Water Quality and Tankless Water Heaters

 

For many decades here in the US, the primary choice for consumers have been the standard tank style water heaters for their water heating needs. There is no argument that compared to tankless water heaters, standard tank style heaters are much less efficient in the heating of water.  However, there is one advantage tank style water heaters have over the relatively new tankless technology, that is their ability to continue providing hot water in high water hardness conditions.  Even with a considerable amount of mineral scale deposits, traditional tank style heaters will continue to heat water until the desired temperature is reached, despite the fact that the process is even more wasteful of energy when mineral deposits are present.

 

Tankless water heaters provide instantaneous heating of water and even moderate scale build up on heat transfer surfaces greatly diminish their efficiency thus requiring frequent deliming service in hard water applications. This is most evident in applications where a tank style system is replaced by a tankless water heater in hard water areas.  Prior to replacing the tank style water heater, the home owner may have never had to replace elements or maintain the heater for problems caused by hard water mineral deposits. Their tank style heater continued to work inefficiently, but still provided hot water in the morning when they turned on the shower . Once they replaced the tank style heater with a tankless heater, they found much to their surprise the need for periodic deliming.

 

Tankless water heaters are much superior to tank style heaters in all aspects except water quality forgiveness.  It is vitally important that water quality is addressed when purchasing a tankless water heater.  If the water is hard, there will be scale build up on the heat transfer surfaces causing the tankless heater to operate at less efficiency and will also require periodic deliming.  ScaleCutter systems provide excellent mineral scale control for tankless water heaters ensuring efficient operation and long service life by preventing or greatly reducing mineral scale deposits on the heat exchanger.

Water Softening / ScaleCutter Comparison

 

When considering protection for your tankless water heater, water softening is a viable choice and unlike other products claiming to provide protection from hard water scale, water softening works.  With all of the benefits of water softeners, there are some disadvantages.

 

Water Softeners:

 

• Take up space and can be costly in purchase and install.

• Require electrical and drain connections.

• Require periodic addition of salt to the brine tanks.

• Make the water feel slippery on the skin.

• Are restricted in certain parts of the country.

• Offer no corrosion control for plumbing and appliances.

 

The ScaleCutter Water Treatment System:

 

• Takes up little space, is affordable to purchase, operate and install.

• Require no electricity or drain.

• Requires only a cartridge change only once every 10-14 months in typical residential application.

• Does not change the feel of the water.

• Is not restricted in application since the is no brine discharge.

• Offers mineral scale prevention and corrosion control for plumbing and appliances.