[ryanb4614]

Hello. I just had my oil guy here servicing my boiler. I asked him what his thoughts were on switching to gas and he of course told me it wouldn't be worth it for me because in my area the prices will go up within the next couple of years...I don;'t think it would be smart move for me because I don't plan on staying here more than 5 years.

I then asked him if an electric hot water heater would help with the cost. He said it would but I would have to be careful because it will damage the boiler if the boiler isn't running. He explained to me what to do. If someone could just read this to make sure I am on the right path...

-Put a valve on the water line right before it goes into the boiler (the IN outlet). He said this way I can run it once and a while.
-Turn the temperature setting the hi and low all the way down so it still runs (which I am confused, if the water running in is turned to off will it still be getting water to maintain the settings or does it run off the water line going in for the heat?)
-Put two valves on top of the hot water heater.
-Then just T in the lines.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Yer post is confusin', to a point...

A boiler, All boilers have a freshwater feed to maintain the water in the Heatin' system...

'n Some boilers have a coil for DHW,.... I'm guessin' this is what yer talkin' 'bout....
That said,...
The boiler could care less, whether the DHW coil is used, or Not...
The DHW coil could be cut outa the DHW loop, All together, 'n left dry, 'n the boiler Don't care...
No damage will happen to the coil, nor the boiler...

If ya plumb in an electric water heater, it can be valved to allow only it to run in the summer, 'n then switched/ valved to heat the DHW with the boiler only, in winter...

'n of course, this is All independent of the boiler's auto-fill...

 

[COLDIRON]

Just install the electric water heater and shut the boiler off for the Spring, summer and Fall. Then next year replace the stinky oil burner with a nice gas fired unit. Just think no more oil tank, no stinking oil, not a slave to the oil Company, no more dirty Boiler clean out every year.

When you install the water heater just cut out the pips to the boiler and change the aqua stat settings.
Wait till you hear the flack that comes in from this.

 

[AllanJ]

You can have a stand alone water heater working in the summer only and heat water using the furnace during the winter.

You would have to connect the two devices in parallel (water is not required to go through both devices), and you open and close valves so the water uses one and not the other.

During the summer you don't want the water from the water heater going through the cold furnace on its way to the faucets. During the winter you don't want the hot water from the furnace passing through the water heater tank afterward where it would sit and lose most of its heat.

 

[COLDIRON]

No if you install a electric water heater just remove the boiler hot water system .
You don't want it in use in the Winter when the heat is on because your still using more oil.
The boiler will cycle on the hot water control to maintain it at a set temperature, just get rid of the oil fired boiler and the domestic hot water coil.
Another thing to understand, don't ever ask an Oil Company Service man if you should change to gas. Guess what the answer will be?
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