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Quite often the question is asked, “how can I get hot water to a kitchenette or a hand basin without having to install a huge storage cylinder?”
Many years ago, there was no option but to consume the entire cupboard below the sink with a mains pressure electric storage hot water
cylinder either 25 litres or 50 litres in delivery capacity. You will still see a lot of these systems in operation especially in the older office buildings throughout Adelaide’s CBD. Today there is another option with major benefits:
• Does not store water
• Only takes up a small space in the cupboard
• No need for drainage pipes
• Heats water only as required (instant)
• Permissible operation pressure of 1000kpa
• Three adjustable temperature settings
• No ongoing regular maintenance
• Whisper quiet operation
• Easy installation
• Sleek looking design
• Suited to areas with low water flow rates
• 5-year warranty on domestic installations
• Can be partnered to multiple draw off points
• No risk of flooding from a burst storage cylinder (suited to multi storey office blocks)
Introducing Stiebel Eltron
Stiebel Eltron have been in the water heating market now for nearly 100 years when back in 1924 Dr. Theodore Stiebel founded the company in Berlin. Today the company is better known for its green energy low carbon systems through the delivery of heated water via heat pump technology. Stiebel Eltron also offer compact tankless instant electric water heaters for end users where their demand is low i.e. kitchenettes, laundry sinks, doctors rooms and hand basins.
The compact single phase instant electric water heaters come in four different models:
• DHCE 6/50
• DHCE 8/50
• DHCE 8/60
• DHC 4
These models can be installed below bench or directly above the sink depending on its desired use. They come in a sleek modern looking outer case, quiet dispenser, easily operated and guaranteed reliability under a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty (domestic applications only).
Case Study
Today many new homes are being built with multiple bathrooms that are typically positioned close to each other allowing for one large continuous flow gas water heater to supply hot water to these various outlets such as baths, bidets, showers and basins. What is neglected unfortunately is the kitchen sink, but there is a solution.
Delivery of water from a hot water service to the kitchen sink has a terrible reputation for taking a long time and by the time it arrives the person is likely to have finished using the tap. But with the installation of a Stiebel Eltron under bench unit which is plumbed up directly to the hot feed instead of the cold any water that leaves the properties hot water service for delivery to the kitchen sink is immediately used as intended “hot”.
Because the under-bench unit is connected to the hot supply pipe it utilises any of the water being fed to it from the properties water heater. Initially the under-bench unit will consume a little bit more electricity as it heats to cooler water in the hot pipe, but as the water temperature increases as it makes its way over across to the kitchen the Stiebel Eltron system starts to use less energy.
What does this mean? It means no longer are property owners waiting for hot water to finally arrive at the tap wasting countless litres of water (on average 1.5 litres of water is wasted every time the tap is turned on, that’s 5,475 litres of water per year, working on the average house hold turning on the hot tap at the kitchen 10 times per day). Instantly upon turning on a hot tap there will be water at the selected temperature.
How can it be achieved?
It doesn’t matter whether you have an existing property, building a new property or renovating these types of water heaters can be adapted to suit your demands. There is always going to be water plumbed up to a kitchen and it doesn’t have to be hot water these systems are designed to take cold or hot water feed pipes. The electrical supply cables to one of these systems is single phase (which is what every property who has electricity is connected to) and must be on a dedicated circuit which once again is a very simple process to have performed.
If you are considering your options for hot water to an office kitchenette or a commercial fit out contact us today and let us further discuss the options to suit your requirements. You will be amazed just how efficient these systems are and just how little space they require to be installed.
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