Indirect Water Heaters

[Bob Rohr]

I heard some leak issues since Vaughn started putting the coil into the top of the tank, Top Performer I think they call it.
Don't know why they do that, other than keeping the coil out of the scale build up?

I've found finned type coils are more prone to build up on the outside, regardless of the material.

the hotter you supply to the coil, the more minerals precipitate out and cling to the spaces. Either a smooth coil, or the corrugated type stainless are my choice.

 

[Otis B Driftwood]

Amazingly, I can still read. I thought my eyeballs would roast at this point.

So ... here's where I'm at:

• Cold start Burnham is verified, good. SS around here, good, lasts

• Still considering Rob's Heat-Flo solar single coil setup w/ electric bkup, buuut ...

• An indirect with heat traps and pipe insulation are cost effective options that can
make Old Man Oil attractive

• Improved GE manufacturing has forced me to return to the GeoSpring, yes,
our little mechanically ( or electrically ) challenged buddy that sprung some
serious issues upon inception. BTW, not surprised one bit at corporate
response ... see, if corporations are people, one can assume they can
act like spoiled brats. Or is that "a$$hats"?

• AO Smith and the Geyser folks are an option, but it seems Smitty has customer
service / warranty issues, I dunno

• Our friend Velvetfoot thinks HPWH are a bit too noisy for prime time. Literally.
See, our TV is right above our system one floor up

• Conventional electric water heaters larger than 60g will be a thing of the past,
but we can still swing a 40g no problem

• Haven't looked at all into geothermal but I suspect my swell of hot air would
more than compensate, according to my kid


Finally,

• If I do stick with the Heat-Flo indirect, what should I get should I decide
to compliment our system with an additional wood boiler? THAT idea subject
to Mr Wife's approval. Dunno if she'd dig shovin' in big logs any time of day.
Say! without trying, I just committed a weird double-entendre. Yay me.


Met the third potential installer today. He was the one who suggested AO Smith
as an alternative but likes the Heat-Flo indirect and thinks that simple setup w/o
electric bkup is fine too. Then again, he does work for the oil company ...

This just in: Brother Bart telepathically told me to quit messing around and kick
oil to the curb. What am I going to comb my hair with then?

 

[velvetfoot]

Our friend Velvetfoot thinks HPWH are a bit too noisy for prime time. Literally.
See, our TV is right above our system one floor up

That shouldn't be problem. I have an add on hpwh.

 

[Otis B Driftwood]

How long have you had it? Those reviews were less than sterling.

Trying to get a feel for the noise factor though it shouldn't be an ish.
After all, our direct is as loud as the boiler.

 

[velvetfoot]

Almost a year. I'm not sure my unit is still available-it was a closeout. Here is my install thread, for what it's worth: https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/my-nyletherm-thread.127866/

 

[maple1]

Brother Bart telepathically told me to quit messing around and kick oil to the curb.

That's what I did - best move I ever made. No telepathy involved though, lol...

 

[Otis B Driftwood]

I'm eliminating the heat pump from the running because of the compressor.
I just don't like the idea of putting something down there that may die when
we need it most. I don't care what the quality of the newer units are, GE and
the other American companies have acted in very BAD faith for too long to
convince me to come crawling back to them. Whirlpool, this goes for YOU, too.

 

[Fred61]

Shouldn't just eliminate sumpin cuz it has a compressor. How you going to keep your beer cold?

 

[velvetfoot]

American company? GE appliances now owned by Electrolux, a Swedish company: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/09/08/ge-appliances-sold-to-electrolux/15270661/

 

[Otis B Driftwood]

Shouldn't just eliminate sumpin cuz it has a compressor. How you going to keep your beer cold?

Ice! that's why I strap it to Mrs Driftwood's forehead.

 

[Otis B Driftwood]

American company? GE appliances now owned by Electrolux, a Swedish company: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/09/08/ge-appliances-sold-to-electrolux/15270661/

Didn't know that but not surprised. Given how GE's finance arm
strangled the appliance division to death, I'd spin it off too. Knowing
Aerus/Electrolux®, it's still spinning. Maybe they oughta spin off a
knit clothes division so we can wash their crappy clothes with their
crappy appliances.

 

[BoilerMan]

Consider that the average refrigeration appliance lasts 20+ years.... I'm just talking about the conpressor and closed system. You can get that zact same add-on HPWH as me on ebay for $365. Also note that I have a Heat-Flo brant indirect and it is connected to oil and wood. So I have in effect 3 energy sources to heat water with, individually or simultaneously.

TS

 

[JP11]

Almost a year. I'm not sure my unit is still available-it was a closeout. Here is my install thread, for what it's worth: https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/my-nyletherm-thread.127866/

Getting ready to flip the switch on mine. On my last pallet of wood that I'm going to burn for this year. Anxious to see how it keeps up. My indirect tank it will be heating is an 80... and there's just the wife and I. We'll see. Tom is no longer selling those units with support. He's dropped the price way down. He's selling a different one now. I think the website is heating stuff LLC. or something similar. I was just looking at his site the other day.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Late to the party...

Buderus (Bosch) has a 31 gallon indirect. I've had it for 4, maybe 5 years now and it's worked great. I had 1 customer service issue in that they don't like to talk to consumers and I couldn't get them to answer a question about running the tank off a smaller than recommended boiler. I called back as a technician from "Matt's heating and cooling" and they answered the question without issue. The reason I called is my boiler is way oversized for my house after a lot of home improvements. Never had an issue with the operation of the unit.

http://www.supplyhouse.com/Buderus-...er?utm_source=pricegrabberCSE&utm_content=S32

 

[tom in maine]

There are still some Nyletherms available although the Etech is what is being sold on Ebay. Both are the same cost and operation. The Etechs seem slightly quieter although either one in a basement is quieter than a window AC unit. Maybe the same sound level as a dehumidifier(?) If the basement door is closed they are hardly audible.
They are on Ebay or (broken link removed)
Both were made in the US.

 

[Otis B Driftwood]

Consider that the average refrigeration appliance lasts 20+ years.... I'm just talking about the conpressor and closed system. You can get that zact same add-on HPWH as me on ebay for $365. Also note that I have a Heat-Flo brant indirect and it is connected to oil and wood. So I have in effect 3 energy sources to heat water with, individually or simultaneously.

TS

BoilerMan, curious: why so many sources?

 

[Otis B Driftwood]

There are still some Nyletherms available although the Etech is what is being sold on Ebay.

Thanks, Tom. I'm gonna watch your vid with Mrs Driftwood right now.

Nothing like a little "cold on the shoulder" heat pump porn on the telly, no?

 

[Otis B Driftwood]

Tom, can that work with an oil indirect?

 

[maple1]

Spam alert!

(The Boiler Advice thread also....)