Using A Water Heater For Radiant Heat

Radiant floor heat and water heater options.

Using a water heater for radiant heat.

It is the safest choice as well. The best tankless water heater for radiant floor heat is the takagi th3 natural gas. Hydronic systems can use a wide variety of energy sources to heat the liquid including standard gas or oil fired boilers wood fired boilers solar water heaters or a combination of these sources. This model has the most impressive flow rate it is well made and it comes with all you are going to need.

At up to 98 efficiency it is an extraordinary heat source but the primary secondary plumbing configuration recommended by heat transfer products is somewhat more complicated than the takagi. You will need to make a few modifications to the heater and have knowledge of basic plumbing techniques. The reason for this is to have the two water uses separate. A hot water heater saves money when used in this way.

Radiant heating systems provide even heat that warms people and objects as the heat rises from the floor. The water heater to use with radiant floor heating should be a high efficiency unit. However water heaters can be used for home heating aka hydronic applications or hyronic heating applications provided that the specific water heater is rated by the manufacturer as approved for that use and provided that the heater is being used for small heating loads of 75 000 btuh or less. As such we rate it with 5 stars out of 5.

Certainly cost is important but there are many other important factors as well. 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. Radiant systems use a device such as. For more on the different types of energy sources and heat distribution systems for home heating explore our energy saver 101 infographic on home.

Use a water heater to make radiant floor heat instead of a boiler. The best kind is one that has a sealed combustion chamber and an external heat exchanger. But if you re game for a minor plumbing adventure and want an on demand unit that is one of the most efficient heaters on.