Pete C
Member
When I bought my house, about 20 years ago, I installed a new Smiths boiler and an indirect water heater.
The water heater developed a leak in the coil after about 3 years. It was replaced under warranty. The replacement did the same. Used the tankless coil that the boiler came with for a few years....till it leaked.
Did I mention my well water is like battery acid?
Found another like new indirect on CL for a steal and enjoyed it for another 3 or 4 years until it suffered the same fate.
Around this time I started thinking about water treatment systems. Yeah, a little late.
Anyhoo, went with an electric WH at the time and not too long after, installed a much overdue softener/ph balance system. Thanks to Skip for that, who I met on this forum.
Well, the basement floor under this water heater is getting a bit damp. I assume this WH is on the way out.
Now that I have good water, I am thinking of going back to an indirect. Most of the plumbing is already there. I do believe I will need a new circulator pump.
Is it worth it?
I understand that heating oil makes BTUs cheaper than electricity does, but using an indirect does mean year around boiler use. With the EWH, I am able to give the boiler a break, usually from around early april until maybe early-mid october, when I finally give into cries of "I'm cold, turn the f-ing heat on you cheap bastard" from my better half.
My question is does the energy saved by not heating a boiler close to half the year, make up for the extra cost of heating via electricity when the boiler is on and would do it cheaper?
Now that we are empty nesters our water use isn't what it used to be, which has me thinking maybe we should just stick with electric. Also worth considering that at some point I might put a solar panel system in, but that is far from a sure thing.
The water heater developed a leak in the coil after about 3 years. It was replaced under warranty. The replacement did the same. Used the tankless coil that the boiler came with for a few years....till it leaked.
Did I mention my well water is like battery acid?
Found another like new indirect on CL for a steal and enjoyed it for another 3 or 4 years until it suffered the same fate.
Around this time I started thinking about water treatment systems. Yeah, a little late.
Anyhoo, went with an electric WH at the time and not too long after, installed a much overdue softener/ph balance system. Thanks to Skip for that, who I met on this forum.
Well, the basement floor under this water heater is getting a bit damp. I assume this WH is on the way out.
Now that I have good water, I am thinking of going back to an indirect. Most of the plumbing is already there. I do believe I will need a new circulator pump.
Is it worth it?
I understand that heating oil makes BTUs cheaper than electricity does, but using an indirect does mean year around boiler use. With the EWH, I am able to give the boiler a break, usually from around early april until maybe early-mid october, when I finally give into cries of "I'm cold, turn the f-ing heat on you cheap bastard" from my better half.
My question is does the energy saved by not heating a boiler close to half the year, make up for the extra cost of heating via electricity when the boiler is on and would do it cheaper?
Now that we are empty nesters our water use isn't what it used to be, which has me thinking maybe we should just stick with electric. Also worth considering that at some point I might put a solar panel system in, but that is far from a sure thing.