How does one size a sidearm? We use a ton of hot water, now supplied by a Rinnia but i would like to set up a sidearm for winter time use.
Thanks
Thanks
sizing a sidearm
- Thread starter coolidge
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easternbob
Member
That's a good question. I didn't put much thought into mine. Just bought one off ebay and installed it on my 80 gal. hot water heater. Works great, gets that 80 gals really hot, so hot I should really install some sort of mixing valve. But it's just me and my wife so we know to watch out for it, if we had little kids that would be different. Not sure how much this helps.
Mcbride
New Member
Oddly, in my head I clicked on this thread thinking to myself "Cool a gun thread" lol
I love guns, and discussions about them.
Sadly cannot help you with your real question though.
I love guns, and discussions about them.
Sadly cannot help you with your real question though.
easternbob
Member
Came across this webpage, thought it might give you some real answers http://www.ahona.com/prod_parts_accessories.html
I built a sidearm based on the water heater boiler relief valve and the boiler drain spacing with similar pipe dimmensions as the one in the link easternbob supplied. The sidearm I have is only on a 40 gal lpg hot water heater that is an older model. If your hwh is electric it might see the recovery times listed in the link. Older model lpg hwh have an open center and a longer recovery time. My experience is limited with sidearm hx but if you don't have sophisticated boiler plumbing (on demand type of response) then you will probably have a circulating pump that runs constantly. Because boilers get hotter than most people set their hot water heaters at the usable supply of hot water is greater with the sidearm setup. Use of a tempering valve is recommended to prevent scalding which boiler water temps will easily render possible.
Size wise if you buy a pre fabricated sidearm hx go for the longest interior (core) pipe you can get (see diagram in above mentioned link). The core pipe is the actual pipe for your water heater and the longer the water in it is exposed to the heat from the boiler then the quicker you will experience thermal recovery. My sidearm has a 24" core. Sidearms only heat by convection and the best orientation is to pump the hot water from the boiler in at the top of the core pipe and out the bottom of the core pipe. Insulating the sidearm will improve its functionality.
Size wise if you buy a pre fabricated sidearm hx go for the longest interior (core) pipe you can get (see diagram in above mentioned link). The core pipe is the actual pipe for your water heater and the longer the water in it is exposed to the heat from the boiler then the quicker you will experience thermal recovery. My sidearm has a 24" core. Sidearms only heat by convection and the best orientation is to pump the hot water from the boiler in at the top of the core pipe and out the bottom of the core pipe. Insulating the sidearm will improve its functionality.
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