Add-on heat pump for use w/ SuperStor Inderect tank

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DBNH22

Feeling the Heat
Mar 17, 2013
437
NH
I have recently had the Biowin pellet boiler installed my home, leaving the oil boiler in place. The plan is to use the pellet boiler for DHW in the winter and the oil boiler for DHW in summer. I have a 40 gallon inderect Superstoe. Some of you have suggested getting a heat pump for DHW. I have looked into it a little and it seems there are heat pump water heaters that include the tank and what's called add-on heat pumps to augment an existing tank. Can someone please explain in more detail wht the difference is?
 
An add-on unit uses your existing tank and has a small circulator in it. Basically the HPWH pulls water out of the tank, heats it, and returns it to the tank. That tank can be whatever you want, electric, indirect (what you have), gas, oil etc. With only 40 gallons you may run out of hot water if there any back-to-back showers or other hot water draws in close time to a shower. A HPWH is slow to recover so a large tank makes up for the slow recovery process. If you have a small household and are willing to change you hot water habits (if need be) then you may be fine with a 40 gal.

I have been very happy with my Nyletherm, you can get them on ebay for $365 I think. They are made in Maine and are the older version of the Geyser which is considerably more $$$$$.

TS
 
I have recently had the Biowin pellet boiler installed my home, leaving the oil boiler in place. The plan is to use the pellet boiler for DHW in the winter and the oil boiler for DHW in summer. I have a 40 gallon inderect Superstoe. Some of you have suggested getting a heat pump for DHW. I have looked into it a little and it seems there are heat pump water heaters that include the tank and what's called add-on heat pumps to augment an existing tank. Can someone please explain in more detail wht the difference is?


I added an AirTap A7 to my Superstor. The airtap has a copper coil that is inserted into the tank. I had to insert the coil in the bottom cold water inlet. The hot water outlet on the top has a "dip tube" that prevents insertion. The unit worked great for four months but the t-stat appears to have failed. The tank overheated and the pressure relief valve triggered. Airgenerate has been great with support. They sent me a new thermostat. Not sure if I have the skills to install. There are separate wires coming off the bach that I think can be hooked into the storage tank's t-stat. Waiting to hear back from airgenerate on how to do that. Anybody know how to hook into the tanks t-stat?
 
I have recently had the Biowin pellet boiler installed my home, leaving the oil boiler in place. The plan is to use the pellet boiler for DHW in the winter and the oil boiler for DHW in summer. I have a 40 gallon inderect Superstoe. Some of you have suggested getting a heat pump for DHW. I have looked into it a little and it seems there are heat pump water heaters that include the tank and what's called add-on heat pumps to augment an existing tank. Can someone please explain in more detail wht the difference is?
Make your superstor a tempering tank inline to the hp water heater. Best of both worlds. If you are co op power, you can get a $1000 and $300 from the gov. I have this set up, works great almost free hot water for the year.
 
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