• Self Contained Tank Type This is much like the water heater you have in your home, only larger. Rated efficiencies on gas are 75% - 80%. These generally contain only enough storage for a small coin laundry or a shirt laundry unless used in multiples.
• Copper Finned Tube. These are available in both direct fired models at 80-83% efficiency and indirect fired models at 75% efficiency. Used in conjunction with a storage tank, they can provide unlimited hot water on demand.
• Copper Finned Tube Pressurized Combustion. These are direct fired and rated at 85-88% efficiency. They are also used in conjunction with a storage tank.
• Condensing. Efficiencies are typically in the 94% to 96% range, when they are in the condensing mode... This style of water heater is generally not available with inputs above 200,000 BTU/hr. limiting it's commercial use. The key to the high efficiency is having a constant demand for hot water, thus a constant supply of cold enough water to keep it in the condensing mode. Inlet water temperatures of 100¡F or higher will not provide the means of condensing, so the use of recirculation systems must be carefully studied.
• Direct Contact. This style of water heater is not rated by the American Gas Association, however manufacturers claim efficiencies of up to 100%. These heaters may also be used in conjunction with a storage tank, or may have an integral storage tank. The same water temperature to condensing relationship affects this design.
• Selecting the proper unit size Washing machine manufacturers are constantly working to reduce the water consumption per pound of clothes washed. As a result, hot water consumption per load is constantly changing. "Rules of thumb" from as recent as five years ago are now obsolete. If you have installed any new washers in the last ten years, you owe it to yourself to have your next water heating system properly sized for your current mix of wash equipment. Under sizing the system results in cold water on peak days, and unhappy customers (as well as premature water heater failure). On the other hand, over sizing the system will reduce operating efficiency due to cycling losses and excessive water storage.
The experienced store owner has the final say in sizing. It should be noted that you are the best judge for how often all of your machines are running at once and on the hot cycle. If your store has 35 washers and you are constantly running at full capacity on weekends, and everyone washes on hot, you should stick with the 100% occupancy factor. On the other hand, if you have the same 35 washers, seldom reach capacity, and you know many customers do not wash on the hot cycle, you could possibly get away with a reduction factor of 75%. If you are unsure, survey your store over the next few weeks by checking the cycle settings of all machines two or three times a day, as well as how often the store reaches capacity. Do this only on your peak business days; this is when you will need the most hot water. If afterward you still have doubts, be conservative by following the guidelines in the chart above. It is far better to slightly oversize your water heating system than to undersize it.

Once you have collected all of this data, fill out our laundry survey form and email it back to us for a free Compsize evaluation of your laundries water heating needs.

For further information complete our Laundry Survey Form.