An indirect water heater operates by using your home's main heating system, like a furnace or boiler, to heat water.
Here's a breakdown of how it works, based on the provided information:
- Utilizing the Main Heater: An indirect water heater doesn't have its own built-in burner or heating element. Instead, it relies on your existing furnace or boiler, which is primarily used for home heating.
- Heating a Fluid: The furnace or boiler heats a fluid. This fluid is typically hot water or a special heat transfer fluid.
- Circulation through a Heat Exchanger: This heated fluid is then circulated from the furnace or boiler through a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is located within the water heater's storage tank.
- Transferring Heat to Water: As the hot fluid passes through the heat exchanger, it transfers its heat to the cold water stored in the tank. The water in the tank gets hot and is then available for use in your home.
- Energy Storage and Efficiency: The significant benefit is that the hot water is stored in the tank. This energy storage allows the furnace or boiler to run in cycles – heating the tank water when needed and then turning off. This means the furnace/boiler turns on and off less often compared to some other systems, which ultimately saves energy.
In essence, it acts like a thermal battery, storing hot water heated by your main heating system, reducing the demand on the furnace or boiler over time.
You can find more details about this technology from sources like the Department of Energy.
