Geyser HP Water Heater in Winter

Jerry In Maine · 08-31-10, 04:07 PM

Just installed a Geyser Heat Pump water heater in the basement - right next to the electric water heater that used to do the work.

About 25 feet away is an unused stairwell (that goes to the attic) where the vent pipe from my pellet stove (located on the other side of the wall) runs up to the roof. The stairwell is closed by a door at the bottom and a hatch were it goes into the attic. In winter this space stays about 85* from the heat radiating from the pellet vent pipe.

I'd like to install a flexible duct from this space to the Geyser so I might reclaim this heat for heating water.

Question: anyone think that the internal resistance from the ~25 feet of vent pipe might be too much for the Geyser to breath properly? The makers of the Geyser sell a fitting that connects to its cold air "exhaust" and allows you to use this cold air for cooling a living space. The manual doesn't mention a max length for such a pipe. I figure that if it can exhaust through a reasonable lenght it shouldn't hurt to use a similar length for its heat source.

thanks -

Daox · 09-01-10, 06:08 AM

Hello and welcome to the site.

I would imagine as long as you keep the ducting large enough you'll be just fine. Do you have any pictures of the heater and the general area?

We've had a lot of discussion here about heat pump water heaters. We would love if you kept us up to date on how you like it.

Jerry In Maine · 09-01-10, 12:49 PM

might be best if i make up a duct from sheet-metal or ply to give less restricted flow...

something else i'm considering is attaching a few lengths of baseboard fin-tube to the vent pipe of my pellet stove (pipe is out of sight so no matter if its ugly). then plumbing w/ pex to a small radiator placed in front of the heat pumps air intake. a circ pump would push the water around the loop. if all works well the fin-tube will pick up heat from the pellet pipe and radiate it to warm the air entering the heat pump. i think i can pick up more heat that would otherwise be lost this way

08-31-10, 04:07 PM	#1
Jerry In Maine Lurking Renovator Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Geyser HP Water Heater in Winter Just installed a Geyser Heat Pump water heater in the basement - right next to the electric water heater that used to do the work. About 25 feet away is an unused stairwell (that goes to the attic) where the vent pipe from my pellet stove (located on the other side of the wall) runs up to the roof. The stairwell is closed by a door at the bottom and a hatch were it goes into the attic. In winter this space stays about 85* from the heat radiating from the pellet vent pipe. I'd like to install a flexible duct from this space to the Geyser so I might reclaim this heat for heating water. Question: anyone think that the internal resistance from the ~25 feet of vent pipe might be too much for the Geyser to breath properly? The makers of the Geyser sell a fitting that connects to its cold air "exhaust" and allows you to use this cold air for cooling a living space. The manual doesn't mention a max length for such a pipe. I figure that if it can exhaust through a reasonable lenght it shouldn't hurt to use a similar length for its heat source. thanks -

09-01-10, 06:08 AM	#2
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Hello and welcome to the site. I would imagine as long as you keep the ducting large enough you'll be just fine. Do you have any pictures of the heater and the general area? We've had a lot of discussion here about heat pump water heaters. We would love if you kept us up to date on how you like it. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

09-01-10, 12:49 PM	#3
Jerry In Maine Lurking Renovator Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	might be best if i make up a duct from sheet-metal or ply to give less restricted flow... something else i'm considering is attaching a few lengths of baseboard fin-tube to the vent pipe of my pellet stove (pipe is out of sight so no matter if its ugly). then plumbing w/ pex to a small radiator placed in front of the heat pumps air intake. a circ pump would push the water around the loop. if all works well the fin-tube will pick up heat from the pellet pipe and radiate it to warm the air entering the heat pump. i think i can pick up more heat that would otherwise be lost this way