Domestic Hot Water from Steam Boiler

GJMarquez

I have a single-pipe steam system, and love it. I just did an emergency replacement of my hot water heater, and ended up with a Bradford-White CF-32-6. While talking with my "oil guys", the subject of using my 20+ year old New Yorker FR-147-W boiler to preheat domestic hot water came up. My understanding is you install a coil in the boiler, with a thermostatic mixing valve to keep the water below the high limit on the hot water heater, and feed the hot water heater. Since you're making steam for the radiators, you might as well make hot water for the shower.

Anybody out there doing this?

I have another question about computing payback - I have a real rough "guesstimate" of $500.00 for such an installation, and am trying to figure a rough payback period, assuming $2.00/gal heating oil, and a family of four that includes two teenagers who really like hot showers, and create a lot of laundry and dirty dishes.