American Proline Water Heaters Review
American Proline water heaters series
has a wide selection of
tank-type gas appliances that are powered by the natural gas and LP,
designed for residential water heating. These models are not only
for heating potable water, but for home space heating too.
Explore different types such as direct vent, Flame Guard and high
recovery models.
Proline Models and Features
American Proline models can be found in
variety of
sizes,
from
the smallest 30-gallon tanks, popular 50-gallon,
to
Ultra High Recovery models with 100-gallon
capacity.
We will review three groups from Proline
series that are grouped
according
to the venting
requirements, design and performance:
Main Features
American Proline water
heaters are designed with
features that allow
easy installation,
parts replacement (thermocouples for example), safety and
troubleshooting:
-
High altitude installation.
-
TPR
valve is factory installed.
-
Space heating/potable water heating connection.
-
Heavy duty anode
rod.
-
Solar storage tank or backup heater.
-
Piezo electric igniter to easy light the pilot.
-
Drain
valve for easy draining
and flushing.
-
Safety
shut-off system consisted of flame sensing thermocouple
that automatically turns the gas supply off if the pilot flame
is
extinguished and ECO (Energy Cut Off) that shuts off the unit if hot
water temperature exceeds 180 F (83 C).
Proline
Direct Vent Series
American
Proline water heaters from Direct Vent series
can be found in two sizes; 40 and 50-gallon
capacity with gas input of 38,000 and 42,000 BTU per hour, recovery
rate 38.5 and 42.6 GPH and lower 0.59 and 0.58 energy factor. Both
DVG62 models are with 6-year limited warranty on tank and parts.
Direct
vent installation allows you to run the flue horizontally through the
outside wall or vertically through the roof. The outside
air is
used for gas combustion while products of combustion are vented out.
This is happening because of the enclosed combustion
that protects the inside air to be used. Direct vent heaters
are
recommended for homes where the power venting is not a viable option or
cannot attach the vent to the chimney.
For
protection against the tank corrosion, the heavy duty anode rod is used
and a thick,
durable
ceramic lining that is installed on the inner tank surface.
To
save on energy costs and reduce the heat loss, American Proline
water
heaters with the direct venting have the 2" thick foam, which helps in
reducing the heat loss.
Factory installed TPR valve is standard part.
Natural gas units are using aluminized steel burner while
propane water
heaters are using cast iron burners.
If your water
heater is installed in the room with other flammable
liquids and vapors, to reduce the risk of accidental fire, Proline
direct vent units are designed to be FVIR compliant (flammable vapor
ignition
resistance).
Direct
vent model can even be used as a solar storage heater or as a backup
for your solar heating system. Be careful when using a solar water
heating
system as the outlet temperature may exceed 180 F (82 C) and cause
problems with this Proline unit.
Proline
FlameGuard Series
American
Proline water heaters from FlameGuard (BFG61)
series
can be found
in three sizes; 30, 40 and 50-gallon capacities where the gas input is
in the range from 30,000 to 65,000 BTU per hour and recovery rates from
30.4 to 50.7 GPH.
All Proline FlameGuard water heaters are
built with
stamped stainless
steel
burners while models BFG61-50T50-4NOV and BFG62-50T50-4NOV are the only
two with the cast iron burner. All models come with 6-year limited
warranty
on tank and parts.
40-gallon Proline model BFG62-40T40-3NOV
has the
highest thermal efficiency, EF is 0.63, while Proline model
FVG62-50T65-4NOV has one of the lowest EF, 0.58.
American Proline
FlameGuard water heaters are also available with the 9 and
12
years
warranty, which are found in two 40 and 50-gallon tank
sizes,
and gas inputs of 40,000 and 50,000 BTU. From 6 available
units that are using natural and propane
gas, BFG122-40T40-3NOV is with the highest energy efficiency of EF 0.63.
Upgraded
heavy-duty anode rod and fused ceramic tank lining are
effectively used to fight
the corrosive water action while the patented
Self-Cleaning LimeFighter dip tube reduces
the sediment build-up.
An
intelligent control logic utilizes a small computer inside the heater,
which ensures a better performance and the accurate hot water
temperatures.
The self-powered gas valve and a thermopile are
used to generate the energy to run the heater, which makes these
heaters electrically independent. The LED indicator is
built-in and
part of the control valve, which serves to monitor the operation and
for diagnostic purposes.
All the models are atmospherically
vented and FVIR compliant that also come with the lint resistant design
trap so the risk of accidental
fires of flammable vapor is reduced.
Proline
Ultra-High Recovery Series
American
Proline Ultra-High Recovery units are built in
two sizes, 75 and 100 gallon capacity. With
Super Eagle Performance and 2" polyurethane
foam for heat loss
reduction, these high performing units are designed for high hot water
demand households.
They feature an exceptional 81 gallons per hour recovery
with 90 F
rise; when compared to standard gas water heater models.
Both
American Proline water heaters are providing
75,100 BTU per hour that
can be used for domestic
water heating and space heating applications as well. They come with
the 6-year limited warranty, while for 75-gallon model you
have an
option to upgrade it to 12-year tank and parts warranty.
Since
the American Proline water heaters are
atmospheric type and
using surrounding
air
for combustion, enough fresh air has to be provided, for
proper
gas combustion and ventilation of the flue gases.
Flue gases
will travel through the flue baffle, draft hood and
vent pipe,
and extracted out. Vent system might be connected to the certified
chimney or run vertically through the roof.
(Photo credit to American Co)
