In commercial and industrial enterprises, water-heating systems can make or break a business. Whether it’s a restaurant, hotel, power plant, or the production floor of a factory: reliable, efficient, safe water heating systems are a crucial component to daily commercial operations

1. Water heaters
American Water Heaters
In commercial and industrial enterprises, water-heating systems can make or break a
business. Whether it’s a restaurant, hotel, power plant, or the production floor of a
factory: reliable, efficient, safe water heating systems are a crucial component to daily
commercial operations. In recent years there have been many innovations in water
heater design, yielding a range of options specific to the many different commercial
applications. As energy prices continue to fluctuate, and technology advances in
efficiency improve options, many businesses and industries are adopting energy-saving
water heating systems.
Water Heater Basics
The four primary areas of consideration for a water heating system are: how much hot
water is needed, what is the daily usage pattern of hot water, what type of energy is
available, and for what purpose the water will be used. The options for a restaurant,
which might use the water mostly during peak meal hours, versus a hotel, which needs
to provide hot water around the clock, will look different. A manufacturing facility that
uses hot water as part of its production system might need something entirely different,
than a business providing “comfort water heating.” Overall, the operations of a water
heater are generally the same; water is either stored in a tank and kept at a set
temperature through internal heating elements, or heated on demand.
Storage Water Heaters
Storage water heaters are the most common type of water heater used by high volume
water consumers, such as hotels and restaurants. Typical tank storage for a high
volume system is 100 gallons per tank, with larger volume facilities using several such
tanks. In heating water and keeping it hot, storage water tanks create what is called
“standby energy loss.” Storage water heaters can be the least expensive to purchase
and install, but have the highest long-term operating cost. Electric boilers are preferred

2. for high volume water heating systems in residential, hospitality, and food service
operations. By cost of installation and operation, electric boilers are a highly efficient
method of heating water or steam, and are relatively easy to install and maintain.
On Demand Hot Water
On demand water heating systems offer the best energy efficiency, lowest long-term
operating costs, and highest return on investment. Innovations in tankless heating
systems include multiple heating element options and usage-point “spot heating.” The
basic tankless, on-demand water heating system pulls water through heat exchangers
fired by high-powered burners. With an average energy saving of 15 to 20 percent,
tankless heaters have been adopted by many small- and mid-sized businesses looking
to maximize returns on investments. Benefits of tankless systems include a more
efficient and precise heating process, and more compact physical installation. More
recently, larger scale manufacturers have begun installing customized systems for use
in industrial operations.
Renewable Energy Water Heating Systems
With solar energy technology becoming increasingly ubiquitous and affordable in
industrial design, solar water heaters continue to grow in popularity for businesses. With
a backup gas or electricity “booster” built in, solar water heaters can provide hot water
for a fraction of the cost of a traditional electric or gas-fired system.
Geothermal water heating, wherein a geothermal pump extracts heat from the ground
and distributes it through a traditional duct system, can carry a high price tag, but is
considered a competitive long-term investment for businesses.
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