Nylon, PBT Keys in Energy-Conserving Tankless Water Heaters

The next-generation Supercharger tankless water heater units from Houston-based Seisco International utilize DuPont’s engineering thermoplastics in several key components and have been designed to help homeowners meet the newly updated National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA) requirements.

 

Seisco’s president David Seitz says the new standards could drive up the cost and size of tank-type water heaters because efficiency technology will have to be added to the tanks that are 55-gal or larger. “A Seisco Supercharger coupled with a 40-gallon tank matches the performance of a 60 to 80 gallon tank with significantly lower energy use because you heat less water all day. Thousands of gallons of water are wasted each year waiting for hot water to travel through cold pipes. Heating at the use point can significantly reduce water waste and save energy.”

 

The Supercharger unit is small enough (15” x 7” x 6”) to be placed near the use point. It features an internal heating chamber, which is injection molded of DuPont’s Zytel nylon for high-heat resistance, thermal stability and compliance with NSF and UL requirements. DuPont’s Crastin PBT delivers impact resistance and compliance with UL flammability requirements in a one-piece protective exterior housing.

 

A microprocessor control manages on/off when flow starts/stops. The water heater’s patented mixing chamber provides a small amount of heated water and the patented “Power-Sharing” technology helps ensure elements heat evenly. These innovations are said to protect against scalding, scaling and sediment build-up. The single-chamber Seisco models can be used as a back-up for both new and existing hot-water storage tanks in single-family homes. Multifamily water heaters allow building owners eliminate storage tanks in each unit. 

 

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