hot water from my coal stove

frank spina · 01-17-10, 01:08 PM

i placed a 40 gallon tank on top my coal stove and preheat water before going into my hot water heater. i did this 3 days ago and have had my water heater shut off and i am getting all the hot water i neeed. frank

Xringer · 01-17-10, 03:22 PM

I used to heat hot water with wood and coal.. But, went to Solar hot water
and liked the fact there wasn't any clean up to perform.
I think that system lasted 15-17 years before dying.

My multi-fuel boiler is just burning oil these days..
Heating both my domestic hot water and providing heat..
I'm waiting for a new heatpump unit to arrive. Hoping it's here before April..
And the end of the real heating season.

This one had a leak..

Ryland · 01-17-10, 11:57 PM

Don't forget that you can wrap a water line around the metal part of your chimney as well to capture that heat as it's otherwise lost.

frank spina · 01-18-10, 09:27 AM

here are some pics, low tech but effective. the cold water is diverted into the tank on the stove and comes out heated and goes into the cold inlet on the water heater. supplys all my hot water for 3 people.

stuartrivchun · 10-13-11, 02:21 AM

hi,
Good idea

The master plan · 10-14-11, 06:46 AM

This is my low tech hot water heater. I put some pipe in my wood stove and connected a small circulator pump up to it. It's controlled with a snap disk to turn it off and on. From there it's pumped into an old 60 gal. solar water heater.

Daox · 10-14-11, 11:43 AM

How does it work out for you?

The master plan · 10-14-11, 02:27 PM

I get all my hot water from it in the winter. It heats the water in a couple of days of good burning to 140F and gets as high 180F at times. (Great for washing dishes in the dishwasher!) I could insulate the tank better than it is now to retain the heat longer but I never run out of hot water with it unless I leave for the weekend or don't burn for a few days.

All in all it cost about $200 in parts including the tank. (Found in newspaper ad) It saves me $10 in electric five months out of the year.

abogart · 01-19-12, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The master plan

This is my low tech hot water heater. I put some pipe in my wood stove and connected a small circulator pump up to it. It's controlled with a snap disk to turn it off and on. From there it's pumped into an old 60 gal. solar water heater.

Very nice setup! What are the inlet/outlet temperatures? I have been thinking about doing something like this with my woodstove in the garage and pumping hot water in to heat the house, like those outdoor boiler setups. I just wonder if that setup transfers enough heat to heat a house.

The master plan · 01-19-12, 06:33 PM

Inlet and outlet temps stay around the temp of the water in the water heater. The whole system holds less than 4 gallons I'm guessing.

The pump is a three speed circulator pump set on the lowest setting. I'm guessing I could have put in more pipe in the firebox or need a smaller/slower pump. Some set ups use convection and I wanted that way but it just wouldn't work in this set-up.

Overall I am very happy with the results and it has more than paid for itself already.

Right now I have 3 extra people and 2 kids staying here and it doesn't keep up with the demand put on with the showers and dishwasher. But it is preheating the water going into the electric 40 gallon water heater to 90F to 110F...now I need to get rid of the extra people. lol

01-17-10, 01:08 PM	#1
frank spina Lurking Renovator Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	hot water from my coal stove i placed a 40 gallon tank on top my coal stove and preheat water before going into my hot water heater. i did this 3 days ago and have had my water heater shut off and i am getting all the hot water i neeed. frank

01-18-10, 09:27 AM	#4
frank spina Lurking Renovator Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	water heater here are some pics, low tech but effective. the cold water is diverted into the tank on the stove and comes out heated and goes into the cold inlet on the water heater. supplys all my hot water for 3 people. Attached Thumbnails

10-13-11, 02:21 AM	#5
stuartrivchun Lurking Renovator Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: europe Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	hot water from my coal stove hi, Good idea

10-14-11, 06:46 AM	#6
The master plan Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Central MN Posts: 50 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	This is my low tech hot water heater. I put some pipe in my wood stove and connected a small circulator pump up to it. It's controlled with a snap disk to turn it off and on. From there it's pumped into an old 60 gal. solar water heater. Last edited by The master plan; 10-14-11 at 06:49 AM..

10-14-11, 11:43 AM	#7
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	How does it work out for you? __________________ 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.

01-17-10, 03:22 PM	#2
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	I used to heat hot water with wood and coal.. But, went to Solar hot water and liked the fact there wasn't any clean up to perform. I think that system lasted 15-17 years before dying. My multi-fuel boiler is just burning oil these days.. Heating both my domestic hot water and providing heat.. I'm waiting for a new heatpump unit to arrive. Hoping it's here before April.. And the end of the real heating season. This one had a leak..

01-17-10, 11:57 PM	#3
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	Don't forget that you can wrap a water line around the metal part of your chimney as well to capture that heat as it's otherwise lost.

10-14-11, 02:27 PM	#8
The master plan Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Central MN Posts: 50 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	I get all my hot water from it in the winter. It heats the water in a couple of days of good burning to 140F and gets as high 180F at times. (Great for washing dishes in the dishwasher!) I could insulate the tank better than it is now to retain the heat longer but I never run out of hot water with it unless I leave for the weekend or don't burn for a few days. All in all it cost about $200 in parts including the tank. (Found in newspaper ad) It saves me $10 in electric five months out of the year.

01-19-12, 06:33 PM	#10
The master plan Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Central MN Posts: 50 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Inlet and outlet temps stay around the temp of the water in the water heater. The whole system holds less than 4 gallons I'm guessing. The pump is a three speed circulator pump set on the lowest setting. I'm guessing I could have put in more pipe in the firebox or need a smaller/slower pump. Some set ups use convection and I wanted that way but it just wouldn't work in this set-up. Overall I am very happy with the results and it has more than paid for itself already. Right now I have 3 extra people and 2 kids staying here and it doesn't keep up with the demand put on with the showers and dishwasher. But it is preheating the water going into the electric 40 gallon water heater to 90F to 110F...now I need to get rid of the extra people. lol Last edited by The master plan; 01-19-12 at 06:38 PM..