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Domestic hot water load estimating
This question come up from time to time. With todays more efficient homes, the dhw load could exceed the heating load. So that needs to be taken into account.
Knowing how many gallons per day a family uses is one key. Rule of thumb loads for years have been 10- 20 gallons per person, per day. That varies based on how long you shower, fill a big tub, clothes washing, etc.
Simply putting a water meter on the supply to a water heater for a month or so could tighten up the numbers.
Lets use a family of 4 at 15 gallons per person per day
incoming water at 55°F heated to 120.
(4 X 15) (8.33) (120-55) = 32,487 btu/ day.
If you want a yearly number, subtract out days that you are not home. Water heater in vacation mode
(32,487) (335days) = 10,883,145, call it 10.9 MMBtu/ year
Next is the cost of the energy.
Electricity at .10Kwhr 96% efficiency (4% jacket loss)
(10.9MMbtu/yr) ($30.52) = $332.66 per year!
So you often hear estimates of 3- 400 dollars per year for average family of 4 for DHW.
Your mileage may vary.
at .30/Kwhr = $998.04!
At .30/ Kwhr it could be good time to consider a HPWH
Knowing how many gallons per day a family uses is one key. Rule of thumb loads for years have been 10- 20 gallons per person, per day. That varies based on how long you shower, fill a big tub, clothes washing, etc.
Simply putting a water meter on the supply to a water heater for a month or so could tighten up the numbers.
Lets use a family of 4 at 15 gallons per person per day
incoming water at 55°F heated to 120.
(4 X 15) (8.33) (120-55) = 32,487 btu/ day.
If you want a yearly number, subtract out days that you are not home. Water heater in vacation mode
(32,487) (335days) = 10,883,145, call it 10.9 MMBtu/ year
Next is the cost of the energy.
Electricity at .10Kwhr 96% efficiency (4% jacket loss)
(10.9MMbtu/yr) ($30.52) = $332.66 per year!
So you often hear estimates of 3- 400 dollars per year for average family of 4 for DHW.
Your mileage may vary.
at .30/Kwhr = $998.04!
At .30/ Kwhr it could be good time to consider a HPWH
hot_rod
4
Steamer Replacement
Replaced this leaking, oversized, piped wrong steamer with a Peerless and upgraded the main venting.
EzzyT
13
Re: A Bastian Morley Boiler
What what are you gonna do for replacement tips?I found these, ordered one to inspect it. already crunched the numbers should work.
SgtMaj
4
Re: Should I reuse union fittings on steam radiator?
@Intplm.I cut the nut off and then used a 24" wrench on it. Seemed to come off with ease with that method.
I have had pretty good luck removing them. You have to cut the nut off to get enough room for a small pipe wrench with a cheater pipe on it. If you plug the hole so it can't collapse it will usually come out. Of course, when they are all painted up the pipe wrench wants to slip.
ChrisJ
1
Re: Occupation
Now? Or before I retired 17 years ago? Before I retired, professional (Civil) engineer. A few other things before that. Now? Lay brother of the Order of Saint Benedict.
Another Moline System
Just replaced the boiler on this Moline system.
The cellar was a mess covered in plastic.
The old:
The cellar was a mess covered in plastic.
The old:
The new header:
The new boiler:
The old air trap and vacuum valve were bad. We also replaced about 50’ of wet return.
Ironman
10
Re: Is the LAARS FT MFTCW140NA2XN any good? Any way to determine manufacture date?
Unless you have an extremely large house, that’s probably way more boiler than you need. It looks like it’s a combi which is the reason for the 140k input.
Count up the linear feet of heating elements in your baseboards and multiply that by 500 to see the total output. Then you can see how close the boiler matches your load.
You could install a buffer tank to compensate for any over-sizing, but that’s another component and more $$.
Count up the linear feet of heating elements in your baseboards and multiply that by 500 to see the total output. Then you can see how close the boiler matches your load.
You could install a buffer tank to compensate for any over-sizing, but that’s another component and more $$.
Ironman
1
Re: Added Vents, Lost Heat?
B4 you use the 2x 4 start at the boiler end and figure out which way the pipes need to pitch and use a level.but that return at the end of the main can't pitch right because of the way it is piped
Your technician who installed the vents and the new near boiler piping should have gone through the system and figured this all out
mattmia2
1