How Does a Hot Water System Work on a Boat?
The hot water system on your boat plays an important role in terms of comfort and livability. These heaters must stand up to harsh and corrosive marine environments, which means they’re not duplicates of the kind we find in our homes. Ready to add a hot water system to your vessel or to improve the one you’ve got? A trusted Florida marine hot water specialist can help.
Hot Water Makes all the Difference
When it comes to comfortable boating that keeps you coming back for more, having pressurized hot water on board makes all the difference. The perks include all the following:
- The ability to take a hot shower and to wash your hands with hot water
- The ability to wash your dishes more effectively and efficiently
- The ability to do your laundry
How It Works
Hot water systems on boats generally look like smaller versions of the hot water systems found in our homes, but they are powered by the boat engine’s heat exchanger when the boat is in motion. This exchanger pushes heat through the water heater’s coils, which heats the water within. There is also a 110V electric heating element deep within the tank that also has the capacity to heat the tank water. This element can be supplied with electricity via shore power when docked or by an onboard generator when on the water.
The heavily insulated water tank you choose is called a calorifier, and it can be made of either copper or stainless steel. Copper is somewhat better at insulation and has significant antibacterial properties. The primary difference between a marine tank and a home tank is that the marine tank includes spiral copper tubing through which water from the engine’s freshwater coolant pump is circulated.
Temperature Control
The temperature of the heated water generated by the boat’s engine can reach upwards of 180 degrees, which is dangerously hot for usage. There are two primary means of regulating this temperature, including:
- A temperature mixing valve on the tank
- Automatic temperature control on the faucet
Risk Factors
If the heating element’s thermostat fails to function properly, the water in the tank can reach the boiling point, and steam is created in the process, which leads to extreme pressure. The pressure relief valve is designed to open and vent this pressure. How the pressure relief valve is plumbed also plays a role in safety.
Because the need for pressure relief is unpredictable, the valve should be plumbed into the bilge – or away from those locations where people are likely to be. Further, highly durable, marine-quality tubing must be clamped securely to the valve in order to maintain safety throughout the system.
Safety
When it comes to hot water on your boat, safety is a primary concern, which makes using the right equipment and having it properly installed and regularly maintained critical.
Florida Marine Hot Water Specialists Can Provide Your Boat with All the Comforts of Home
At NextGen Marine, we have a wealth of experience outfitting vessels of all shapes and sizes with hot water systems that take boating comfort to the next level – without ever skimping on safety. Learn more about improving your vessel’s hot water system by contacting us online or calling 954-789-3665 today.
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