30-minute shower
Getting into hot water is more affordable with this system.
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Tankless hot water systems are efficient but don't store water. Tank systems store water but are less efficient.
Enter A.O. Smith's Next Hybrid. The system hits 90% efficiency by recycling hot gases back into the system. It also has a small storage tank so owners can take a 30-minute shower, if they desire, without running out of hot water.
"It has the advantages of tankless technology and the benefits of storage technology," said company spokesman David Chisolm.
The Next Hybrid is marketed through plumbing contractors so the cost will vary with the installation and location.
Payback time is hard to determine; it will depend on the system being replaced, utility costs and the habits of residents. It will pay for itself faster for families who use lots of hot water.
Chisolm said it's about 90% efficient, meaning that 90 cents of every dollar spent on fuel costs goes to actually heat water with only 10 cents worth of fuel wasted in excess heat.
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Last updated September 08 2010: 5:19 PM ET
