Page 21 - Green Builder April 2017 Issue

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HEATING, COOLING AND WATER HEATING

Noritz
Combination Boiler

Homeowners who
need to heat water and
their homes can now
Trane 4MXW38 Ductless do it with one device
instead of two. Noritz’s
Indoor High Wall unit Combination Boiler
(CB) serves as a space
Trane, known for its ductless systems for heating and cooling—a heater for individual
definite plus when installing ductwork is impractical or expensive— rooms, and is also a
has taken a northern route with its latest product, the 4MXW38 water heater for
Ductless Indoor High Wall unit. Designed for cold climates (but the kitchen sink,
also perfectly suitable for warm weather), the residential model bathrooms and pretty
features SEER ratings up to 38, EER ratings up to 16.5, and HSPF much anywhere else
ratings up to 15. It functions as low as minus 22 degrees, with 100 that needs extra
percent capacity at zero. warmth.
The beauty of ductless is its ability to conserve energy and lower Don’t let its size fool
your home’s carbon footprint. Air ducts from a central forced air you. The Noritz CB
system are less efficient when they travel through unconditioned heater heats enough
places like an attic or basement, requiring the heating or cooling water—up to 4.5
system to work harder to achieve a desired temperature. Trane’s gallons per minute
models generally do not require ductwork and avoid that at 77 degrees
environmental setback. Fahrenheit—for a
The 4MXW38 uses variable-speed inverter technology, which household to run two showers at once. It also has enough
allows its compressor to continually modulate and adjust to the BTUH (up to 199,000) to warm and maintain temperature
most-efficient speed. Variable-speed inverters are about 35 for an average-sized room. Yet it takes up 80 percent less
percent more efficient than conventional single-speed floor space than the typical floor floor-standing boiler and
compressors. Also, all Trane indoor ductless units feature an Auto water heater.
Clean function with triple air filtration for best air quality. Even the boiler’s physical build has an enviro-friendly feel.
And, managing the unit’s settings is a…breeze, courtesy of a The combination boiler is made of plastic venting materials
wireless controller. This makes it possible to mount the system instead of stainless steel required by non-condensing water
high on a wall or even on the ceiling, reducing clutter, while still heaters. This substantially lowers cost by reducing
enjoying the indoor environment. installation time and piping materials.

MagVent MV-90 Dryer Vent Coupling

Every once in a while, a product comes along that makes a person say, “where has
this been all my life?” That’s the case with MagVent’s MV-90 coupling, a magnetic
solution for connecting drier vent hoses in hard-to reach locations. It’s a no-frills
product with no moving parts. But it’s an awesome tool.
When replacing or installing a dryer in a custom enclosure, many people have
struggled with a problem where it’s impossible to push the unit in and still reach
the vent outlet. MagVent’s self-aligning magnets allow remote connection of the
dryer to the wall, eliminating the need for a long transition duct, which usually gets
crushed when the machine is moved toward the wall.
On top of practicality, the MV-90 also has potential for greatly reducing dryer
vent-related house fires. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, nearly 3,000
such fires start each year, and 38 percent of those are caused by lack of cleaning.
With MagVent’s MV-90, people may be more likely to pull the unit out, clean out the hose,
and push it back into place. This will also increase dryer efficiency and make mold-causing
leakage less likely.

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