Demand heats up for point of use hot water

With demand for cost-efficient water heating solutions rising, Steve Holton, Strategic Marketing Director at Redring Xpelair Group, explains why point of use hot water products represent the future.

For some time, we have seen a shift towards more energy efficient water heating products, but wider market trends are now accelerating this change in buyer behaviour and are driving more to choose point of use hot water solutions.

Such products heat only the amount of water required and in as close proximity as possible to where it is needed, reducing waste and delivering significant energy and cost savings.

The absence of lengthy pipework systems also helps to save water, as there is no dormant water to run off and no residual hot water left cooling in pipe runs when taps and showers are switched off. Plus, energy wastage is also reduced by avoiding the heat losses that can occur when hot water is forced to travel through long pipe runs.

Redring Xpelair Group’s figures indicate that 18 billion litres of clean water and 3,400 terajoules of energy are wasted every single day in the developed world, as a result of centralised water heating systems.

Water heaters eliminate the need for complex circulation systems and sizeable storage tanks, saving space and money, and making them a particularly good choice for building extensions, where the installation of new hot water pipework can be difficult and costly.

An alternative to gas-powered heating systems, point of use water heaters are also an excellent option for taller buildings, where gas may be prohibited and for rental properties, where the presence of gas means safety certificates, annual checks and carbon monoxide monitoring are required.

There are benefits for end-users too. Instantaneous point of use water heating is exceptionally convenient and fast, with a limitless supply of hot water available immediately, as and when it’s needed.

Point of use water heaters are already being adopted for many of these reasons but the recent introduction of the Energy related Products (ErP) directive is set to increase levels of uptake.

The requirement for water heaters to now carry an energy label verifying their performance has placed a spotlight on their energy efficiency and this has served to highlight some of the disadvantages of larger stored water units.

While high volumes of stored water will undoubtedly remain useful for some applications, this does pose questions regarding the future of storage cylinders. This is particularly pertinent when you consider the impact similar legislation has had in the US, where point of use water heating is now very popular.

Choosing the right solution

A vast array of point of use options is available to suit residential and commercial applications.

One area of growth is instant boiling water taps in both domestic and professional kitchens. These taps deliver cold, hot and boiling water on demand from one neat electric tap.

Instant boiling water taps save countertop space by eliminating the need for kettles, and some of the newest designs available, including the Redring 3 in 1 Instant Boiling Water Tap, offer boiling water tanks with higher capacities than kettles at 2.3 litres.

Another interesting development is the introduction of electric taps that deliver hot water on demand in any location. Providing hand-washing facilities in areas where there is no hot water supply, such as garages, workshops and outbuildings, has traditionally been something of a challenge, but the newest plug-in electric taps, such as the Redring Instant Electric Hot Water Tap, provide a simple, effective and efficient alternative.

The tap provides instant hot and cold water; has a similar appearance to and is operated in a similar way to mixer taps; and is easy to install. Only a cold water supply is required and the tap can either be plugged into a standard domestic UK socket or wired into a fused spur outlet.

A further benefit of point of use water heaters is the ability to supply hot water on demand to several appliances from one single, discreet unit.

Unvented water heaters like the Redring Powerstream range provide a fast, convenient and space-saving source of hot water for up to two hand basins or one mixer shower and one hand basin.

The efficiency of moving cold water

The drive to reduce energy consumption, water use and running costs will continue to fuel demand for point of use water heaters, with the ErP Directive providing a legislative boost. The beauty of such products lies in the movement of cold, rather than hot water, which is fundamentally more efficient. Add in the space-saving benefits, convenience and speed of hot water delivery and it’s easy to see why point of use is becoming more widely adopted for both residential and commercial kitchens and bathrooms.

By offering the newest A energy efficiency rated water heating innovations from trusted brands, wholesalers can grow their point of use sales even further and share in the success of this growing category.

www.redring.co.uk