Frequently Asked Questions
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 appropriate order acknowledgment form (you can find the correct form below the ordering table for the model you want), 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.
- 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 choose wastefulness when we're talking about finite natural resources?)
Negatives:
- They all need a minimum flow rate & pressure to turn on.
- Electric units need heavy gauge wire, while 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 - but this is easily mitigated with anti-scald valves.
- 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. "I'm hearing a lot about lead-free these days. What does that have to do with plumbing products and how does the new lead-free legislation affect me?"
A. Basically, the laws implemented Jan. 1st, 2014 require plumbing products that come in contact with drinking water to be "essentially lead free" (less than 0.25% weighted average). For further information about how the law determines what is "lead free", rules regarding which plumbing products must be "lead free", and who these laws will affect, please view our page.
