Going to Need More Hot Water...

oliver power · Post by **oliver power** » Sun. Apr. 27, 2014 3:04 pm

Many people discover that they don't use large tubs as much as they expected, I hope you get the $ out of yours.[/quote]Yes Rob, you did mention the tank-less coil in third post, only with circulator. This tub is not large. It is the price that's large. The tub itself is a small walk in tub. Lots of air/water jets. Someplace for the wife to relax/chill out, bubble bath type deal. It also has a shower. Her bathroom, her tub. Must be she feels we saved enough heating with coal, that she could afford it. Myself, I have my own bath room. A simple tub/shower set-up. You guys have given me lots of things to think about. All great ideas...........All things to think about........... Which is exactly what I was looking for. I thank you all, Oliver

windyhill4.2 · Post by **windyhill4.2** » Sun. Apr. 27, 2014 3:31 pm

I believe the last time I sat in a tub was in early 1999,the only reason that I was sitting in my rear end water then was that the house we lived in had no shower,since then I have only used a shower ! .. the luxury of using clean water to wash oneself !!

oliver power · Post by **oliver power** » Sun. Apr. 27, 2014 5:54 pm

whistlenut wrote:Another thought is that an 80 gallon tank takes up some room vertically, and a 40 or 50 or 60 gal tank would be easier to deal with. When you speak of the boiler not being able to maintain 180, who cares. If it would only keep the boiler at 150, who cares. Unless you are extremely close to design limit you will be fine. An indirect would be the ticket, however don't overlook a K-6 upgrade for long term benefits. This reinforces the assumption that bigger is better for unknown future requirements. The new electric tanks are extremely efficient and not too costly.

Look around on C-list or local papers for someone selling a 40 gallon indirect. I found a 53 gallon Buderus , three years old, for $300 this week. 1600 new.......the home had a new solar 120 gallon special tank installed, and I got it from the solar company. 1" feeds and returns, and 1" boiler feed and return. S KAA 2 would not like that flow requirement, but you could go with 3/4".
By the way, the solar tank was 5500.00, so before you jump off the solar cliff remember that was just the TANK, not the collector panels, piping, and installation. 18,000 more........but a 30% tax credit.......WTF. That was not the end of the story however........a new $32,500 auto feed pellet boiler , 6 ton hopper.......auto ash removal////all the toys.
The solar would make up 60% of the hot water needs for the year, so the original Propane Condensing Boiler will be a Primary/Secondary with the new Froling Pellet Boiler.

I asked to see the install because this is a top of the line system at over 60K, turnkey. I was certainly impressed with the logic, workmanship and the design intent....but sticker shocked at the investment. Makes upsizing the KAA seem like child's play.

I hear ya whistlenut , Talk about being blindsided. The LAST thing I would have thought to calculate into the heat load is a walk in bubble bath massage tub. The boiler up-grade thought crossed my mind. But, the little Kaa-2 does such a nice job of heating the house, I hate the thoughts (and expense) of tearing everything apart to replace it. My cheapest route to this low hot water capacity problem is to buy another electric hot water tank. One common thought everyone seems to have is not to do away with the electric hot water tank.

whistlenut · Post by **whistlenut** » Sun. Apr. 27, 2014 6:06 pm

I thought I read that you are not using the tankless coil, so you have that option and the electric water heater could be the 'indirect' with a bronze circ.....and you could easily add another electric in series or parallel that would eliminate the need of more expensive equipment. Lots of options, so digest the suggestions and then go ahead.

Phil May · Post by **Phil May** » Sun. Apr. 27, 2014 6:38 pm

Buy a 700 from scott and have a party in the tub.

EarthWindandFire · Post by **EarthWindandFire** » Mon. Apr. 28, 2014 12:27 pm

Oliver,

Maybe its time to upgrade the boiler. You might get some decent coin for the Kaa-2 and get a nice used KA-6 for just a small difference.

oliver power · Post by **oliver power** » Thu. May. 01, 2014 10:41 pm

Called HVAC buddy of mine. Told him the volume of hot water I needed, and how the tub heater worked. He said he would do it any way I wanted. But, if it were him, he'd throw in an 80 gallon electric, and be done with it. I agreed. He's doing the job. I won't be lifting a finger. It lets me tend to my own business, which I'm falling more behind every day, due to the weather, and volume of work coming in. HEY!, I can always play with the boiler if I wanted

. I'm all set up on the primary loop. I also have the tank-less coil, which I don't use. It's the large volume of hot water needed which played the factor in this case. Again, I thank You all for your opinions. Oliver