Heat Source Options for Radiant/Domestic

DaveGateway

First let me thank you all for the past advice this group has given me. Now I need a bit more.
I currently have a 1 pipe steam system fed from a WM EG55 Steam Boiler. Domestic hot water is a 75gal electric hw htr.

I'd like to address two problems with an efficient yet not exceedingly expensive solution.
The obvious problem is the electric HW Heater which is costing me a ton.
The second is that I would like to add 2 radiant zones, with a load of around 30k btu.

The suggestions from the plumber who quoted the job include:
1. WM Gold Plus 40 Indirect HWH for domestic HW.
2. Piping from steam boiler through Plate HX to serve radiant zones
3. Alternate Radiant source - 40 Gal gas fired hw htr piped as a boiler.

Assuming the Indirect WH and HX radiant zone is used, an ARGO two-zone boiler control w/hw priority would be added.

Any opinions from the board? Other suggestions?

Would it make any sense to run the radiant zones off of the indirect WH using a HX? This way I'd be drawing heat from a "stored" heat source and maybe not requiring the steam boiler to fire as often. Would obviously increase size of the WH.

Any and all suggestions welcome.

thanks

kevin coppinger_4

Tom...

your contractor has given you a few good choices. I am not a fan of plate HX esp. on a steam system the plates will prob. clog. the pool heater that W-Mc makes would do the same thing yet less prone to clogging. The gas fired water heater is not a great idea being that they are only about 75% efficient.The idea of using the indirect water heater as the heat HX AND the radiant mixed w/ the domestic h2o is nothing shourt of a BAD idea. Bacteria could very well contaminate your hot water...ask your plumber I hope he would agree. good luck,kpc

DaveGateway

Kevin,
I may not have been entirely clear on the last option. What I was referring to was to use the WM Indirect Water Heater for domestic hot water as well as piping the same water from the Indirect Water Heater through a separate heat exchanger to serve the radiant load.
I definitely WOULD NOT mix potable and heating water.