The Regular Care and Feeding of Older Water Heaters

In the Laundromat industry, older styles of water heater systems weren’t thought of as too technical because they didn’t have too many complicated moving parts. Yet they still are the heart and center of most typical laundry ventures today. Simple? Sure. Yet they may be the one of the most complicated and misunderstood pieces of equipment in a coin or card operated laundry business. Oh, we all know what water heaters do but we don’t ever have to think about them until something goes wrong. And then, it’s usually not with the heating system itself, but with the circulating pump.

Too often, the heating of water isn’t even seen by laundry operators as too important to the whole process toward the success of their business. But it is VERY important to the public’s happiness with where they do their laundry, and that is why it is so critical. When the hot water temperatures don’t make users happy, they can and will go elsewhere to do their laundry. The loss of any customer could cost that losing laundry several hundred dollars per year.

The water heaters suck up most of the natural gas used in a laundry. Experts usually put the energy used to heat water at about 60% of a laundry’s monthly invoice from the gas company. That 60% can be cut by the proper care of the water heating system.

Water heaters use heat from the burning of natural gas, or other fuel, and transfer created heat to the water as it goes through flues or tubes that are located in the heater’s combustion chamber. The heated water is usually then retained in a separate storage tank awaiting demand for hot water from the laundry’s customers.

Laundry operators should make sure the heaters and tanks operate as efficiently as possible if only because it will save a laundry lots of money. One such efficiency is to insulate the storage tank to keep the heat inside from radiating out and thus be wasted.

Most laundries today use the most efficient fuel for heating water, which is -natural gas. Every cubic foot of gas -releases about 1050 BTU’s (British Thermal Units) of heat. The heater’s energy -efficiency -rating is the ratio between the heating value of the natural gas and BTU output of the temperature of the -water as it is heated up.

One BTU is about equal to the amount of heat that is expended in the end to end burning of a single wooden match.

When a water heater inputs 490,000 BTU’s, and water is heated to give 390,000 BTUs, it has an energy efficiency rating of 80%. Most of the older laundry heaters seem to run in that range. (390,000/490,000 = 80%)

There are two types of water -heaters used for laundry. They are the standard and condensing types. The latter have extra- features built in to improve the efficiency, but they will be priced higher than standard water heaters usually found in laundries. For cost of operation, condensing are usually better. Laundries tend to use- -standard water heater systems because of -availability and lower purchase costs.

According to industry standards, if you have an efficiency rating higher than 84% there will be some condensation on the heater’s tubes, or along the coils that run through the heater to transfer heat to the water. If a heater has too much condensation, it could cause the coils to rust and it lowers the life expectancy of the heater.

A condensing water heater has -special heat exchangers to handle the corrosive -nature of the effects of condensation. They also will have drain lines built in to dispose of the condensing so liquids can not accumulate on the -bottom of the -water heater and cause corrosion.

In the standard category, there are low, -medium and high efficiency water heating units. High efficiency standard units can reach as high as 84%. A medium efficiency unit operates in the 70% ranges. The low efficiency units are below that 70% range.

A standard water heater with an -efficiency of 82% and above might qualify for the types of rebate -programs now being run by some utility companies. If you’re considering a new water heater, don’t buy -unless and until you have checked with your local gas company to see if they have a rebate program available.

The more efficient the water heater, the more energy you save. That is important because at current gas rates you can save about $150 per year for -every point gained in water heater efficiency.

If you are thinking about replacing a heater, consider getting a high efficiency model that has been designed to stop corrosion and will have a longer life. Also make sure it is approved by local air quality control organizations.

How long has it been since you checked the temperature of the hot water being supplied in your -laundry? If water temperatures are higher than necessary, then you are probably wasting money. Over a few weeks drop the water temperature back until you receive complaints. Customers will let you know which setting is needed. That could save you lots of money as well.

Preventative Maintenance is Important

One of the most unpleasant surprises a laundry owner receives is when his otherwise dependable water heater system malfunctions. Not only can it cost an operator lots of money to repair or replace items lost to time and wear, but it can cost a loss of the laundry business’ income as well.

Some of the potential for loss can be reduced or even delayed for a long time by a timely preventative maintenance schedule designed to keep the system working.

Most water heating systems consist of one or more heaters, a hot water storage tank and a recirculation system. For safety, there are safety thermostats and a “pop off” valve on the hot water storage tank. The valve is designed to pop off when and if the pressure inside the storage tank gets dangerously high. Absent a valve, there could be an explosion.

The things that seem to draw the most visits from repair personnel are thermocouples for the water heaters, recirculation pumps and motors for the pumps.

In the case of the thermocouples, they are inexpensive enough so that many laundry owners keep one on hand in case of a breakdown. This way they can be down for hours, not days or weeks. Once you have seen it done, it’s the kind of repair job operators can do for themselves.

Pumps can last for years, if they are maintained regularly. Most will have an oil cap that can be flipped up to allow periodic lubrication. Still, it is only a matter of time until something goes wrong with pump motors or with the recirculation pump itself. Gasket material breaks down over time. When it does, there will be a leak. These leaks are usually small at first and are hardly noticeable, unless you are looking for such leaks. As they grow, they can become more costly.

Gasket material isn’t expensive and usually available quickly at plumbing supply outlets. Still, it is wise to keep a sheet of the right kind of gasket material on hand to save travel time to and fro just to replace it. When you have the material on hand, again your system is down for hours, not days.

Pumps for most hot water systems are of a standard two inch variety. Their purpose is to re-circulate water from the far end of the hot water lines back to the tank and heater in order to keep a constant and usable water temperature at the washers.

Pumps run continuously during business hours and have been known to last 30 years or more, if properly cared for. For operators, the pump is the heart of their laundry business, because without it they are pretty much a cold water wash laundry. When the pump is down, they’re down. Some operators are so paranoid about losing the pump to their system that they have been known to keep a spare pump in stock just in case.

Proper maintenance consists first of doing regular checks for leaks or irregularities of any kind. Next is, lubricating the pump and it’s motor on a scheduled basis. We suggest owners post the schedule in the heater room where it can not be missed and date it each time any work of any kind is done. Also, we suggest that owners check once each month or so and try to listen to what the sounds of the pump are like.

Changes in sound mean there could be changes in the pump’s condition. When the pump motor or pump itself starts to go, there is a change in the sounds they make. If the whine of the pump begins to change, plan for it to go out. When they are on the way out, order replacements while they are still working it will have to be done sooner or later anyway, so it doesn’t cost any more now than it would in an emergency. Then, at a time most suitable for you and your business, you exchange the old one with the new. It’s quick and neat and there’s little down time and therefore little loss of income.

There are laundry operators who have enough confidence to rebuild the pump they have just removed, so they will be able to have another on hand for the next failure. That takes a lot of skill and patience, but to many it’s worth it.

When checking hot water systems, look to see that the storage tank’s pop off valve moves freely, and isn’t stuck. Thermostats can be checked by using a thermometer to verify they provide the right temperatures. If thermostats or pop off valves go they are usually available locally and easily replaced. What can’t be replaced is the income a laundry loses when the heating system fails to function and customers are not happy.

Older laundry heating systems are not as efficient as the now higher price for natural gas calls for them to be. Can your Laundromat continue to afford the extra money that some of these old systems cost? In this industry there are claims made that new units save enough off of the natural gas bills to have the new water heaters pay for themselves, over time, through the savings.

Date:-05/28/2011
By:-Admin


Home Classifieds Laundry Locator Business Network Blog/News Brochures Events Newsletter Join Login Menu Of Services 30 DAY FREE TRIAL
	The Regular Care and Feeding of Older Water Heaters In the Laundromat industry, older styles of water heater systems weren’t thought of as too technical because they didn’t have too many complicated moving parts. Yet they still are the heart and center of most typical laundry ventures today. Simple? Sure. Yet they may be the one of the most complicated and misunderstood pieces of equipment in a coin or card operated laundry business. Oh, we all know what water heaters do but we don’t ever have to think about them until something goes wrong. And then, it’s usually not with the heating system itself, but with the circulating pump. Too often, the heating of water isn’t even seen by laundry operators as too important to the whole process toward the success of their business. But it is VERY important to the public’s happiness with where they do their laundry, and that is why it is so critical. When the hot water temperatures don’t make users happy, they can and will go elsewhere to do their laundry. The loss of any customer could cost that losing laundry several hundred dollars per year. The water heaters suck up most of the natural gas used in a laundry. Experts usually put the energy used to heat water at about 60% of a laundry’s monthly invoice from the gas company. That 60% can be cut by the proper care of the water heating system. Water heaters use heat from the burning of natural gas, or other fuel, and transfer created heat to the water as it goes through flues or tubes that are located in the heater’s combustion chamber. The heated water is usually then retained in a separate storage tank awaiting demand for hot water from the laundry’s customers. Laundry operators should make sure the heaters and tanks operate as efficiently as possible if only because it will save a laundry lots of money. One such efficiency is to insulate the storage tank to keep the heat inside from radiating out and thus be wasted. Most laundries today use the most efficient fuel for heating water, which is -natural gas. Every cubic foot of gas -releases about 1050 BTU’s (British Thermal Units) of heat. The heater’s energy -efficiency -rating is the ratio between the heating value of the natural gas and BTU output of the temperature of the -water as it is heated up. One BTU is about equal to the amount of heat that is expended in the end to end burning of a single wooden match. When a water heater inputs 490,000 BTU’s, and water is heated to give 390,000 BTUs, it has an energy efficiency rating of 80%. Most of the older laundry heaters seem to run in that range. (390,000/490,000 = 80%) There are two types of water -heaters used for laundry. They are the standard and condensing types. The latter have extra- features built in to improve the efficiency, but they will be priced higher than standard water heaters usually found in laundries. For cost of operation, condensing are usually better. Laundries tend to use- -standard water heater systems because of -availability and lower purchase costs. According to industry standards, if you have an efficiency rating higher than 84% there will be some condensation on the heater’s tubes, or along the coils that run through the heater to transfer heat to the water. If a heater has too much condensation, it could cause the coils to rust and it lowers the life expectancy of the heater. A condensing water heater has -special heat exchangers to handle the corrosive -nature of the effects of condensation. They also will have drain lines built in to dispose of the condensing so liquids can not accumulate on the -bottom of the -water heater and cause corrosion. In the standard category, there are low, -medium and high efficiency water heating units. High efficiency standard units can reach as high as 84%. A medium efficiency unit operates in the 70% ranges. The low efficiency units are below that 70% range. A standard water heater with an -efficiency of 82% and above might qualify for the types of rebate -programs now being run by some utility companies. If you’re considering a new water heater, don’t buy -unless and until you have checked with your local gas company to see if they have a rebate program available. The more efficient the water heater, the more energy you save. That is important because at current gas rates you can save about $150 per year for -every point gained in water heater efficiency. If you are thinking about replacing a heater, consider getting a high efficiency model that has been designed to stop corrosion and will have a longer life. Also make sure it is approved by local air quality control organizations. How long has it been since you checked the temperature of the hot water being supplied in your -laundry? If water temperatures are higher than necessary, then you are probably wasting money. Over a few weeks drop the water temperature back until you receive complaints. Customers will let you know which setting is needed. That could save you lots of money as well. Preventative Maintenance is Important One of the most unpleasant surprises a laundry owner receives is when his otherwise dependable water heater system malfunctions. Not only can it cost an operator lots of money to repair or replace items lost to time and wear, but it can cost a loss of the laundry business’ income as well. Some of the potential for loss can be reduced or even delayed for a long time by a timely preventative maintenance schedule designed to keep the system working. Most water heating systems consist of one or more heaters, a hot water storage tank and a recirculation system. For safety, there are safety thermostats and a “pop off” valve on the hot water storage tank. The valve is designed to pop off when and if the pressure inside the storage tank gets dangerously high. Absent a valve, there could be an explosion. The things that seem to draw the most visits from repair personnel are thermocouples for the water heaters, recirculation pumps and motors for the pumps. In the case of the thermocouples, they are inexpensive enough so that many laundry owners keep one on hand in case of a breakdown. This way they can be down for hours, not days or weeks. Once you have seen it done, it’s the kind of repair job operators can do for themselves. Pumps can last for years, if they are maintained regularly. Most will have an oil cap that can be flipped up to allow periodic lubrication. Still, it is only a matter of time until something goes wrong with pump motors or with the recirculation pump itself. Gasket material breaks down over time. When it does, there will be a leak. These leaks are usually small at first and are hardly noticeable, unless you are looking for such leaks. As they grow, they can become more costly. Gasket material isn’t expensive and usually available quickly at plumbing supply outlets. Still, it is wise to keep a sheet of the right kind of gasket material on hand to save travel time to and fro just to replace it. When you have the material on hand, again your system is down for hours, not days. Pumps for most hot water systems are of a standard two inch variety. Their purpose is to re-circulate water from the far end of the hot water lines back to the tank and heater in order to keep a constant and usable water temperature at the washers. Pumps run continuously during business hours and have been known to last 30 years or more, if properly cared for. For operators, the pump is the heart of their laundry business, because without it they are pretty much a cold water wash laundry. When the pump is down, they’re down. Some operators are so paranoid about losing the pump to their system that they have been known to keep a spare pump in stock just in case. Proper maintenance consists first of doing regular checks for leaks or irregularities of any kind. Next is, lubricating the pump and it’s motor on a scheduled basis. We suggest owners post the schedule in the heater room where it can not be missed and date it each time any work of any kind is done. Also, we suggest that owners check once each month or so and try to listen to what the sounds of the pump are like. Changes in sound mean there could be changes in the pump’s condition. When the pump motor or pump itself starts to go, there is a change in the sounds they make. If the whine of the pump begins to change, plan for it to go out. When they are on the way out, order replacements while they are still working it will have to be done sooner or later anyway, so it doesn’t cost any more now than it would in an emergency. Then, at a time most suitable for you and your business, you exchange the old one with the new. It’s quick and neat and there’s little down time and therefore little loss of income. There are laundry operators who have enough confidence to rebuild the pump they have just removed, so they will be able to have another on hand for the next failure. That takes a lot of skill and patience, but to many it’s worth it. When checking hot water systems, look to see that the storage tank’s pop off valve moves freely, and isn’t stuck. Thermostats can be checked by using a thermometer to verify they provide the right temperatures. If thermostats or pop off valves go they are usually available locally and easily replaced. What can’t be replaced is the income a laundry loses when the heating system fails to function and customers are not happy. Older laundry heating systems are not as efficient as the now higher price for natural gas calls for them to be. Can your Laundromat continue to afford the extra money that some of these old systems cost? In this industry there are claims made that new units save enough off of the natural gas bills to have the new water heaters pay for themselves, over time, through the savings. Date:-05/28/2011 By:-Admin