Coal/Wood Stove to Heat Domestic Water
The stove I plan on buying has a domestic water coil that can be installed and I'd like to take advantage of it but not sure how. I do have a basic understanding of plumbing and watched a couple videos on YouTube but I can't find any info on why this goes there or why you need this on the system. Does anyone have detailed I structions on setting this system up. I saw people adding holding tanks before the hot water gets back to the water heater and valves but they never say why. I'd like to set up my system like I have seen online and use the thermal syphon method.
- McGiever
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- Joined: Sun. May. 02, 2010 11:26 pm
- Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
- Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
- Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar
This has been discussed multiple times in much detail...Try the SEARCH feature and endulge yourself.
- coaledsweat
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- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
- Coal Size/Type: Pea
I would avoid holding tanks. It will not only add cost and complexity, it will add to the mass you have to heat.
- Lightning
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- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
I use a temper tank (holding tank) that is plumbed to the coil in my furnace. Whenever I use hot water, the preheated water from the temper tank flows over to the powered electric tank where it finishes heating if needed. It's taken a big chunk out of my electric bill. It's worked flawlessly for 4 years so far. Here's the thread about it. Feel free to ask questions.
Hot Water Coil Project
Hot Water Coil Project
- Lightning
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- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
Here's a crude schematic of my plumbing
In coal preheat mode
Valve 1 and 3 are open, valve 2 is closed.
Valve 2 stops flow directly to the electric tank and forces it to go thru the temper tank.
During the off season
Valve 1 and 3 are closed, valve 2 is open
Valve 1 and 3 isolate the tank during the summer so no cold water gets to the coil while I'm not burning coal.
Valve 2 allows cold water to flow directly to the electric tank.
In coal preheat mode
Valve 1 and 3 are open, valve 2 is closed.
Valve 2 stops flow directly to the electric tank and forces it to go thru the temper tank.
During the off season
Valve 1 and 3 are closed, valve 2 is open
Valve 1 and 3 isolate the tank during the summer so no cold water gets to the coil while I'm not burning coal.
Valve 2 allows cold water to flow directly to the electric tank.
Attachments
- McGiever
- Member
- Posts: 10130
- Joined: Sun. May. 02, 2010 11:26 pm
- Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
- Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
- Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar
Most important piece is the temperature pressure relief valve (TPR Valve) ...w/o that you may beat even Elon Musk to the moon.
Second most important is large enough pipe diameter and having only gradual turns/bends.
There really is a lot to doing this thermo-syphion right.
Second most important is large enough pipe diameter and having only gradual turns/bends.
There really is a lot to doing this thermo-syphion right.
-
- Member
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- Location: niagara falls new york
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: keystoker 90 dv
i set mine up just like lightnings pic/diagram , works awesome , I exchanged my single loop out for a double loop in the stove for hotter water
my tempering tank was an electric hot water tank that I didn't hook electric too
I just plumbed in a tee where the pressure relief valve was removed and put hot water going into tank on one port and screwed the pressure relief valve into the tee part , dumping into laundry tub with pex , like I said ,the system works flawlessly ,getting 130+degreee water 2x per day. when the stove is really humping ,the water gets really hot , then I just do some laundry
my tempering tank was an electric hot water tank that I didn't hook electric too
I just plumbed in a tee where the pressure relief valve was removed and put hot water going into tank on one port and screwed the pressure relief valve into the tee part , dumping into laundry tub with pex , like I said ,the system works flawlessly ,getting 130+degreee water 2x per day. when the stove is really humping ,the water gets really hot , then I just do some laundry
Wouldn't you save even more money if you thermo syphon ed the whole system. I'm not a plumber I'm just trying to get an idea because I'm buying a wood coal stove for next winter and I want to heat my water with it also.
- Lightning
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- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
I keep the electric tank on so the water can finish heating. On mild days with a slow burn it needs it. When it's cold out and I'm burning hot, the electric tank doesn't need to do any heating.