High efficiency oil fired boiler and indirect fired domestic hot water (washer, furnace)

[NewHomeBuyer79]

House I am looking at lists the heat/hot water as an "High efficiency oil fired boiler" and "indirect fired domestic hot water".

Searching the web all it really says is how both options are more efficient and save money (which isn't a bad thing) - but I couldn't find a good site that really tells me how they work.

Anyone have some info on these options, good or bad? Thanks.

[M3 Mitch]

I think "high efficiency" means whatever the seller wants it to mean. This place must be in the Northeast, right?

I would want to know if this system has to run during the summer to provide hot water.

To me, burning either oil or propane for space heat does not make any sense, these are motor fuels and are priced accordingly.

[akck]

It's probably something similar to this:

Energy Kinetics - System 2000 Efficient Heating (http://www.energykinetics.com/index.shtml - broken link)

We have this system, and the way it heats DHW is through a heat exchanger and the hot water storage tank. I think the indirect fired domestic hot water system works the same, except the heat exchange coils are built into the tank and the furnace treats the DHW as another zone. The nice thing about it is that you almost never run out of hot water because the recharge rate is quick.

Yes, the system does run during the summer, but the cost is low due to the short running times to heat your DHW.

[NewHomeBuyer79]

Yes, this is in the northeast. Thanks to you both.

[akck]

Here's an indirect fired domestic hot water link with some info:

Red hot: for a home heated with a boiler, adding an indirect tank can provide efficient, reliable hot water - Construction Products | Building Products | Find Articles at BNET

Here's a brochure from one brand:

http://www.amtrol.com/pdf/BoilermateMC10009low.pdf

It's not what I have, but might be a replacement should my storage tank fail. The nicest thing about the setup is knowing you can take a long shower and not run out of hot water. The bad thing about it is that kids can take a 15-20 minute shower. The only time we ever ran out of hot water was when two showers were going and the washer was running before and during the showers. I believe a shower was taken just before too.

[NewHomeBuyer79]

Thanks!