CERTISPEC3, the newest computerized sizing guide for Rheem-Ruud Commercial Water Heaters, is now available on the Internet at

. Users can download the new software any time by accessing the “Commercial Catalog” page in either the “Distributor” or the “Contractor/Specifier” section of the Rheem Water Heaters web site.

CERTISPEC3 covers virtually the entire Rheem-Ruud commercial water heater offering, including — for the first time — the AdvantagePlus seal-combustion gas-fired water heater as well as seven new commercial water heater storage tank models that range in size up to 950 gallons. The only commercial items not included are point-of-use and light-duty models, whose smaller sizes do not typically require special sizing calculations.

NO MORE “NEW” VERSIONS: All subsequent software upgrades and product-line updates for CERTISPEC3 will henceforth be available in a more timely fashion via the Rheem-Ruud Water Heaters web site, according to Tommy Olsen, commercial product manager for the
Water Heater Division of the Rheem Manufacturing Company.

“That way, specifiers, contractors and wholesalers will find it much easier to find the latest information they need to identify the right Rheem-Ruud water heater for a commercial application.”

CERTISPEC3 is a 32-bit program, representing a doubling in memory over the previous version. That expansion substantially boosts processing speed, while enabling Rheem to offer a wider assortment of features, including:

• Fuel Cost Calculator, which draws comparisons of annual fuel consumption for gas versus electric units, as well as for standard 80%-efficient models versus the 95%-efficient AdvantagePlus. “Specifiers can more quickly determine the payback period to help justify installing a more fuel-efficient water heater,” says Olsen.

• Special tables and charts, including one that helps calculate various combinations of water heaters and storage tanks to meet the demands of larger applications. Another table offers a comprehensive cross-reference guide to small-volume ASME units, including both Rheem-Ruud and competitor models.

• Low NOx reference: The software’s sizing calculations show the right model numbers not just for conventional gas units, but also for Low-NOx Rheem-Ruud products for users in states special restrictions on gas emissions.

• Microsoft Word compatibility: Water heater project files can be saved as Word files, allowing users to print out information on their own company letterhead for a more professional-looking presentation to their customers. Microsoft Word compatibility also permits several other important conveniences…

• Longer file names: no longer must users confine themselves to seven characters.

• Handy reference to recent projects, which are listed under the “File” heading in the menu bar at the top of the screen. As a consequence, “users can call up more than one project at a time and compare them side by side,” explains Olsen.

• E-mailing of job files as attachments, not only to customers, but also to, for example, the Rheem-Ruud Technical Services Department. “This feature,” says Olsen, “should really enhance the problem-solving dialogue we do with our customers, making it much easier for them to get the technical assistance they need quickly and accurately.”

COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS: To operate the new, feature-rich CERTISPEC3 a user’s operating software must be Windows 95/98, Windows NT4.x, or better; with  a Pentium 90 or higher processor; at least 16 megabytes of RAM (although 32 megabytes is recommended); 800 x 600 display resolution; and disk space of at least four to six megabytes. “These specifications are more demanding than what was required by the previous version of CERTISPEC,” says Olsen, “but they remain well below what is considered the standard in computer power today. Anyone who has bought a personal computer or laptop within the past four years should be able to use CERTISPEC3.”

Rheem will also make the software available on CD-ROM to users who lack Internet-access. For more information on CERTISPEC3, call 1-800-HEATER3.

RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY, headquartered in New York City, is a leading producer of residential and commercial water heaters, with manufacturing operations on three continents. In addition to Rheem and Ruud brand water heaters for the wholesale channel, the company also makes and markets pool and spa heaters, boilers, and heating and air-conditioning products.