Domestic Hot Water Tank

[sjfrench]

I'm installing a Garn 2000. Home is forced air and all electric. I'm heating 8000sqft - half of that is a full basement. The house has two 50-gallon DHW tanks. Both tanks are nearly 17 years old, so the life span is going to be short.

So, here is the question:

Does anyone have a recommendation for a DHW tank with smooth surface large diameter coil with electric back up? Doesn't matter to me if I go with two 50-gallon or even one 80-gallon. I just want a tank with a built in coil that merges well with my new system.

Here's my rationale for going with the built in coil vs the sidearm exchanger. For the price I'll pay for all the fittings, sidearm, etc., and knowing that I'll need to replace the tanks in a few years, I might as well as go with new tank(s) with built in coil. The electric back-up is a must.

Can anyone point me in the direction of the best brands to consider?

 

[maple1]

I wanted something like that when I started out, but couldn't find what I was looking for. I went with a new conventional 80 gallon electric heater/tank, combined with a sidearm. If I was doing over again, I'd likely substitute the sidearm for a flat plate exchanger - if I still could not find a good indirect tank with electric as you're looking for.

I was kind of reluctant to go with the standard electric tank due to anticipated power usage when not burning wood, but they aren't that bad at all - ours only ups the power bill by around $30/mo when not burning in the summer months. And they are cheap and can be gotten anywhere.

 

[Coal Reaper]

boilerman has Heat Flo or Oventrop (relabeled). they are stainless and can be gotten on ebay. thats the route i would go when i replace but they are expensive. options for one or two coils as well as electric. i think 2 tanks with one coil was similar price as 1 tank with two coils if you might be thinking solar pre-charge down the road...

 

[sjfrench]

Coal Reaper - I checked that site on Ebay - but I only located fittings. Do you know if he has a private site with the actual tanks? I contacted Bradford White and they may have some work around product intended for solar. I'm trying to see if it will work.

Anyone have experience with integrating a Bradford White EcoStor2 into a boiler system. It's intended for solar. Do you all think it would work with a boiler? I'd think that solar runs much cooler temps than a boiler. I'm looking at up to 190 degrees with the Garn. I plan on using a mixing valve to bring it down to the 140 degree range.

Any input?

 

[Coal Reaper]

Coal Reaper - I checked that site on Ebay - but I only located fittings. Do you know if he has a private site with the actual tanks? I contacted Bradford White and they may have some work around product intended for solar. I'm trying to see if it will work.

Anyone have experience with integrating a Bradford White EcoStor2 into a boiler system. It's intended for solar. Do you all think it would work with a boiler? I'd think that solar runs much cooler temps than a boiler. I'm looking at up to 190 degrees with the Garn. I plan on using a mixing valve to bring it down to the 140 degree range.

Any input?

Interesting. I searched "oventrop tank" on ebay earlier today and a 80 and 115 gallon tanks came up, both with onecoil and electric element. Now nothing shows. They were leftover stock or something like that from 2009, $1200 and $1400.

 

[sjfrench]

Well...that's expensive. Dang. Just got a quote back on that Bradford White - either I'm cheap...or that system also makes a mean cup of cappuccino every morning. After shipping, taxes, and the unit...I'm looking at about $2,000...each.

So I'm looking for plan "B". How did you all connect your DHW to your boiler system? Keep in mind, I'm running a GARN 2000 - so the system is not pressurized.