Daily Home Renovation Tips每日家裝修秘訣

Today we begin a series of articles on our experience with obtaining a tankless water heater.今天，我們開始了一系列的文章，就我們的經驗與取得tankless熱水器。 At first I thought it would be a one article or at most a two part series, but as I started to write this the words kept flowing on the many different aspects.起初我以為這會是一個一個的文章或在最一兩個系列的一部分，但正如我開始寫這個字眼不斷流動對許多不同的方面。

So, let’s start at the beginning, shall we?所以，讓我們先在開始時，我們應？ Always a good place to start.始終是一個好地方開始。

As our frequent visitors know we are participating in the ecoENERGY Retrofit program and have already had our initial作為我們的常客都知道我們正在參加在該ecoenergy改造計劃，並已初步 energy audit能源審計 . 。 It was from the audit report we received that we learned a great many things about reducing the consumption of non-renewable resources in the home, so much so that we still say our number 1 tip for a home renovation of any kind is to first obtain an energy audit.這是從審計報告我們已收到，我們學到了很多東西，約減少消費不可再生資源在家裡，以致我們仍然說，我們的人數一提示一個家裝修的任何一種，是先取得一能源審核。

Now, one of the recommendations in the energy audit report was about the現在，其中一項建議是在能源審計報告是關於 replacement of our hot water tank with an instantaneous, or tankless, gas water heater with an energy factor (EF) of 0.8 or better更換我們的熱水罐與一瞬時，或tankless ，燃氣熱水器與能源因素（英法） 0.8或更好 . 。 At the time, late 2007, the available financial incentive from the Federal Government was $200 and the matching incentive from our Provincial Government was also $200.在時間，於2007年年底，現有的財務誘因，由聯邦政府和200元的配套獎勵從我們省政府還200元。 More about this matching grant later.更多關於此等額補助金後。

Now, as you likely know tankless water heaters only use electricity or propane or natural gas (depending on the model) to heat the water when someone wants to use hot water.現在，正如你可能知道tankless熱水器僅使用電力或丙烷或天然氣（視模型）加熱水，當有人想用熱水。 No energy is used to heat the water otherwise.沒有能源是用來加熱水，否則。 This compares to what in North America is the traditional hot water tank which is constantly heating the water regardless if someone is taking a shower, or bath or…..與此相比，以什麼在北美地區是傳統的熱水箱是不斷加熱水，如果有人，無論是採取淋浴，或浴缸或… .. or not.或沒有。

That Energy Factor of 0.80 or better refers to the efficiency of the tankless unit in using the energy source to heat the water.能源的因素， 0.80或更好的指效率的tankless單位在使用的能量來源加熱水。 To qualify for the grant, we would need to install one of the more efficient variety.資格授予，我們將需要安裝一個更有效率的品種。

We know nothing about tankless water heaters.我們一無所知tankless熱水器。 I do remember from my many visits to western Europe over the years that tankless water heaters are the norm.我記得從我多次訪問西歐，多年來這tankless熱水器的規範。 And, a lot of countries in western Europe have the same cold climate as where we live, so why wouldn’t they work here in North America.和，很多國家在西歐的有同樣的寒冷氣候，我們的生活，為什麼他們不會在這裡工作，在北美。

However, I am a pragmatist, meaning that I need proof.不過，我是一個實用主義者，也就是說，我需要證明。 So, I went to the closest sources available to me, the Internet.所以，我到最接近的現有來源對我來說，在互聯網上。 I went to this forum and that, to this web site and that.我到這個論壇，這個網站和。 And, that is how I was introduced to many of the web sites that are now included within our Energy Conservation blog roll over on the left hand side.和，即是如何，我介紹了很多網站現在包括我們的能源節約博客輥超過就在左手邊。

I learned that many favoured natural gas over electric type of tankless water heaters as natural gas was more efficient.我了解到許多贊成天然氣電動類型的tankless熱水器作為天然氣更有效率。 I also learned that there are various capacities of these devices and installing one that is too small, yes, can result in insufficient hot water when you want it; say when the teenager is having a 30 minute shower and you are also taking one before you go off to work!我也了解到，有各種各樣的能力，這些設備和安裝是一個太小了，是的，可能會導致熱水不足，當您想要它;時說，該少年是有一個30分鐘的淋浴間和你也以一之前，請先去工作！

So, I was determined that if we were to convert from our current hot water tank to an instantaneous hot water device it would be (A) of the natural gas variety and (B) sufficiently large so we would not face an issue of insufficient hot water.所以，我確定，如果我們要轉換，從我們目前的熱水箱，以一瞬時熱水裝置，這將是： （一）天然氣品種及（ b ）足夠大，所以我們不會面對一個不足的問題熱點水。

I like to think of myself as also being frugal.我喜歡認為自己也正在儉樸。 Being a former professional accountant, I need financial payback in a sufficiently short time.作為一個前專業會計師，我需要的金融投資回報，在有足夠短的時間內。 Yes, I have become much more conscious of reducing consumption of non-renewable resources.是的，我已經變得更加自覺減少消費，不可再生資源。 However, no one is going to put food on my table if it costs me so much to have installed an energy conservation device that I run out of money.然而，沒有人去把食物對我的表，如果它的成本我這麼多已經安裝了一個節約能源的設備，我一發不可收拾的錢。 And, since these are not as wide spread in North America, I need to make sure that I have a reputable installation company perform the work for me so I don’t have to worry about what to do if it stops to work.而且，由於這些都不是廣泛分佈在北美，我要確保我有一個有信譽的安裝公司執行的工作為我，所以我不用擔心怎麼做，如果它停止工作。

Therefore, I also included the additional conditions that (C) the installation would be from a company I could trust and (D) I needed financial payback in under 5 years….preferably 4 years or less (financial payback is the number of years it takes to realize actual savings equal to the total cost of the project).因此，我還包括額外的條件， （三）安裝會從一間公司我可以信任和（ d ）我需要的財務回報下，在五年… … 。最好是四年或更少（財務回報是數年，它需要實現的實際儲蓄相等於該項目的總費用） 。 I think that is reasonable for the size of the up front investment we will need to make.我認為這是合理的大小對前方的投資，我們將需要作出。

Will I find such a device and company to meet my A, B, C and D conditions for a tankless water heater?我會找到這樣的設備和公司，以滿足我的一， B ， C和D的條件，一tankless熱水器？

Return tomorrow as we begin the search!返回明天我們開始搜索！

To continue with the next article in the series on tankless / instantaneous water heaters simply select this link to繼續與下篇文章在一系列關於tankless /瞬時熱水器只需選擇此鏈接 Part 2第2部分 . 。