| Tankless coil and indirect water heaters use the | | | | them with electric, propane, oil, gas, solar energy, |
| space heating system in a particular home to heat | | | | or a number of these. Typically, tankless systems |
| the water. When you heat water this way, it's | | | | run on either electric or gas. Integrated or |
| called a "combination water and space heating | | | | combination water heating systems can also work |
| system," or "integrated heating system." | | | | with forced air systems, radiant floor heating |
| They work like this: A tankless coil water heater | | | | systems, or hydronic systems. |
| has a heat exchanger or heating coil installed in a | | | | Which is best for you? |
| home's boiler or main furnace. If a hot water | | | | The initial cost of a combination or integrated |
| faucet is turned on (such as if you take a | | | | water and space heating system is going to cost |
| shower), the water goes through a heat | | | | you more than if you install a separate heater and |
| exchanger as it does so, meaning that this type | | | | furnace or boiler, but both installation and |
| of tankless water heater provides "on-demand" | | | | maintenance costs are probably going to be less. |
| hot water without using a tank; this is something | | | | That's because you won't need multiple utility |
| like an "on-demand" heater, but the boiler or | | | | hookups, with just one source of heat, and |
| furnace in a home heats the water directly, which | | | | there's less to maintain, because you have fewer |
| means that the tankless coil water heater works | | | | moving parts. Your utility costs may also be |
| best during the cold months when a home's | | | | lower. |
| heating system is on all or most of the time. And | | | | In most cases, people who get combination space |
| because of this, this particular type of system is | | | | and water heating systems are doing new |
| not a good choice, in general, for homes in | | | | construction, but you can also retrofit these units |
| warmer climates. | | | | with existing sources for heating water. |
| That said, though, for most homes, indirect water | | | | Considerations with this type of installation include |
| heaters are very efficient choices overall. They | | | | the size of the system, since the combination |
| do require a storage tank, unlike conventional | | | | system is going to be calculated for size |
| tankless water heaters, but because an indirect | | | | differently than if you're installing separate space |
| heater uses the boiler or main furnace to heat | | | | and water heating systems. Contact a |
| the fluid circulated through a heat exchanger in | | | | professional contractor versed in this type of |
| the storage tank, the energy that's actually | | | | installation for help on what you need for your |
| "stored" by the tank lets the furnace turn off and | | | | particular situation if this is something you're |
| on less frequently. This in turn saves energy. So if | | | | interested in doing. |
| the tank you use is well insulated and the boiler | | | | Good models currently on the market for these |
| you use is highly efficient, this can be the least | | | | types of combination systems include |
| expensive way to provide hot water for a | | | | BOILERMATE Indirect-Fired Water Heaters, the |
| home's occupants. | | | | SuperStor Ultra Stainless Steel Indirect Fired |
| How do the systems run? | | | | Water Heater, and, especially for those interested |
| As with conventional and ordinary tankless water | | | | in integrating solar energy as part of their |
| heater systems, you can actually run the | | | | systems, Rheem Solar Indirect Water Heater with |
| systems in a variety of ways, including powering | | | | Back-up Heating Element. |