XTEND Elements Hard Water Case Study
April 4, 2022
XTEND elements Troubleshooting Overview
May 18, 2022
Geysers are expensive to run so efficiency is important to keep costs low, thus saving money. Adjusting your thermostat down and using a timer are two, cost effective, options available to improve the efficiency of your geyser.
Most thermostats are set at around 65°C, sometimes even higher and most geysers are not on a timer. This leads to wasted energy and higher running costs and this article will look at why this is and how you can save energy by adjusting the thermostat and installing a timer.
Thermostat settings
Thermostat settings that are too high result in higher energy usage as it naturally takes more energy to heat the water to higher temperatures. In addition, you experience higher heat losses to the atmosphere through metal fittings and stands. This wasted energy is costly and by reducing your temperature setting, you can reduce wastage. However, with standard elements when you drop the temperature you also reduce the average water temperature of the geyser.
XTEND elements do provide another option as they do not experience this problem because they are more efficient than standard elements. In fact, it is recommended to turn the thermostat down to prevent higher temperatures at the top of the geyser. XTEND elements are low watt density elements and due to this and the design of the element, the use of ceramic chips and the location of the thermostat, are more 25% more efficient than standard elements.
Thermostat location
The location of the thermostat has an impact on the efficiency of a geyser with a lower position being preferable to a higher position. It is also noted that the lower the position of the thermostat, the higher the final water temperature in the geyser, and the higher the discharge efficiency.
It is therefore important to set thermostats in lower positions accordingly.
XTEND elements have a lower than normal thermostat location so you are able to drop the temperature without compromising the average temperature in the geyser. In fact, we recommend that you drop the thermostat setting by 10°C - 15°C to achieve the same 60°C - 65°C at the top of the geyser.
Stratification
This occurs in a geyser due to the fact that hot water will always collect above cold water as the hotter water has a lower density and will float above the colder water. In some geysers there can be approximately 15°C difference between the temperature at the top and at the bottom. The lower the position of the thermostat in the geyser, the lower you can set the thermostat temperature. For example, by setting the thermostat to 50°C, the element will only turn off when the bottom of the geyser reaches 50°C. At this point the temperature at the top of the geyser, from which you draw hot water, will be around 65°C
Results also showed that; increasing thermostat set point temperature has a negative impact on discharge efficiency and depending on the number of people to take shower, optimal set point temperature should be selected. For the increase of the set point temperature between 40 → 55 °C, efficiency becomes half. For 1–2 persons, optimum set point temperature was found as 40 °C whereas for 3,4 and 5 persons, it was determined as 45, 50 and 55 °C respectively.
XTEND elements can be set at 40°C - 45°C for most sized families as the water at the top of the geyser will be >60°C before the thermostat turns off.
Timers
Without a timer, the thermostat manages the element, turning the element on when it drops below the temperature at which the thermostat is set. When the temperature rises and reaches the thermostat setting it will turn the geyser off. Since there is heat loss experienced in the geyser, the temperature drops, and this results in the element turning on. It then turns off when it reaches temperature again, resulting in the element turning on and off many times during the day trying to keep the geyser at the required temperature.
It is not energy efficient to store hot water for long periods, so it is advisable to turn geysers on a few hours before use and then to have them off for the rest of the day. When you use water immediately after heating, there is less heat loss in the system as you are not trying to store water at high temperatures.
Timers manage the element and limit their working window to a few hours a day which is normally in the morning and evening when hot water is generally needed. If you have a solar PV system and want to turn the geyser on during the day to soak up spare solar power, you can use the timer and an XTEND element to convert your geyser from an expensive cost into a thermal asset, keeping battery costs down and improving production in the solar PV system.
Conclusion
It is possible to save money by lowering the thermostat setting, however, with standard elements this does lead to a drop in average water temperature. With XTEND elements, due to the higher efficiency and the lower position of the thermostat, it is possible to set the temperature 10°C - 15°C lower without compromising final water temperature. With a timer, you can further improve savings by only turning the element on a few hours before use ensuring minimal heat loss to the system. XTEND elements do keep heat losses low due to the location of the heating core far away from the base plate and surrounding air.
As electricity costs continue to rise, managing your geyser costs is now more important than ever. Installing an XTEND element and a timer is a great way to improve your geyser efficiency and over time save on hot water costs.
References:
Geysers are expensive to run so efficiency is important to keep costs low, thus saving money. Adjusting your thermostat down and using a timer are two, cost effective, options available to improve the efficiency of your geyser.
Most thermostats are set at around 65°C, sometimes even higher and most geysers are not on a timer. This leads to wasted energy and higher running costs and this article will look at why this is and how you can save energy by adjusting the thermostat and installing a timer.
Thermostat settings
Thermostat settings that are too high result in higher energy usage as it naturally takes more energy to heat the water to higher temperatures. In addition, you experience higher heat losses to the atmosphere through metal fittings and stands. This wasted energy is costly and by reducing your temperature setting, you can reduce wastage. However, with standard elements when you drop the temperature you also reduce the average water temperature of the geyser.
XTEND elements do provide another option as they do not experience this problem because they are more efficient than standard elements. In fact, it is recommended to turn the thermostat down to prevent higher temperatures at the top of the geyser. XTEND elements are low watt density elements and due to this and the design of the element, the use of ceramic chips and the location of the thermostat, are more 25% more efficient than standard elements.
Thermostat location
The location of the thermostat has an impact on the efficiency of a geyser with a lower position being preferable to a higher position. It is also noted that the lower the position of the thermostat, the higher the final water temperature in the geyser, and the higher the discharge efficiency.
It is therefore important to set thermostats in lower positions accordingly.
XTEND elements have a lower than normal thermostat location so you are able to drop the temperature without compromising the average temperature in the geyser. In fact, we recommend that you drop the thermostat setting by 10°C - 15°C to achieve the same 60°C - 65°C at the top of the geyser.
Stratification
This occurs in a geyser due to the fact that hot water will always collect above cold water as the hotter water has a lower density and will float above the colder water. In some geysers there can be approximately 15°C difference between the temperature at the top and at the bottom. The lower the position of the thermostat in the geyser, the lower you can set the thermostat temperature. For example, by setting the thermostat to 50°C, the element will only turn off when the bottom of the geyser reaches 50°C. At this point the temperature at the top of the geyser, from which you draw hot water, will be around 65°C
Results also showed that; increasing thermostat set point temperature has a negative impact on discharge efficiency and depending on the number of people to take shower, optimal set point temperature should be selected. For the increase of the set point temperature between 40 → 55 °C, efficiency becomes half. For 1–2 persons, optimum set point temperature was found as 40 °C whereas for 3,4 and 5 persons, it was determined as 45, 50 and 55 °C respectively.
XTEND elements can be set at 40°C - 45°C for most sized families as the water at the top of the geyser will be >60°C before the thermostat turns off.
Timers
Without a timer, the thermostat manages the element, turning the element on when it drops below the temperature at which the thermostat is set. When the temperature rises and reaches the thermostat setting it will turn the geyser off. Since there is heat loss experienced in the geyser, the temperature drops, and this results in the element turning on. It then turns off when it reaches temperature again, resulting in the element turning on and off many times during the day trying to keep the geyser at the required temperature.
It is not energy efficient to store hot water for long periods, so it is advisable to turn geysers on a few hours before use and then to have them off for the rest of the day. When you use water immediately after heating, there is less heat loss in the system as you are not trying to store water at high temperatures.
Timers manage the element and limit their working window to a few hours a day which is normally in the morning and evening when hot water is generally needed. If you have a solar PV system and want to turn the geyser on during the day to soak up spare solar power, you can use the timer and an XTEND element to convert your geyser from an expensive cost into a thermal asset, keeping battery costs down and improving production in the solar PV system.
Conclusion
It is possible to save money by lowering the thermostat setting, however, with standard elements this does lead to a drop in average water temperature. With XTEND elements, due to the higher efficiency and the lower position of the thermostat, it is possible to set the temperature 10°C - 15°C lower without compromising final water temperature. With a timer, you can further improve savings by only turning the element on a few hours before use ensuring minimal heat loss to the system. XTEND elements do keep heat losses low due to the location of the heating core far away from the base plate and surrounding air.
As electricity costs continue to rise, managing your geyser costs is now more important than ever. Installing an XTEND element and a timer is a great way to improve your geyser efficiency and over time save on hot water costs.
References:
Geysers are expensive to run so efficiency is important to keep costs low, thus saving money. Adjusting your thermostat down and using a timer are two, cost effective, options available to improve the efficiency of your geyser.
Most thermostats are set at around 65°C, sometimes even higher and most geysers are not on a timer. This leads to wasted energy and higher running costs and this article will look at why this is and how you can save energy by adjusting the thermostat and installing a timer.
Thermostat settings
Thermostat settings that are too high result in higher energy usage as it naturally takes more energy to heat the water to higher temperatures. In addition, you experience higher heat losses to the atmosphere through metal fittings and stands. This wasted energy is costly and by reducing your temperature setting, you can reduce wastage. However, with standard elements when you drop the temperature you also reduce the average water temperature of the geyser.
XTEND elements do provide another option as they do not experience this problem because they are more efficient than standard elements. In fact, it is recommended to turn the thermostat down to prevent higher temperatures at the top of the geyser. XTEND elements are low watt density elements and due to this and the design of the element, the use of ceramic chips and the location of the thermostat, are more 25% more efficient than standard elements.
Thermostat location
The location of the thermostat has an impact on the efficiency of a geyser with a lower position being preferable to a higher position. It is also noted that the lower the position of the thermostat, the higher the final water temperature in the geyser, and the higher the discharge efficiency.
It is therefore important to set thermostats in lower positions accordingly.
XTEND elements have a lower than normal thermostat location so you are able to drop the temperature without compromising the average temperature in the geyser. In fact, we recommend that you drop the thermostat setting by 10°C - 15°C to achieve the same 60°C - 65°C at the top of the geyser.
Stratification
This occurs in a geyser due to the fact that hot water will always collect above cold water as the hotter water has a lower density and will float above the colder water. In some geysers there can be approximately 15°C difference between the temperature at the top and at the bottom. The lower the position of the thermostat in the geyser, the lower you can set the thermostat temperature. For example, by setting the thermostat to 50°C, the element will only turn off when the bottom of the geyser reaches 50°C. At this point the temperature at the top of the geyser, from which you draw hot water, will be around 65°C
Results also showed that; increasing thermostat set point temperature has a negative impact on discharge efficiency and depending on the number of people to take shower, optimal set point temperature should be selected. For the increase of the set point temperature between 40 → 55 °C, efficiency becomes half. For 1–2 persons, optimum set point temperature was found as 40 °C whereas for 3,4 and 5 persons, it was determined as 45, 50 and 55 °C respectively.
XTEND elements can be set at 40°C - 45°C for most sized families as the water at the top of the geyser will be >60°C before the thermostat turns off.
Timers
Without a timer, the thermostat manages the element, turning the element on when it drops below the temperature at which the thermostat is set. When the temperature rises and reaches the thermostat setting it will turn the geyser off. Since there is heat loss experienced in the geyser, the temperature drops, and this results in the element turning on. It then turns off when it reaches temperature again, resulting in the element turning on and off many times during the day trying to keep the geyser at the required temperature.
It is not energy efficient to store hot water for long periods, so it is advisable to turn geysers on a few hours before use and then to have them off for the rest of the day. When you use water immediately after heating, there is less heat loss in the system as you are not trying to store water at high temperatures.
Timers manage the element and limit their working window to a few hours a day which is normally in the morning and evening when hot water is generally needed. If you have a solar PV system and want to turn the geyser on during the day to soak up spare solar power, you can use the timer and an XTEND element to convert your geyser from an expensive cost into a thermal asset, keeping battery costs down and improving production in the solar PV system.
Conclusion
It is possible to save money by lowering the thermostat setting, however, with standard elements this does lead to a drop in average water temperature. With XTEND elements, due to the higher efficiency and the lower position of the thermostat, it is possible to set the temperature 10°C - 15°C lower without compromising final water temperature. With a timer, you can further improve savings by only turning the element on a few hours before use ensuring minimal heat loss to the system. XTEND elements do keep heat losses low due to the location of the heating core far away from the base plate and surrounding air.
As electricity costs continue to rise, managing your geyser costs is now more important than ever. Installing an XTEND element and a timer is a great way to improve your geyser efficiency and over time save on hot water costs.
References:
