king@kestrel.ARPA (09/29/85)
Most water heaters have a tank inside them which holds as much water as you are likely to use at one time (say 40 gal.), and a small heater to let it heat a new batch of water after you have used up the old one. I have heard that there are a few that work differently - they have a small heat exchanger, and a big burner that lets them heat the water as you use it. There was an article in February 1982 Pop Mechanics. Does anyone have any experience with a flash water heater? I like the idea for two reasons: 1> It's usually the tank that died when a water heater has to be thrown out. 2> Heat escapes out the side of the tank 24 hours per day. thanks in advance -dick
hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (The Polymath) (10/03/85)
In article <1424@kestrel.ARPA> king@kestrel.ARPA writes: > ... I have heard that there are a few that work differently - they >have a small heat exchanger, and a big burner that lets them heat the >water as you use it... > >Does anyone have any experience with a flash water heater? ... I put up with these for about two years when I was living in London, about 10 years ago. In general, I don't think they're worth the bother. Water temperature depends on flow volume. You may have trouble getting the temperature you want for high volume applications (taking a shower, running a dishwasher, etc.). At low volumes, I've seen some of them generate live steam through a kitchen faucet -- dangerous, especially if you have kids to worry about. If you're concerned about heat leaking from a tank heater, wrap it in a fibergalss blanket (some local gas companies will supply these free of charge). -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe) Citicorp(+)TTI Common Sense is what tells you that a ten 3100 Ocean Park Blvd. pound weight falls ten times as fast as a Santa Monica, CA 90405 one pound weight. (213) 450-9111, ext. 2483 {philabs,randvax,trwrb,vortex}!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe