Electric water heaters for radiant heating?

Darren Andrews

We designed a radiant system to heat a concrete slab (12' x 24'). We installed the heat-pex tubing and were planning on using an electric water heater as the heat source. This water heater's sole purpose is to heat water for this radiant loop, it is protected from the domestic water via a double check. Anyway, I'm being told by the local inspector that any water heater used for space heating must carry the appropriate designation. Does anyone know of a water heater manufacturer that has such a water heater? I have found plenty of gas models, but no electric models.

Ranger

Electric Boiler..

...ya just gotta love the internet.Shooting from the hip I thought "Electric Boiler w/indirect domestic or plate heat exchanger"(assumeing you need domestic hot water also..) although the last electric residential boiler I worked on was around 1988...anyway I googled "Electric Boiler" and low and behold Burnham,Sussman,Fulton and a company called Otter Tail Power Company came up.Now Otter tail displays just such an application such as yours on there web site (don't look at the questionable pipeing practices though).www.otpco.com.Who Knew?
[+] R_Anger [+]

hr

That is true

I don't know of any tank type DHW that is approved for stand alone hydronic closed loop heating use.

Water heaters are listed to ANSI standards, which are not for heating applications. Some inspectors know this

There are some water heaters listed for combined DHW/Hydronic use. States Appolo system is one. Although I would not recommend combined systems under any condition.

At last weekends RPA RadFest I saw a small electric boiler. Some models have a bit of intelligence with reset controls, and modulation. A bit more $$ than a tank water heater, but listed for your application.

http://www.whe.org/residential_services/mini_boiler.asp

hot rod

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Weezbo

I have a tool for everything:)

i made a portable 20 gallon with some variations thing is it as most other electric water heaters isnt rated for that application..howevr it do work:)

MikeB34

Argo makes them

Argo makes electric boilers, baseboard and controls
www.argoindustries.com or www.ecrltd.com and click argo

Jacob G.

Electric Water Heater

I've direct-piped a Seisco SH-4 for such an application. Shouldn't be hard to find on the web. They are in Texas. 60 amp draw!

Dale

WH

Try Wright-Hennepin at www.whe.org nice little elect boiler.