?

It depends. Due to the relative small physical size of a tankless water heater compared to a storage tank water heater, a tankless option can be advantageous from a space and weight saving perspective and can sometimes be installed closer to where you want hot water. Tankless water heaters do not store heated water like a storage type water heater; they only heat water as there is demand and therefore must be sized to meet the maximum flow and temperature rise for the application. Therefore, before proceeding with a tankless heater you must carefully understand your application and review your available power. Hubbell offers a wide range of electric tankless marine heaters go to Electric Tankless for details. It is critical that before choosing to go tankless you have carefully considered all of the factors that sometimes make the tankless option more complicated and risky compared to a storage type water heater.

Which NSF Standard is appropriate for this product?

The appropriate NSF Standard to use is NSF 5, titled “Water Heaters, Hot Water Supply Boilers, and Heat Recovery Equipment”. In the past the lead content requirement was only required in NSF 61 per Appendix G, but within the past few years changes have been made such that Appendix G has been removed and replaced by NSF 372, “Drinking Water System Components – Lead Content”. NSF 5 requires materials approved by NSF 51, “Food Equipment Materials” and the latest edition of NSF 51 requires that the materials comply with NSF 372. Therefore, NSF 5 now complies with the same low lead requirements as NSF 61.

Is this model approved by Massachusetts?

What temperature is tepid water?

Hubbell has designed its safety shower water heater to provide as standard 85°F tepid water, although 75°F is available as an option. In the ANSI /ISEA Z358.1-2009 American National Standard for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment standard, tepid water requirements are in the Definitions section and are clearly defined as water ranging between 60°-100°F. ANSI defines "tepid water" as "A flushing fluid temperature conducive to promoting a minimum 15 minute irrigation period. A suitable range is 16-38°C (60-100°F)". Medical professionals recommend that tepid flushing fluids be used to treat chemically injured eyes and body tissue. Temperatures that exceed 100°F can enhance chemical interaction with the eyes and skin. Conversely, water temperatures below 60°F can cause hypothermic shock. The ANSI Z358.1-2009 standard states that while cooler flushing fluids may provide immediate relief after chemical contact, “prolonged exposure to cold fluids affects the ability to maintain adequate body temperature and can result in the premature cessation of first aid treatment”.

Is 277 volt 3 phase voltage available for a water heater?

For all water heaters 277V is only an available option in 1PH, not 3PH. The 277V 1PH voltage is a derivation of your existing 480V 3Ph power. Where 480V is the line to line voltage on a 3 phase system and 277V is the voltage from any one of these lines to neutral, thus making the 277V power available in 1PH only.

Do Hubbell water heaters qualify as Low Lead?

Yes, all Hubbell water heater models qualify as meeting the low lead requirements of the “Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act” amendment to the “Safe Drinking Water Act” (SDWA) Section 1417(d) effective as of January 4, 2014. Hubbell certifies that its water heaters meet the following requirements of the SDWA and therefore are qualified and certified as Low Lead : (a)Hubbell water heater do not contain more than 0.2 percent lead with respect to solder and flux (b)Hubbell water heaters do not contain more than a weighted average of 0.25 percent lead with respect to all wetted surfaces of the water heater

What is the difference between solid-state and electromechanical relays?

Depending on the application, one switch may be more advantageous than the other. Please refer to this article to read more about the differences between solid-state and electromechanical relays.

Does my tankless water heater need a T&P relief valve?

Yes and no. NEC paragraph 422-27 requires all water heaters to be equipped with a temperature limiting device in addition to its control thermostat with the exception of instantaneous water heaters identified as being suitable for such use and with a capacity of 4L (1 gallon) or less. Hubbell tankless heaters are have a capacity of less than 1 gallon and are listed to UL Standard 499 which is recognized by NEC and thus meet the requirements of this exception. However individual state and/or local plumbing codes, such as Massachusetts and Kentucky, may require the installation of a temperature and pressure (T&P) relief valve. Therefore Hubbell recommends checking state and local plumbing codes for verification.