Hydronic Heating
Hi folks; I’m starting a renovation and the architect, contractor, and I are looking at replacing the old steam system with a new hydronic system. Anybody have this? Are there combination heating and hot water systems like the steam boiler companies have? Or should I just convert the heating and keep the current hot water…
Hi folks; I’m starting a renovation and the architect, contractor, and I are looking at replacing the old steam system with a new hydronic system. Anybody have this? Are there combination heating and hot water systems like the steam boiler companies have? Or should I just convert the heating and keep the current hot water heater?
OP,
Why not consider solar domestic hot water coupled with a mod/con boiler? I would be happy to discuss the details with you. My info can be found by clicking on my name. Good luck with your renovation.
-Steam Man
I have hydronic/indirect now, still hooked to the ca. 1980’s gas boiler that came with the house. Surprisingly efficient, even though the boiler is not mod/con or otherwise fancy. Hot water lasts a really long time, in part because we put a heat exchanging drain between 2nd and 3rd floor.
Working toward plugging this system into a solar thermal system that heats all this water with the sun on the roof, one step at a time. NYSERDA (sp?) offers financing for all these efficiency upgrades, and I believe con ed or keyspan offers a rebate of some sort. There are also tax benefits.
It doesn’t matter which fuel you use. There are still single-unit boilers that make heat and domestic hot water and burn either oil or natural gas.
A better way to do it is with a boiler and an indirect water heater.
In fact, the U.S. Dept of Energy says it “can be the least expensive means of providing hot water” here:
http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=13020
Here is an example of one of mine (pic taken at 90% completion): http://www.flickr.com/photos/gatewayplumbing/4177860168/