Does anyone know how to plumb a water heater for use with an water coil? Do I need an expansion valve or check valve. Right now it just has the supply line going in then the hot going out to a circulating pump, then a check valve, then to the water coil, out and back down to the water heater drain. Is this right?
Water heater for hydroair furnace
- Thread starter karter56
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What do you mean by water coil? And usually anything piped into the boiler drain on the water isn't the best option, rather a water heater with side inlets. Post pictures, I don't fully understand what you're talking about
I think that the OP is talking about a hydronic heating unit. This is setup with a coil, or radiator, in the air handling unit. There is a circulating pump that draws hot water from the heater and pushes it through the radiator coil. Air blowing across the coil is heated, and the cooled water goes back to the water heater.
This type of system requires a check valve in line, which the air handling unit usually has onboard. Like any valve, these can fail and cause a cross over situation between the hot and cold.
It is also good practice to install a quality shut off valve on both hot feed and return lines at the water heater to facilitate service work in the future.
What we usually do is pipe the return into the cold feed of the water heater, which sends the return water to the bottom of the heater tank via the dip tube. What the OP is talking about does the same thing.
This type of system requires a check valve in line, which the air handling unit usually has onboard. Like any valve, these can fail and cause a cross over situation between the hot and cold.
It is also good practice to install a quality shut off valve on both hot feed and return lines at the water heater to facilitate service work in the future.
What we usually do is pipe the return into the cold feed of the water heater, which sends the return water to the bottom of the heater tank via the dip tube. What the OP is talking about does the same thing.
Ah like a fan coil pretty well. Now I get what youre saying haha
Phishfood, what size water heater did you use -- did you incorporate a mixing valve for hot water that runs to the fixtures ?
We've done it on several apartment projects that I have been involved with. IIRC, the standard tank was a 40 gallon gas, with the larger units using 50's.
I have never seen it done with electric water heaters, I am guessing that it is more efficient to heat with an electric coil.
We didn't bump up the temps on the water heaters, so no need for a mixing valve. I haven't ever heard anyone complain about running out of hot water or heat.
I have never seen it done with electric water heaters, I am guessing that it is more efficient to heat with an electric coil.
We didn't bump up the temps on the water heaters, so no need for a mixing valve. I haven't ever heard anyone complain about running out of hot water or heat.
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