BRADFORD WHITE SS-120-L Indirect Water Heater (111 gallons) | Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, South Shore & North Shore

A large stainless steel indirect reserve for electrically heated buildings and businesses

When several apartments, a daycare, a hair salon or a locker room with showers depend on the same hot water source, a residential tank is no longer enough. The Bradford White SS-120-L indirect water heater stores 111 US gallons (92 imperial gallons, 420 L) of potable water, heated by a stainless steel coil connected to an electric boiler. It is the largest tank in the SS series that we offer, and the only one in the series with 1 in. potable water connections. AirGreen installs it in buildings in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, on the South Shore and on the North Shore.

Which buildings this tank is designed for

The SS-120-L is aimed first at small multi-unit buildings whose central heating runs on an electric boiler, at businesses that use a lot of hot water in a short time, and at very large homes. In a converted plex where each apartment had its own tank, a central indirect tank can also simplify maintenance, provided the boiler and the distribution allow it. Every case calls for an analysis: number of plumbing fixtures, simultaneous use, peak hours and boiler capacity. We do this calculation before proposing the model.

Manufacturer specifications

• Capacity: 111 US gallons, 92 imperial gallons, 420 L.
• First-hour rating (AHRI): 409 gal/h (1,548 L/h), with boiler water at 180 °F (82 °C).
• Continuous draw: 319 gal/h at 135 °F (1,208 L/h at 57 °C).
• Standby heat loss: 0.3 °F/h (0.16 °C/h).
• Minimum heat source input: 199,000 BTU/h.
• Minimum heat source flow: 9.0 gal/min (34.0 L/min).
• Maximum boiler supply temperature: 240 °F (116 °C).
• Heat exchanger: single-wall stainless steel coil, 1 in. (25 mm) outside diameter.
• Connections: potable water in 1 in. NPT; boiler in 1 in. (25 mm) female NPT at the front, supply and return.
• Dimensions: height of 63 3/8 in. (1,610 mm), diameter of 30 1/4 in. (768 mm).
• Weight: 217 lb (98 kg) empty.

The indirect principle applied to a large volume

The tank has no heating element. Boiler water flows through the coil, gives up its heat to the potable water and returns to the boiler, without ever coming into contact with the domestic water. On a 420 L volume, this heating method has a clear advantage: the boiler recharges the reserve while the water is being used, which gives a first-hour rating of 409 gal/h and a continuous draw of 319 gal/h at 135 °F. For a building where morning showers are concentrated in a short period, this recharging capacity matters as much as the stored volume.

Pairing the SS-120-L with a high-output electric boiler

Bradford White states that these ratings are obtained with a heat source of at least 199,000 BTU/h, a flow of at least 9.0 gal/min and boiler water at 180 °F (82 °C). The manufacturer also specifies that different conditions give different results. A smaller electric boiler will heat the reserve properly, but more slowly; in a building, this can mean less hot water at the end of the peak. We therefore size the whole system: boiler output, the share reserved for heating in extreme cold, circulator flow and priority control. If the existing boiler cannot keep up, we present the options before starting the work.

1 in. potable water connections

Unlike the smaller models in the series, which use 3/4 in. connections, the SS-120-L takes in cold water and delivers hot water through 1 in. NPT fittings. This larger diameter limits pressure loss when several apartments or several fixtures draw at the same time. The boiler connections, also 1 in. NPT, are at the front of the tank to make piping easier in a mechanical room.

444 stainless steel and low standby loss

The tank and heat exchanger are made of 444 ferritic stainless steel, a chromium, molybdenum and titanium alloy. There is no internal lining to monitor. With a standby loss of 0.3 °F/h, the lowest of the SS tanks we offer, the large reserve holds its temperature well overnight and during quiet hours. The model's ratings are AHRI certified.

Handling and location

With a diameter of 30 1/4 in. and an empty weight of 217 lb, the SS-120-L requires preparation. We measure the doors, hallways and stairs leading to the mechanical room, and we check that the slab or floor can support the tank once filled with 420 L of water. Service space around the front connections and the relief valve is planned from the first visit.

Residential or commercial warranty

Bradford White applies different warranty terms depending on the use, residential or commercial. For a tank of this size, the category depends on your building: we state it clearly in the written quote.

Installation of the SS-120-L by AirGreen in Greater Montreal buildings

AirGreen is a family-owned heating and cooling company established in Montreal and active for more than fifteen years. We hold RBQ licence 5645-9605-01 in ventilation, refrigeration and electrical work. Every project starts with a free on-site estimate and continues with a written quote. Installation includes:

• analysing the building's hot water demand and the output of the electric boiler;
• assessing the location, access and floor capacity;
• draining and removing the old tanks, where applicable;
• connecting the coil to the boiler in 1 in. NPT, with a circulator and priority control;
• connecting the cold and hot water in 1 in. NPT, with a thermostatic mixing valve if the use calls for it;
• installing the relief valve and its discharge line;
• commissioning, purging air from the loop and setting the temperatures;
• a maintenance plan suited to heavy use.

Maintaining a heavily used tank

In a building or a business, the tank works harder than in a house. We recommend at least one visit per year: a partial flush to remove sediment, a test of the relief valve, and a check of the fittings, the circulator and the boiler control. For building owners, this regular follow-up avoids learning about a breakdown from a tenant's call.

Service area

We work in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, Brossard, Saint-Laurent, Anjou, LaSalle, Terrebonne and everywhere on the South Shore and the North Shore. Owners can spread out the investment through our financing.

Request your free estimate for the Bradford White SS-120-L. Send us the number of apartments or fixtures, and a photo of the boiler and its nameplate: we will prepare a visit and a written quote.