Steam Boiler with Indirect Water Heater?

lgoodrob

My home water heater just started leaking. It's about 12 years old. Should I replace it with another stand alone 40 gallon type heater or attach an indirect water heater to my gas-fired steam boiler (Burnham Independence)? Is one or the other more efficient? less expensive to run? longer lasting? I am worried that when the water level in the steam boiler drops, we'll have no hot water either. Also will I be paying a lot more for gas in the summer months? I live in New England. I'll be calling my plumber Monday morning. Thanks in advance for your assistance.

ed wallace

waterheater vs indirect

go with an indirect it will last a lot longer and save you money in the long run make sure your plumber knows how to pipe it to a steam boiler

lgoodrob

More please

I'm a technical person. How much is "a lot longer" and how much "money in the long run"? How does one make these determinations? Undoubtably this will depend on the price of natural gas in the future.
I think the plumber knows how to pipe it, since he installed the steam boiler a couple years ago. We had discussed this option for running hot water heat off the expansion tank for a part of the house not well served by the cast iron radiators.