Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) on Gas Water Geyser
Can you use gas for water heating?
How come I have not heard of gas water heaters?
What about safety?
Isn't an electric geyser more convenient to use?
What is the capacity of the gas water heater?
Do I need to have that extra space in my bathroom for the gas cylinder?
What is the minimum water pressure required for the gas water heater?
What about scaling due to water hardness?
How long does the built-in lighter last?
Am I not better off with a solar system?
Can I have a central water heating system with a gas water heater?
1.
Can you use gas for water heating?
Yes, very much and far more efficiently than with an electric geyser. Every housewife knows that it is a lot faster to heat water on a gas stove than with an electric geyser or with an immersion rod. A gas water heater is specially designed keeping this in mind and is much more efficient and convenient (besides being safer) than a gas stove for heating water.
2.
How come I have not heard of gas water heaters?
In India gas was restricted only for cooking due to lack of availability of surplus gas. Also, in the absence of free market economy policies, the import of gas water heaters was banned as they were categorised as consumer products. Consequently, even though gas water heaters are highly energy-efficient, they were neither manufactured in India nor were they imported. Gas has been the most preferred fuel for water heating in USA, Europe and several other countries for many decades and is much more economical than electricity.
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3.
What about safety?
Gas water heaters are absolutely safe. With the cooking stove, if the flame goes off due to boiling over of water or milk, gas continues to leak (it can accumulate in the kitchen and may explode even if a power switch is turned on). In gas water heaters, the gas supply cuts off within 30 seconds with the help of a thermocouple sensor (or flame failure device), if the flame goes off for any reason. Moreover, if there is no water supply (in case the overhead tank is empty) then the gas supply is cut off through a water pressure switch. Lastly, in the rare case of overheating due to any reason, there is a overheat protection device which immediately switches off the gas supply to the burners.
4.
Isn't an electric geyser more convenient to use?
May be it appears that way because we were used to it in the absence of a better choice. The electric geyser (storage type or immersion type) takes at least 15 to 20 minutes to heat water. As you start using the water from electric geyser, the cold water keeps mixing with the hot water in the geyser and after drawing around 15 to 20 liters, you may get only cold water in the middle of a shower, which could be very irritating.
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5.
What is the capacity of the gas water heater?
There is no storage in the gas water heater (instantaneous type) and therefore the capacity is virtually unlimited when compared to an electric storage water heater. The 5 litres per minute model gives you 300 liters of water per hour and the 11 litres per minute model gives you 660 litres per hour. And unlike the electric storage water heater, the gas water heater gives you water at the same temperature for as long as the tap is left open.
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6.
Do I need to have that extra space in my bathroom for the gas cylinder?
Not at all! The cylinder can be kept outside the bathroom or in a balcony and can be connected to the water heater with a copper pipeline which can be concealed with PVC casing, just like in the case of normal electrical wiring.
7.
What is the minimum water pressure required for the gas water heater?
Ideally, the water tank must be at a height of about 15 feet above the gas water heater. In many cases you can manage with a height of even 4 to 7 feet based on the model. Alternatively, a pressure booster pump can be used.
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8.
What about scaling due to water hardness?
Since it is the running water that is heated, the chances of scaling are minimal. In electric geyser, cold water from the tank mixes with hot water even though you are drawing only hot water. In case of a gas water heater, water is heated to a lower temperature and as such scaling does not happen to the same extent.
9.
How long does the built-in lighter last?
The built-in piezo electric system can last 100,000 cycles and is good enough for more than 33 years if it used 8 times per day.
10.
Am I not better off with a solar system?
Running cost is virtually nil with a solar system whereas the capital cost of the equipment is very high. Generally, the solar systems are provided with an electrical back up which takes 2 to 3 hours to heat the storage tank on a cloudy or rainy day. With a gas water heater, your solar system can have an instant back up.
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11.
Can I have a central water heating system with a gas water heater?
Of course you can have it! Just by doing the plumbing appropriately during the planning and construction stage, you can opt for a storage tank with a capacity as large as 500 to 1000 litres per day. For a two or three bedroom house, a storage tank is not required and the gas water heater itself can supply hot water to all the bathrooms. It is also possible to install the gas water heater in the kitchen (and connect it to the same gas cylinder that is used for the cooking stove) and have the hot water plumbing run from the kitchen to the bathrooms.