Did you know that even though most people get hot water from a central heating system, it can be a costly proposition? Hot water can also have drawbacks such as the need for a powerful and expensive central heating system. Even with all the benefits of an indirect domestic hot water heater, it isn’t something that everyone has access to. It’s also not something that is commonly considered in home design. However, there are a number of hidden benefits to this type of installation that you probably didn’t know about. 

By choosing an indirect domestic hot water heater you not only save money on your bill but you won’t have to install and maintain any plumbing at all! Indirect heaters work by transferring heat from a warm source such as your kitchen sink or bathtub into another area of your house without having to build up additional heat through radiators and heat pipes. 

This means you don’t have to worry about installing radiators or heatpipes near sources of hot water like sinks, tubs or showers. This article covers everything you need to know about an indirect domestic hot water heat pump including benefits, types, cost and installation considerations.

What is an Indirect Domestic Hot Water heater?

An indirect domestic hot water heater is a tankless water heater that works by passing hot water through a series of heat exchangers to make it back to the room where water is used. Unlike a central heating system, where the source of heat is added to the cold water supply, an indirect system uses a warm source to add heat to the cold water. This means there are no radiators or heat pipes required and no hot water lines. This article covers everything you need to know about an indirect domestic hot water heater including benefits, types, cost and installation considerations.

How Does an Indirect Domestic Hot Water heater Work?

An indirect heater works by sending warm water from a hot water source directly into a room. This type of heater uses a liquid metal loop to transfer the heat. The loop transfers the heat through a series of metal channels that travel through the liquid metal coils. The result is very little additional heat is added to the room because the coils are so close to the floor. Thus, the temperature of the water does not rise significantly and you don’t have to worry about leaching chemicals or toxins in the water that may affect our health. Another benefit of this type of heater is that it doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. Since there are no pipes or radiators to worry about, it’s easy to keep the heater network free of clogging and other maintenance problems.

Types of Indirect Domestic Hot Water Heaters

Indirect domestic hot water heaters can be either tankless or tank-fed. A tankless heater uses a closed-loop system to deliver hot water and eliminates the need for a water tank. A tank-fed heater, on the other hand, must be completely filled with water before it can heat water. There are a few factors you’ll want to keep in mind as you decide between a tankless and a tank-fed heater. Tank-fed heaters come with a larger water tank so you’ll need to consider where you’ll store the water when you’re not using the heater. Also, if you’re going with a tankless heater, be aware that you’ll need to replace the filters regularly. They tend to last longer with tankless heaters.

When to Install an Indirect Domestic Hot Water heater

An indirect domestic hot water heater should be installed when you have limited options for installing a water heater. For example, a Newtongate house is going to have a much smaller water supply than a house in the suburbs. An indirect domestic hot water heater is a good option when you can’t install a central water heater or if you want to save money by only using the water you need and eliminating the rest.

Pros of Installing an Indirect Domestic Hot Water heater

No Hot Water Bills - You won’t have to worry about adding and maintaining hot water lines or installing radiators because there aren’t any. This means you won’t have to spend a small fortune on plumbing and you won’t have to pay for any labor costs either way.

More Control overcirculation - An indirect design allows you to reduce the amount of water that returns to the cold water supply. This cuts down on water bills in general as well as ice and precipitation damage.

More Space - If you have limited space in your home, adding an indirect design allows you to increase the usable space without having to install a large water tank.

Easy to Install - With an indirect design, it’s usually as easy as plugging it in and waiting for it to work.

Cons of Installing an Indirection Domestic Hot Water Heater

You’ll Still Need a Water Heater - Even with an indirect design, you’ll still need to keep running a water heater. This is because the heat from the heater will cause cold water to flow into the plumbing system. This is why it’s so important to properly install an indirect heater.

You’re Addressing Part of the Problem - In order to reap the benefits of an indirect design, you’ll need to address the source of the water heater issue. The heat from the water heater is what’s causing the pipes to heat up, not the pipes directly behind the heater.

Tips for Selecting the Right Direct or Indirect Hot Water Line for Your Needs

When you’re looking at your water heater lines, make sure you’re not just looking at the length but also the diameter. While most people think of this when looking at hot water lines, it’s also important to consider the temperature the water will be used at. You don’t want a large diameter hot water line that will run hot water in your house but only cold in winter.

When in doubt, go with the shortest line possible. You don’t have to break the bank by going with an indirect design. In fact, if you’re going with a tankless heater, it’s probably best to go with a short line. That way you won’t have to worry about the water heater running out of water.

Install the heater as close to the source of hot water as possible. Always install your water heater as close to the source of hot water as possible. You’re trying to direct as much of the heat back into the room where you use hot water as possible.

Don’t run the water heater all the time. The water heater should run only when you need it. Never run the water heater when you’re not using it.

Final Words

An indirect domestic hot water heater is a great way to save both money and space on your home heating bill. An indirect heater uses a warm source to heat cold water, which has less potential for damage from extremes in temperature. One of the best things about an indirect heater is that you don't have to run it when you're not using it!