Based upon what I've been reading here, it seems we've gotten exceptional service from our 65 gal Bradford White CombiCore domestic/radiant combination water heater. It's lasted 15 years with a water softener attached.
Just last week, it began leaking. Second thing I've learned from recommendations from the pros here - whatever unit replaces it, there will be a drain pan and pump under it. I wish the mechanical company had suggested it originally.
When they installed the radiant heat, they selected the BW and are now recommending it as a replacement. In the discussion, having gotten the advice here, I asked about separating the domestic and the radiant functions into separate units as many here recommend. The rebuttal was there wasn't room for two gas heaters and two gas heaters can't be vented into the same chimney.
Questions to help get to the best solution:
1. What, other than the 65gal BW CombiCore, would you recommend for combined domestic/small radiant load?
2. Any technical reason two gas water heaters can't be vented into the same chimney?
3. Other than the inconvenience of servicing the rear unit, how close together would you install two 22" diameter gas heaters?
4. Any technical reason two natural gas heaters couldn't be supplied off the same 1/2" drop with a valve for each?
5. Since it's not an if water heaters will need removing/replacing, just how often, then why are so installed without unions in both lines? In the installation under discussion here and at my daughter's home, both were installed with copper hard lines and no unions.
6. My dad, a union steamfitter, always said, a
"A professional uses as little material as possible to get from one place to another. A fitting or a joint is a potential leak and a definite cost, so does it have to be there?" Reason for asking, both these are older homes and have a mix of galvanized and copper, plus now some PEX. In the radiant heat installation, the mechanical company used all three and it just looks odd. If it were your home and your nickel, would you get rid of as much copper and galvanized as possible on this go-round or keep it? What are the +/- of mixing three species of piping? Less out-of-pocket not to change what isn't broken, but appreciate the education on how you'd do it.
Again, thanks for the recommendations.
jack vines
Just last week, it began leaking. Second thing I've learned from recommendations from the pros here - whatever unit replaces it, there will be a drain pan and pump under it. I wish the mechanical company had suggested it originally.
When they installed the radiant heat, they selected the BW and are now recommending it as a replacement. In the discussion, having gotten the advice here, I asked about separating the domestic and the radiant functions into separate units as many here recommend. The rebuttal was there wasn't room for two gas heaters and two gas heaters can't be vented into the same chimney.
Questions to help get to the best solution:
1. What, other than the 65gal BW CombiCore, would you recommend for combined domestic/small radiant load?
2. Any technical reason two gas water heaters can't be vented into the same chimney?
3. Other than the inconvenience of servicing the rear unit, how close together would you install two 22" diameter gas heaters?
4. Any technical reason two natural gas heaters couldn't be supplied off the same 1/2" drop with a valve for each?
5. Since it's not an if water heaters will need removing/replacing, just how often, then why are so installed without unions in both lines? In the installation under discussion here and at my daughter's home, both were installed with copper hard lines and no unions.
6. My dad, a union steamfitter, always said, a
"A professional uses as little material as possible to get from one place to another. A fitting or a joint is a potential leak and a definite cost, so does it have to be there?" Reason for asking, both these are older homes and have a mix of galvanized and copper, plus now some PEX. In the radiant heat installation, the mechanical company used all three and it just looks odd. If it were your home and your nickel, would you get rid of as much copper and galvanized as possible on this go-round or keep it? What are the +/- of mixing three species of piping? Less out-of-pocket not to change what isn't broken, but appreciate the education on how you'd do it.
Again, thanks for the recommendations.
jack vines
