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| Thread ID: 86114 | 2008-01-04 02:14:00 | Heat Pump Hot Water Cylinders | somebody (208) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 627353 | 2008-01-04 02:14:00 | As a follow-up to my query a week ago re: instant gas hot water heating, I've found a couple of places selling heat pump hot water cylinders. They rely on the same technology which powers heat pumps, and apply it to water heating - so in theory, they should be very efficient. Does anyone here have one, and if so, what are your thoughts? |
somebody (208) | ||
| 627354 | 2008-01-04 07:06:00 | Hmmm. Whats wrong with a normal one? Read here: www.ecoheatpumps.co.nz |
pctek (84) | ||
| 627355 | 2008-01-04 07:18:00 | Hmmm. Whats wrong with a normal one? Read here: www.ecoheatpumps.co.nz The one at that site is one of the ones I looked at. While it sounds good in theory (apart from noise concerns), I just wanted to get an opinion from others. Basically my current hot water cylinder is a bit too old, and is horribly inefficient, so needs to be replaced in the next couple of years. While there isn't anything "wrong" with normal hot water cylinders as such, I just want to look at all the options - even solar. |
somebody (208) | ||
| 627356 | 2008-01-04 18:30:00 | The one at that site is one of the ones I looked at. While it sounds good in theory (apart from noise concerns), I just wanted to get an opinion from others. Basically my current hot water cylinder is a bit too old, and is horribly inefficient, so needs to be replaced in the next couple of years. While there isn't anything "wrong" with normal hot water cylinders as such, I just want to look at all the options - even solar. We don't want to put normal ones installers out of a job,do we? |
Cicero (40) | ||
| 627357 | 2008-01-04 19:17:00 | I'm not sure where you live, somebody, but look carefully at the figures for efficiency - particularly at the initial temperature of the cold water that is being heated. If you live in a colder part of the country and the cold water is usually colder than the advertised figures - then the efficiency of your unit will be lower. | Deane F (8204) | ||
| 627358 | 2008-01-04 21:46:00 | We have had a califont (gas) for two years. What a great idea, particularly if you have a daughter who can empty a hot water cylinder with one shower! We often ran out of hot water when she had a shower and I suspect that was the only reason she finally switched off. I do not understand why it takes so long to wash something so small. The gas hot water cylinder (replaced after 26 years) worked very well but it had it's limits. The califont has no such limits. No matter how hard daughter tried she could not exhaust the supply! The califont is a very old idea and they were usually about the size of a small water heater and were situated above the bath. When you turned on the water you could hear the gas ignite (from a continuous pilot) and a fairly loud roar. The hot water was immediate. That was the long gone days of coal gas. The new califonts can be either gas or electric. They are usually situated on an outside wall and there are many new townhouses around our area, most with outside califonts. The gas califonts are ignited by an electric spark and roar as loud as the old califonts - only loud enough to be heard through the wall but not through the house. When speaking of efficiency, I'm certain that many people would not be installing califonts in new houses if they were not efficient, would they? |
Roscoe (6288) | ||
| 627359 | 2008-01-04 22:12:00 | Thanks Deane - I was thinking of exactly the same thing, and in particular, the slow reheating rate at low temperatures in winter. Roscoe - I'll have a look into those. Is the phrase califont basically synonymous with the instant gas hot water systems being sold by companies like Rinnai and Bosch? |
somebody (208) | ||
| 627360 | 2008-01-04 23:14:00 | www.consumer.org.nz Will this work?? |
Cicero (40) | ||
| 627361 | 2008-01-04 23:20:00 | Somebody - The word Califont is the correct (and ancient) term and anyone in the industry worth their salt should know that word and what it means, but I suspect that the advertising people think that the public is stupid (as stupid as they are?) and so use words that they think the public will understand. Because of that, the term usually used is instant hot water. Firms like Rinnai should know what califont means but many of their sales staff most probably will not. Why not see how clever their staff is and ask them about a califont? The system is highly recommended. |
Roscoe (6288) | ||
| 627362 | 2008-01-04 23:41:00 | Cheers - will have a look around... | somebody (208) | ||
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