Can I Use A Hot Water Heater For Radiant Heat

Most radiant heating installations use a boiler to heat the water but a simple hot water heater can do the job and save you several hundred to a few thousand dollars.

Can i use a hot water heater for radiant heat.

As such we rate it with 5 stars out of 5. So using the unit for radiant heating generally has little or no effect on the sizing calculation. This model has the most impressive flow rate it is well made and it comes with all you are going to need. You will need to be aware of the incoming groundwater temperature as cold water will drop the overall water temperature.

Sample temperature curve for an on demand unit. A boiler is a device used to heat a home using steam and radiant heat techniques and is a closed system which rarely replenishes its supply of water from an external source. Water heaters are good for radiant floor heating because they maintain a low temperature. We will also be installing 2 separate water heaters.

You really only need a maximum of 120 f for your floor. You will need to make a few modifications to the heater and have knowledge of basic plumbing techniques. It is the safest choice as well. Either a hot water heater or a boiler handles all the heated water necessary to power the radiant floor heating needs.

That temperature is safe and comfortable as well as being efficient. Meanwhile a separate hot water heater takes care of the household hot water. A water heater heats water that is constantly being replenished since it is connected to taps. One to supply domestic hot water and a separate water heater to supply the radiant floor.

Certainly cost is important but there are many other important factors as well. The best tankless water heater for radiant floor heat is the takagi th3 natural gas. Though they are sold primarily for domestic hot water tankless heaters are actually well suited for radiant heating which operates at low temperatures compared with for example hot water baseboard. Because the slab installations will require less than 140 deg f water it is safe to use a water heater to heat the radiant slabs.

Many people use a water heater instead of a boiler for radiant floor heat because it costs less. A hot water heater saves money when used in this way. On demand water heaters radiant floor company pioneered the use of on demand tank less water heaters for radiant floor heating nearly 20 years ago when many in the heating industry believed that on demand water heaters would never work for radiant heat we disagreed.