I am in New York on Long Island.
I have a mixing valve on the hot water output of my hot water tank.
I have a natural gas fired Burnham ES2 and a Burnham 50 gallon indirect storage tank.
I keep the setting on the hot water tank to maintain 160 degrees with a 10 degree differential.
The mixing valve is set to output 125 degree water.
Here's my question. In the summer when I'm not running the boiler to heat the house, does it cost more to keep the tank temperature at 160 and use the mixing to lower the temperature, or should I lower the tank temperature back down to 125 and bypass the mixing valve (I have bypass valves to cut it out)?
At first thought, it seems obvious that it would cost more to keep heating the water to 160 rather than 125, because the boiler needs to fire more often to keep the water hotter.
But is that really true, since with the mixing valve inline, I'd be using the hot water up at a slower rate, so that should cause the water to need to be heated less often?
Are there any other reasons to use the mixing valve or not all year round?
I have a mixing valve on the hot water output of my hot water tank.
I have a natural gas fired Burnham ES2 and a Burnham 50 gallon indirect storage tank.
I keep the setting on the hot water tank to maintain 160 degrees with a 10 degree differential.
The mixing valve is set to output 125 degree water.
Here's my question. In the summer when I'm not running the boiler to heat the house, does it cost more to keep the tank temperature at 160 and use the mixing to lower the temperature, or should I lower the tank temperature back down to 125 and bypass the mixing valve (I have bypass valves to cut it out)?
At first thought, it seems obvious that it would cost more to keep heating the water to 160 rather than 125, because the boiler needs to fire more often to keep the water hotter.
But is that really true, since with the mixing valve inline, I'd be using the hot water up at a slower rate, so that should cause the water to need to be heated less often?
Are there any other reasons to use the mixing valve or not all year round?