plans for in-fireplace hydronic heating unit - grate?

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I have an electric boiler that heats a concrete slab. It works well but in another part of the house there is a heatilator fireplace that I would like to tie into the hydronics. I am looking for a manufacturer or plans for a hydronic grate or in fireplace heat exchanger that would be the best possible solution to tap this wasted source of enegy.

-- Rick Fereday (aviator@citlink.net), December 29, 2001

Answers

I can't help you with the specifics of where to find more info on this but when you do the hookup make sure you have a pressure relief valve installed on the inlet and outlet of the firebox coil. Over time the coil may plug with mineral deposits from the water and you gotta relieve the pressure somehow. Another thing you'll need to consider is installing a mixing valve from the discharge of the coil before it gets to the rest of the hydronic system otherwise you'll be running the risk of temps higher than what the rest of the system is designed for.

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), December 30, 2001.

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