duel fuels

IVANHO

Want to install an electric hot water tank in series with my natural gas tank for my radiant heat floor. The purpose is to having a duel fuel in case one or the other goes out while I'm at work. Is this possible to do.

Bondo

Ayuh,... Sure, you can do it in series, or parallel...

IVANHO

Any suggestions on make and model for the electric tank? My primary gas hot water tank will be the American Standard Polaris High Efficiency model. And since I'll be in series does it mater if the back up electric tank is 1st or 2nd in line.

Jackofall1

Thats a heck of an expense to ensure a floor heat system stays running.

Is the gas system propane?

If its natural gas then I surely wouldn't be backing it up with electric, given the weak point in the utility is electric, and I am sure you have a pump on that system as well.

My point is, the chances of NG stopping is maybe 1/2 of 1/2% but electric depending on the area is very prone for failure.

If backup is that critical, I would be going with dual gas, dual pumps with utilization control and a NG generator to ensure the pump(s) stays running.

I would put them in parallel with each other and rotate use off the utilization control for the pumps. In the event of failure the switch over would automatically happen.

Mark

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Plumber26

Really the Polaris should handle everything all on it's own. I understand you want to have a backup but, I don't understand why you would want to use an electric tank. Not sure that even with the electric only being a back up if it would pass inspection b/c they aren't designed for space heating applications. May be wrong though. Does the Polaris serve anything other than the domestic hot water and the radiant heat. If not, then I would say use the Polaris for everything. They were designed to do hydronic heating and domestic hot water so surely they'll handle a small radiant loop.

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