Eemax Tankless Commercial Water Heaters

Q. "Why do I need to fill out an order acknowledgment form when purchasing one of these Eemax Three Phase tankless water heaters?"
A. The manufacturer requires us to include this form with our shipment request so that they will have verification ("proof") on-file that they manufactured and shipped the correct heater." If you are ordering a 3-phase Eemax heater, you will need to print and fill out the order acknowledgment form, and then fax or mail it to us. Eemax manufactures the 3-phase units to order, therefore, these heaters are not returnable.

Q. "Why is the max flow lower for the staged turn on?"
A. The heating modules are set up differently to accommodate different flow rates.

Q. "What's the difference between the parallel turn on and the staged turn on?"
A. The parallel turn on will give you a higher maximum flow rate, and it needs a higher flow rate to turn on than the staged turn on. The staged turn on will turn on with a lower flow rate, and it handles a lower maximum flow rate than the parallel turn on.

Q. "How does the staged turn on work?"
A. Staged turn on models only use the heating modules needed to produce the desired output temperature.

Q. "Are all Eemax tankless water heaters designed to be hardwired?"
A. Yes, every tankless water heater by Eemax is supposed to be hardwired when it's installed.

Q. "Why does it say 480/277 (or 208/120) in the volts column?"
A. 480 volts is a phase-to-phase voltage requirement and 277 is the voltage to a LIVE NEUTRAL which is required for this configuration. With 208/120 voltage units the 208 voltage is phase-to-phase and 120 is the voltage to EARTH GROUND - no live neutral is required with this configuration. Please consult a licensed industrial electrician for more information.

Q. "Does the kW listed under each model represent the amount of energy they use if all the heating elements are on?"
A. Yes, the specification for kilowatt usage for all models show the maximum wattage with all heating elements on.

Q. "What does first and second stage mean?"
A. All of the staged models turn on their heating modules in stages depending on the water flow. Most of the time when the tankless water heater goes up a stage it turns on one or two heating elements. However, for the series 12 models, the first stage has six heating elements turned on and the second stage has all twelve heating elements on.

Q. "Eemax instant heaters specify the 'temp. rise' based on the GPM flow; what do you mean by this?"
A. Temperature rise is the amount the heater raises the temperature of the incoming water depending on the flow rate of the water.

Q. "Will an instantaneous water heater save me money on my utility bills?"
A. In many applications you can see a savings. There are some variables that could reduce the amount you save. One example is you will not run out of hot water, so longer showers could cut into your savings. Also, the cost of electricity, propane and natural gas in your area will affect the amount of money saved. The higher the cost for the energy type used to heat your water, the quicker you can recover the higher initial cost of installing a tankless versus tank style water heater.

Positives:

You will never run out of hot water. "You want an hour long shower? No problem!"
Electric units can be installed at the point of use.
You're not paying energy costs to heat water 24 hours a day.
They're easy to install.
Our electric units don't require a T&P valve (no tank!) - if code allows
Installing a tankless water heater can indeed be a bonus to the environment (why should we choose wastefulness when we're talking about finite natural resources?)

Negatives:

They all need a minimum flow rate & pressure to turn on.
The faster water flows through them, the lower the temperature rise. So, if you expect to take a shower while the clothes washer is running, you will need to select a unit sized to your maximum hot water flow requirements. (Gas units generally handle this a little better than electric models)
Electric units need heavy gauge wire. Example: the 9.5kw must have 8ga wire and a 50amp breaker.
Gas units need a much larger, special flue pipe and larger gas supply than a conventional water heater.
At times they can produce very hot water. It's easier to get scalded.
Gas units are more complicated than a conventional water heater.
With some brands, parts are hard to find (not a negative if you originally purchase from us, as we like to carry parts for the units that we sell).

Summary:
Tankless water heaters have their place. They're not "the answer" to every hot water need, but if they're used correctly they can be the solution to many of them.

Q. "Why is there a 'no return' policy on three phase units?"
A. Special 3-phase heaters are models made to-order and therefor these special three phase (most residences do not have that) are non returnable. If you order a 3-phase unit we will ask you to sign something saying that you are sure that you have 3-phase electrical and that you understand that they are not returnable.

Q. "Can I install these tankless water heaters in my attic?"
A. Without seeing all of your plumbing piping, etc. it is difficult for us to answer with a straight "yes" or "no." One must be sure that a possible water siphoning condition can not be created as these fantastic electric tankless water heaters can not have air in the lines. Water siphoning out of any brand of electric tankless water heater might damage the heater or element when the element is on and there is no water (or not enough water) in the lines. Air should not be touching the elements.

Q. "How does the Water Heater Scale Inhibitor System prevent corrosion?"
A. It forms a thin protective layer on the inside of pipes and metal parts. This film or layer is microscopic in thickness and will not build up over time.

Q. "Will the Water Heater Scale Inhibitor System change the taste or odor of water?"
A. No. The active ingredient is colorless, tasteless, and odorless when used as recommended.

Q. "Is the Water Heater Scale Inhibitor System's active ingredient safe?"
A. Yes! All ingredients used are 100% pure food grade materials. They are approved by the USDA and meet purity requirements as a food additive by the World Health Organization.

Q. "What are the best reasons to install a Scale Inhibitor System?"
A. The system inhibits scale build-up and protects the piping from corrosion, which helps maintain efficiency and extends the life of the system.

Q. "Can I install this scale inhibitor upside down?"
A. This scale inhibitor can be installed in any direction with the filter pointing in any direction as long as the water flow direction is correct and the system has suitable pressure to function properly. Please note, the manufacturer recommends that the filter be supported if the Venturi tee is not installed horizontally with the filter outlet pointing downward. Also, if the Venturi tee is not installed horizontally with the filter outlet pointing downward, it may be more difficult to catch the remaining water in the line when replacing the cartridge. As always, please consult with a trusted local professional if you are at all unsure about correctly installing this scale inhibitor.

Q. "What happens if you don't change cartridges often enough on the Scale Inhibitor System?"
A. The original water condition and problem will reappear. Hardness will begin to build up again, which you want to avoid.

Q. "What is siliphos?"
A. Siliphos is a water treatment compound; a glass-like Polyphosphate containing Sodium, Calcium Magnesium and Silicate, formulated specifically for the treatment of water problems and to prevent the build-up of scale in plumbing. It is made from a blend of food grade organic phosphates, and has been approved by the USDA for drinking water and all food applications. It is safe for ingestion by humans, animals, and plants, and does not build up in waste water.

Q. "What does it mean to have ANSI Certification for lead free plumbing products?"
A. Laws requiring plumbing products that come in to contact with drinking water to be essentially lead-free (0.25% weighted average) have been passed in California, Louisiana, Maryland, and Vermont. In order for companies to ship these plumbing products to locations in CA, LA, MD and VT, they must be ANSI certified lead free.

Q. "What is CA AB 1953, LA Act No. 362, MD HB 372, and VT S.152 and how is this different from previous low-lead legislation?"
A. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the amount of lead in drinking water under guidelines established in the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (passed in 1974; amended in 1988 and 1996). This Act defines "lead-free" as not more than 8% lead in pipes and fixture fittings. PLEASE NOTE: Use of the term "lead-free" varies between the new legislation in CA (AB 1953), LA ( Act No. 362), MD (HB 372), and VT (S.152), and in the current Federal Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. In the new legislation for CA, LA, MD and VT only (as of Jan 2013), it will mean 0.25% or less (weighted average). Similar national legislation is scheduled to go into effect Jan 2014.